Poverty in Montgomery County

In a new episode of A Miner Detail, host Ryan Miner will unwind Montgomery County’s progress in helping its needy residents. Last Tuesday, the Interfaith Works of Rockville held its 18th annual Companies Caring Breakfast in North Bethesda to discuss the state of Montgomery County’s safety net. 

This week, in the first half of A Miner Detail, host Ryan will interview Interfaith Works of Rockville CEO, Shane Rock, Margo Fonoroff, and Mary Ann Sestili.

Margo Fonoroff is a former public school teacher and principal. Both Fornoff and her husband have organized the annual Park Potomac Ice Cream Social for Charity, involving hundreds of residents and local businesses within the community, according to a news release. In the past five years, the event has collected thousands of donated new backpacks and school supplies for needy schoolchildren. Mary Ann Sestili received the Legacy of Leadership Award. Sestili has volunteered for the nonprofit’s Friends in Action Program, mentoring needy families. She then served on its board as secretary, chairwoman and now vice chairwoman of its Governance Committee.

In the latter half of the show, Ryan will interview Diana M. Pearce, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer and Director, Center for Women’s Welfare of University of Washington, School of Social Work about the Self-Sufficiency Standard, and alternative measures of the costs of a basic-needs budget, varied by family type, and place.