MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) – Volunteers with The Upcounty Hub distributed free food to hundreds of families at Germantown Elementary School on Tuesday. They said working in the cold is difficult, but helping their neighbors makes it all worth it. “You’re just frozen,” a volunteer at The Upcounty Hub, Nicole Butler-Hammond, said. "You’re moving as a frozen person.” Butler-Hammond has handed out food even when temperatures are below freezing. “It is very challenging because we have to input stuff on our phone,” she said. “And we can’t wear gloves for that.” Howard County firefighters rescue dog from frozen pond Butler-Hammond said what keeps her warm is knowing that she’s making a difference in her community. “When I get those smiles and those thank yous,” she said. “That makes me feel real good inside.” The Upcounty Hub provides food to more than 1,200 families each week. “We offer a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables for our clients,” Marko Rivera-Oven, director of operations for The Upcounty Hub, said. “Rice, beans, canned soup, cereal, shelf-stable milk that we’re able to offer to our clients. Then also, the third that we offer is fresh meat.” Rivera-Oven said as temperatures have dropped, the group has seen the needs of the community increase. “We saw a spike right after Christmas and we haven’t seen that spike go down,” he said. Trash collection in Bowie suspended due to below-freezing temperatures He said no matter the weather, his team is committed to providing free food to those in need. “Regardless if it’s 100 degrees outside or zero,” Rivera-Oven said, “People are still hungry. We still need to be out there, and if we’re able to out there and it’s safe for us to operate, we will continue to be out there because people are still hungry.” The Upcounty Hub holds food distributions five days a week at various locations throughout Upper Montgomery County. More information on The Upcounty Hub can be found here.