2018 Andrus Award Winner: Chuck Smith

Congratulations to Chuck Smith, AARP Maryland's winner of the 2018 Andrus Award for Community Service!

Every Monday morning for the past 25 years, approximately 200 disadvantaged families have come to Montgomery County's Gaithersburg Food Pantry to pick up the free groceries and personal hygiene items they will need in order to survive the next week. On average, four tons of food, personal hygiene items, baby formula and diapers are collected and distributed weekly. The collected items are stocked, packaged and distributed completely by volunteers to support those in need. The person who started it all, and continues to lead it today in a completely volunteer role, is Chuck Smith.

Watch the video for more:



For the past 20 years, Chuck has done everything from spearheading a major building renovation project, making the facility handicapped-accessible, leading area food drives which help fill the shelves to writing grants to supplement the budget when food donations run low.

Much like AARP, Chuck Smith believes that everyone should be able to age and live with dignity and fulfill their goals and dreams. Chuck makes this happen each week in the way he has set up the distribution of food to those in need. Chuck teaches through information sharing, advocacy and encouraging others to serve. Often those he has helped have become volunteers themselves and pay it forward once they are back on their feet. This engenders that sort of loyalty and desire to give back.

Congratulations to Chuck on his well-deserved award!