For 50 Years, Drive Has Encouraged Heartfelt Giving
For a half-century, through the Holiday Drive, the city has sponsored outreach that brings the community together each year to provide food baskets, gift certificates and toys to needy Rockville families throughout the Thanksgiving and December holidays.
Rockville’s community warmth and holiday spirit were on display during the 2023 Holiday Drive, with a total of 147 donors and a total of $34,722 raised to support families and people in need throughout November and December.
In November, 694 families (2,396 individuals within the households) were served. In December, 1,279 children from 492 families were served.
Here are some ways you can make a difference in 2024:
- Make a cash donation online at bit.ly/HolidayDriveDonate or send a tax-deductible contribution (checks made payable to City of Rockville, with “Rockville Holiday Drive” in the memo line, and sent to 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850.) Donations help Rockville buy healthy food options for individuals and families.
- Volunteer. Go to www.rockvillemd.gov/volunteer to sign up for a variety of Holiday Drive volunteer opportunities.
- Organize a canned food drive (with a focus on healthier food like low-sodium beans and soups, no-sugar-added canned fruits and whole-wheat pasta).
- Organize a toy or book drive to collect new unwrapped toys or books (new books for children of all ages, including teenagers, are needed).
The Holiday Drive relies entirely on monetary contributions, donated food and new toys from local individuals, schools, businesses and organizations.
You can donate food at City Hall and city recreation facilities until Friday, Nov. 15 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
You can donate toys and books at City Hall and city recreation facilities until Friday, Dec. 13 for the December holidays.
Food, toys and gift cards distributed by the Holiday Drive are donated or purchased using donated funds. All donations of money and goods are tax deductible.
For more information, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/holidaydrive or email hd@rockvillemd. gov.