Local church donates money in wake of food pantry theft

By Mike Rauck

During a week where the news is trending more negative than positive, members of our community continue to fight the trend.  Senior Pastor Dione Bowlding from Bowie City Church announced in a weekly recorded message on YouTube Sunday that the church donated $1,000 to the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry in response to a theft that occurred at the pantry early Friday evening. 

According to Bowlding, the church has a program to assist the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry in every calendar month that has five Sundays.  On the fifth Sunday of those months, the church budgets about $4,000 to give to church families to shop and deliver goods to the pantry.


This month has five Sundays, but due to a scheduling conflict, the church donated to the food pantry on the first Sunday of the month.  Bowlding said that the church happened to have $1,000 remaining in this month’s donation budget, and that money was delivered to Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry Director Debbie Langdon over the weekend.

"The pantry is so fortunate to have such generous support from the community,” Langdon shared with Bowie Living.  “We are overwhelmed by their kindness and compassion.   These last few days have seen an increase in donations - some due to the pandemic and some due to the break in."

The pantry has had to make slight changes to their operations due to the temporary closure of city buildings where some of the pantry’s drop-off sites are located, but donations are still being accepted in the back of the Kenhill Center.  Visit the Bowie Interfaith Pantry and Emergency Aid Fund Facebook page for the drop off hours and list of items needed.

Monetary donations can be made via the pantry’s web site by clicking here.

The mandatory shutdown of some businesses due to concern about the Coronavirus will create a greater need for the pantry's services.


The Bowie Police Department identified 57-year-old Michael James Treyfry this afternoon as a suspect in the pantry theft.  Anyone with information about the theft or the whereabouts of Treyfry is encouraged to contact Detective Booth, Bowie Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at (240) 544-5700.  Callers can leave anonymous tips by calling (240) 544-5770.

Have you supported the pantry in the past?  Are you part of an organization that supports the pantry?  Share your stories in the comments.