Laurel pantry serving 8,000 families issues urgent plea for food

Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services in Laurel issued an urgent appeal to the community on Feb. 18, 2026, saying pantry shelves were unusually depleted and asking for immediate donations of breakfast food, rice, milk and other basics. The nonprofit serves nearly 8,000 families across Prince George’s, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties and “provides more than 95,000 meals every year,” the organization reported.

Pantry Director Shannon Mouton made the public plea and outlined the specific needs. “We need the community’s support right now, especially because the food pantry shelves are a little bare. And we are looking for basics like flower, canned vegetable and canned meat,” Mouton explained. Mouton also said the pantry hasn’t had enough funds recently to get enough food, a financial squeeze she identified as a key reason supplies are running low.

Even with a recent delivery, LARS officials worry demand will outpace supply. “Even though a truck delivered food to the pantry on Wednesday, Mouton is worried the shelves will be empty quickly,” the report said, underscoring that shipments are not keeping pace with need during the current uptick in requests for assistance.

Longtime client Ross Hughes, one of thousands who rely on LARS, said the shortfall reflects persistent economic strain for people in Laurel. Hughes, who experienced homelessness for twelve years, said, “Everybody needs food, you can’t fight that, and with the economy the way it is, and we can barely buy food.” His experience illustrates the human impact behind the statistics: the pantry’s reach stretches across three counties and into households grappling with tight budgets.

The combination of rising demand and constrained funding at LARS carries practical consequences for food access in Prince George’s County. Serving nearly 8,000 families and delivering more than 95,000 meals annually, LARS functions as a major node in the local safety net; depletion of its shelves could increase pressure on other pantries, county assistance programs and meal providers that coordinate across the region.

LARS made the appeal on Feb. 18, 2026; the pantry asked specifically for breakfast items, rice, milk and canned goods. Will neighbors in Laurel and across Prince George’s County step forward to respond to this urgent request and contact LARS to confirm the best way to donate or volunteer?