Plates of Plenty is a campaign to raise awareness and funds to combat hunger in our community. Proceeds will help the Mission Food Program at the Westminster Rescue Mission purchase, warehouse, and provide meat, fresh produce, dairy, and dry goods to our partner network of food pantries, soup kitchens, local charities, and agencies across Carroll County.
This year we are focusing on one region of the county each week during the month of July to coincide with our mobile distributions. Each week we will have activities with partner businesses and PR messages that tell stories about that region and the wider story of food insecurity in Carroll County.
All Month - July 1-31
Celebrate Christmas in July with Collision Course and share your good fortune with those in need. All month our friends at Collision Course are offering diners the opportunity to round up their bill to raise money for the fight against food insecurity in our community. Enjoy their special Christmas in July menu and spread the joy to help a neighbor. A little change can help make big changes!
Week 1: June 29-July 3
Hampstead/Manchester
Bring your nonperishable foods and dine all month at Greenmount Station, one of the financial supporters of Plates of Plenty.
Week 2: July 6 - 10
Taneytown/Union Bridge
RESCHEDULING - DATE TBD
Wednesday, July 8 | Bags fly at 6pm
Businesses and community leaders from the western part of the county are invited to join us for a friendly cornhole tournament at Flood Zone Marketplace & Brewery on July 8th. Learn more and register online to reserve your spot!
Week 3: July 13-17
Finksburg
Thursday, July 16 | 11a-9pm
Dine & Donate at Bistro91! Tell your server and the Mission Food Program will receive a portion of the proceeds. Trivia at 7pm, so bring your smart family, friends, and colleagues for a fun night out.
Week 4: July 20 - 24
Eldersburg/Sykesville
Wednesday, July 22 | 4pm - 10pm
Dine (+ more) & Donate at Stratosphere Social. Drop your receipt in the baskets at the bar or the games counter and the Mission Food Program will receive 10% of proceeds. Great food & drink, bowling, axe throwing, arcade, and yard games in the indoor “Back Yard" - beat the heat and or the rain and bring the whole family out for fun & games & dinner!
Week 5: July 27-31
Westminster
Monday, July 27 11a - 1p
STUFF-A-TRUCK
We're joining with BrightFM to host a food drive. Check back for details as we add more partners!
WHERE IS THE NEED?
Carroll County is one of the wealthier counties in Maryland, blessed with rolling farmland, vibrant small towns, and bedroom communities for workers in the Baltimore-Washington region. Despite this wealth, there are families among us who are struggling to make ends meet. Even among those who are keeping up, many may be one car repair or medical bill away from having to choose between expenses.
Ironically, sometimes the residents surrounded by farms in our more rural areas have the biggest challenge to access food, because there aren’t full-service grocery stores nearby. Even in the wealthiest areas of the county – southern communities along I-70 and Liberty Road (MD-26) – approximately 20% of working families are struggling or are living paycheck to paycheck, one unexpected bill away from having to choose between necessities. Further north and west in the county, the numbers are more challenging, with 40%-60% of employed households in some communities at or below the income threshold to be able to consistently meet basic costs of living. Source: The United Way: United for ALICE.
Thank you to our 2026 business sponsors!
Caught you doing good!
We'd love to showcase your business as one of our partners. Contact Trish St. Michel tstmichel@westminsterrescuemission.org