Prince George’s C.C. President Dr. Falecia Williams (left) with 6th District Councilman Derrick Leon Davis (center) distribute food to needy families at the Largo campus on 9/11. (photo by Mark Gray)

By Mark F. Gray
AFRO Staff Writer
mgray@afro.com

Despite the campus being closed to students, Prince George’s County Community College’s new President Dr. Falecia Williams learned some valuable lessons while helping the volunteers distribute food baskets to community residents on Sept. 11.

“This is a phenomenal area,” Dr. Williams told the {AFRO}. “We’re a part of the overall life and quality of well-being here. I want us, as an enterprise, to be a good neighbor.” 

Williams, who officially replaced Dr. Charlene Dukes on July 1 as the ninth and second Black female president of the college, was front and center as hundreds of families from culturally and economically diverse backgrounds passed through PGCC’s Largo campus on a cloudy Friday to dodge raindrops and receive a free gift of food.  After more than 20 years at Valencia Community College in Orlando, FL, this was one of her first public service outreach days in her new community, which gave her perspective on the challenges facing the area.

“A day like today helps me to know there are tremendous needs in our community,” said Dr. Williams. “Food insecurity is one of them. When people are hungry it’s difficult for them to keep their focus.”

It was the 19th pop up food distribution event Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington has co-hosted since early spring as the dire straits of the pandemic began to significantly impact the D.M.V. These massive food distribution efforts have fed thousands of families in need throughout the D.C. metro area. Since March, Catholic Charities DC has provided more than 825,000 meals across all its food assistance programs and this was the 10th pop up pantry in Prince George’s County. 

The agency distributed 500 grocery boxes and ready-to-eat meals as part of its ongoing efforts to combat increasing food insecurity in the D.C. area due to COVID-19. Each vehicle that rolled past the Culinary Arts Center received a package containing approximately 17 pounds of proteins and fresh produce and a ready made meal that was prepared for a family of four. The family meals were prepared by the eight-person staff of the agency’s KitchenWork program, a catering and job training pilot program based in Hyattsville.

Food deserts and insecurity have plagued Prince George’s County and been an issue that elected officials and community organizations have tried to address for years.  The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated food insecurity in an area where it has been reported more than 26,000 cases of COVID-19 have magnified the county’s rate of infections which is higher than any other county in Maryland. 

“The need is not going away,” said Joe Dempsey, Director of Special Projects for Catholic Charities DC. “Prince George’s County’s problem with food insecurity started long before COVID-19 and this has just made it worse. Oftentimes you’ll see the entire family packed in the back of their cars. It’s quite a thing to see.”  

However, the pressure of helping feed the number of struggling families in Prince George’s has placed a strain on the dwindling coffers of the Catholic Charities who worked in conjunction with the County Council to provide these giveaway items. PGCC was also given a grant from the Prince George’s County Council to subsidize the event.

“Over the last six months we’ve understood the increased need for the residents of our community,” said Prince George’s County Council President Todd M. Turner (D-4). “This is a chance for another public and not-for-profit relationship to help meet those needs.”