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As holiday decorations collect dust over the summer, area food banks also see less activity after the colder months.

But Rockville-based Manna Food Center is seeing an increase in giving thanks to the efforts of an area Muslim group.

The Montgomery County Muslim Council collected more than 10,000 pounds of food last month at a picnic at Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds. Hundreds of bags lined the base of the picnic site, where people parked their cars and unloaded their groceries.

County Councilman Mike Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown attended the picnic as did a representative from U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski's (D-Md.) Greenbelt office. They both commended the council for its efforts.

Year after year, the event grows in size and stature. Donations are now tax exempt.

"The community is just getting started," said Sohail Malik, co-chair of the Food Drive Committee and council secretary.

"Charity and giving to people is a tenet of Islam," said Tufail Ahmad, a council member. "Our obligation is a responsibility to help people."

Ahmad, who came to the United States from Pakistan, said it's often hard to convince Muslims to donate to organizations such as the council. In much of the Islamic world, he said, charitable organizations such as the council don't exist – donations often come from one person directly helping another.

Ahmad described some in the area's Muslim community as "very shy" and hesitant to donate without knowing where their money is going. But he said the proof is the results and support of the council is growing.

Large-scale drives like the council's April event are a big boost to Manna Food Center, said Amy Gabala, the organization's executive director. To put the amount of food collected by the council in perspective, Gabala said the average grocery bag weighs about 11 pounds.

"Getting help in the late spring is a tremendous help," she said. "The people coming in, they don't drop off [after the holiday season]."

Becky Wagner, executive director of Rockville-based Interfaith Works, a nonprofit comprised of area religious organizations, said the tradition of holiday giving draws people to donate at that time of year. But the need is year-round, she said.

"It can be most rewarding when you haven't been obligated to [donate]," Wagner said.

Wagner said there's always a need for a helping hand, even when the weather warms and utilities may not be as high.

"Poverty doesn't take a vacation. Poverty doesn't take a holiday," Wagner said. "It's just there."

Area residents and organizations can learn from the efforts of the council, Wagner said. She said a recreational basketball team in Germantown collected $5 each time they played a game and paid someone's utilities with the money collected.

"Everyone can be reminded that as we are planning vacations, people are paying their bills," Wagner said. "When you are taking your break, you may want to take a break for someone else – literally."

For more information about the following organizations, go to:

-Manna Food Center: www.mannafood.org

-Montgomery County Muslim Council: www.mcmcouncil.org

-Interfaith Works: www.iworksmc.org