Westminster Rescue Mission Secures $187,000 in Funding and Food Donations 

Local Family Challenges Others to Support Carroll’s “Faces of Hunger” 

WESTMINSTER, Md. – Dec. 1, 2025 – The Westminster Rescue Mission is pleased to announce a combined $187,000 in new resources – $147,000 in grant funding and another $40,000 in direct food donations that will expand access to nutritious options for food-insecure Carroll families. One of the awards is designed in part to leverage additional donations throughout December.

“The recent food crisis during the government shutdown came on the heels of a 30 percent increase in neighbor visits to our network of Carroll pantries from January through August this year. It highlighted two major challenges for the social safety network of food banks and pantries: the ability to procure substantially more food, and the subsequent logistics of storing and distributing the increased inventory,” said Stephanie Halley, CEO of the Westminster Rescue Mission. “We are fortunate to have received support to address both parts of the challenge.”

The Mission Food Program of the Westminster Rescue Mission received $72,000 from the Maryland Food Bank Government Shutdown and SNAP Emergency Response Grant Fund that must be used to purchase food from other sources by the end of the calendar year. As added support, in November the Mission Food Program secured and is distributing an additional $40,000 worth of food from the Maryland Food Bank at no cost, made available by emergency funds. The Mission will continue to access additional food in December while the Maryland Food Bank’s emergency funds last.

A local family leads the way to close the gap for their food insecure neighbors. Recognizing the challenge presented as food banks and pantries were faced with increased demand this fall, the Eidel Family Fund is personally contributing $75,000 in the Mission Food Program. These funds will augment the existing operations and infrastructure required to manage the increased distribution of food through the network of Mission Food Program’s 28 downstream partners including food pantries and soup kitchens across Carroll County.

“We are eager to partner with the Westminster Rescue Mission to strengthen the local food security network and ensure equitable access to healthy food for all Carroll County residents,” said Stew Eidel, who manages the family fund with his wife, Barbara, and their daughters. “We’re calling on other Carroll County families to step up and join us in this fight against hunger.”

To help ensure that no one seeking assistance is turned away due to lack of resources during the coldest, hardest months, the Eidels challenge businesses and families to contribute to help feed Carroll’s neediest neighbors. The Mission’s Faces of Hunger campaign kicks off December 2, GivingTuesday, and extends through December to include traditional end-of-year giving.  Donations can be made online at https://bit.ly/WRM-give-now or via check to the Westminster Rescue Mission with Faces of Hunger in the memo line.

“The generosity of the Eidel Family is providing critical relief to the recent impacts on the food system and financial support to prepare the Mission Food Program’s infrastructure for future challenges,” Halley said. “The government shutdown and resulting stoppage of SNAP benefits placed enormous pressure on the already stressed food distribution network of our partner food banks and pantries. We are incredibly blessed to be supported by our local families rising to meet the need.”

The Mission is already using this investment to scale food distribution immediately, develop a long-term sustainability plan to be able to meet emergency needs, and reserve funding for emerging needs. This three-pronged approach ensures the Mission can respond effectively to future crises and meet the growing demand for food assistance well beyond the recent SNAP emergency.

Since 2021, the Mission Food Program has been a Maryland Food Bank redistribution partner, providing localized food bank services to a growing network of pantries and soup kitchens in communities across Carroll County. During the fiscal year ending August 31, the Mission Food Program distributed 1.24 million pounds of food, which is the equivalent of one million meals.

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As a nonprofit Christian organization, the Westminster Rescue Mission is a community that provides clinical, physical, and spiritual resources to heal the addicted and feed the hungry. We take a holistic approach with Christ as the foundation of our work. Our two ministry programs include the Addiction Healing Center and the Mission Food Program.