John S. Mulholland Family Foundation was founded in 2013 to celebrate the life and honor the memory of John S. Mulholland, who had died the previous year.  After a period of reflection, it was decided that a good way to do that would be to address the ongoing plight of the food insecure in Washington, D.C.

Washington is known for many things, but what most didn’t realize is that we are one of the leaders in the Nation in food insecurity.  We also happen to be one of the five most expensive cities in which to live in the Nation. That’s not a good formula.  Indeed, one in five families in a city with a population of just 700,000 people are food insecure for at least a portion of each month. For many children, the most formidable meal of the day is the school lunch.

There are literally scores of organizations that are addressing hunger in the District in one way or another.  Yet we found that many of the food pantries were struggling; the supply of food simply did not meet the demand.  And, so we began.

In the first month, we served a dozen families at one pantry in Southeast Washington. Today, we are privileged to serve over 1,000 families each month at 9 food pantries in some of the District’s poorest neighborhoods.

 

THE MODEL

What makes us different from the others who do what we do is that we do so as a 100% volunteer organization.  No one is paid, there is very little overhead, so donors and supporters know that the lion’s share of every dollar contributed goes to the purchase of food.

Our volunteer Board of Directors is largely responsible for fund development.  Local volunteers at each pantry site run the pantries as they see fit; they know the community being served the best.  The only universal requirement is that every family visiting a JSM food pantry be treated with dignity and respect, and when possible, love.  (“It is not enough to love them. They must know that they are loved” — St. John Bosco)

No one is to be turned away; judgment is not in our portfolio.  We are all supported by volunteers at local churches, civic groups such as the Boy Scouts and Knights of Columbus, and area high schools that have service to others as part of the curriculum.

“Be who you are and be that well” said St. Francis De Sales.  So, we center our food distribution on basics: Hearty variety soups, canned tuna and chicken, green beans and corn and assorted vegetables, pasta and sauce, a variety of canned fruit, beans of all kinds, rice, low sugar cereals like Cheerios, and other healthy items.  We are advised by a physician on our Board.  We stay clear of providing such things as cookies, cake mix, and other such items.  The SNAP program can be used for that.

We augment these non-perishables with fresh produce, milk and eggs, meat and poultry, sometimes bread and additional fresh items as available.

And, no, we don’t do hygiene products, cleaning supplies, toys at Christmas, school supplies, clothing drives.  We are doing what we do better than most.  Be who you are and be that well.

HOW WE DO IT

John S. Mulholland Family Foundation believes in strength in numbers, that there is nothing that cannot be accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit, and that every successful organization is built on relationships.  We like to think we do all these things well.

We are proud partners with more than two dozen Catholic Churches in the District of Columbia and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, Maryland.

Each year, we have a major food drive during the Lenten Season and another one during the summer months.  The latter, dubbed Summer in the City, is the first and only major food drive in the Washington Metropolitan Area each year.  Our position is this: while others may be at the Cape, the Hamptons, or Bethany Beach, our client families are still here, and so is JSM. “Hunger doesn’t take a vacation,” is our motto.

We maintain partnerships with four area high schools: Georgetown Visitation, Elizabeth Seton, Academy of the Holy Cross, and Archbishop Carroll.  Not only do they each conduct food drives for us this year, but JSM believes it is important to pass the torch to the next generation — that caring for the poor is as important a life lesson as reading, writing and arithmetic.

We are grateful partners with the Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive who, for more than 35 years, conduct the largest single day food drive in Washington on the first Saturday of December.

JSM is a proud recipient of the SHARE program at Blessed Sacrament Parish and have had successful joint efforts with Thrive DC.

Approximately 60% of the food we distribute is donated through these efforts, and the remaining food, largely perishable, is purchased through local food stores as relationships we have established with Giant Food, Harris Teeter, Aldi, Lidl, and others.  Each week, we competitively “shop” all the retailers and purchase at the best price.  We owe that to our donors, and it makes it possible to provide more to the families we serve.

WHO WE ARE

John S. Mulholland Family Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity, incorporated in the State of Delaware and the District of Columbia. We are governed by a Board of Directors as a Family Foundation. JSM is not affiliated with any other organization, any particular religion, outside group, or political interest. We serve those who simply demonstrate a need, regardless of race, religion, nationality, citizenship, sexual orientation, or any other classification. We embrace all teachings with respect to caring for the poor, especially the hungry.

JSM Non Discrimination Policy