Community of Concerned Food Pantry asks Carroll County for short-term rent support

Roxanne Reinhardt, director of the Community of Concerned Food Pantry, asked the Carroll County Board of Supervisors during its meeting for $3,150 to cover roughly three months of rent for the pantry as part of the county's fiscal year 2026 funding cycle.

The pantry director told the board the pantry serves any resident in need, provides balanced boxed meals rather than allowing on-site shopping, and relies primarily on donations and a small monthly government payment. "Anyone in need can use our pantry. We are not income based. We're need based," Reinhardt said.

Reinhardt said the pantry mixes donated food from area grocers with purchased items as needed, and that some donations arrive in quantities the pantry cannot store. "We have applied for grants and we have seven freezers, but it doesn't mean they're full," she said. She also told the board the pantry receives a $400 monthly payment for its volunteer program from the Department of Human Services and additional support from United Way and past county awards.

Board members asked about the pantry's finances. One board member noted the pantry reported about $138,000 in revenue and about $70,000 in expenses on its 2023 tax form and asked why the figures varied year to year. Reinhardt said donations fluctuate and some larger donors recently passed away. She characterized the organization's year-to-year revenue swings as the reason for the apparent balance changes.

Reinhardt said the pantry does limited intake interviews to refer clients to other programs such as SNAP, school lunch programs, job services and HUD where appropriate, and that it aims to help with applications when needed. She invited the board and any members of the public to visit the pantry.

The request was presented to the board for consideration; no formal vote on funding was recorded during this meeting.