Founded in 2019, AfriThrive began distributing culturally familiar food to African immigrant families in Montgomery County, MD. Since 2020, AfriThrive has distributed more than 2.5 million pounds of food, helping stabilize household food access for families experiencing ongoing food insecurity, especially during periods marked by rising food costs, inflation, and economic instability.
Over the past two years, AfriThrive has expanded mobile food distributions and school-based food access through weekly food support. Families report improved access to fresh produce and culturally familiar foods, greater confidence preparing healthy meals aligned with their cultural traditions, and reduced stress related to food insecurity, particularly for households with children.
AfriThrive’s programs have also produced community-level benefits. Expanded school-based food access has supported students’ ability to focus and attend school consistently, while community agriculture programs have increased the availability of fresh, locally grown produce. Investments in cold-chain infrastructure have improved food safety, reduced spoilage, and increased the volume and variety of food distributed. These investments have enabled AfriThrive to serve more families more consistently while maintaining dignity and quality in service delivery.
AfriThrive’s top priorities for 2026 focus on sustaining and strengthening food access for women, children, and families while building the organizational resilience needed to meet growing demand amid continued economic uncertainty.
Partner Grant: $73,000
