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Grantee Urgent Needs

Our grantees provide critical support to vulnerable populations. 

Please help meet the urgent needs of our grantees. Their descriptions may be found here, and on their websites.

 

Questions? Please email or call one of us. If you’d like to buy or collect something for one of the programs but aren’t able to do the drop off yourself, please let us know and we’ll help with the logistics.

 

GT Community Service Co-Chairs

Pam Feinstein (feinstep@gmail.com 301-332-7859

Harriet Shugerman (hshugerman08@gmail.com 301-229-4088 

A Wider Circle

awidercircle.org

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  • Donate Items - professional clothing, kitchen supplies, linen, furniture.

  • Donate $25 grocery gift cards - Giant or Safeway

  • Create Care Packages - oral care kits and essential household items.

  • Deliver supplies to families in southeast Washington DC

  • Pick up Donations to Sort Remotely 

  • Volunteer in Person to Sort Donated Items -  at the Silver Spring Center

  • Mentoring or Coaching - via Zoom

  • Host a Drive for:

    • Non-perishable Food

    • Coats and Winter Accessories - gently used, all sizes and ages.

    • Essential Items - laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, and more.

  • Holidays:

    • For Thanksgiving: donate food supplies - Thanksgiving wishlist or deliver food bags (Nov. 22-23) 

    • December holiday - drop off new, unwrapped toys or other gifts, or check out AWC’s Amazon wish-list to ship directly to AWC. Or get matched with a family and provide their wishlist.

 

GT Co-Liaisons:

Kim Schifrin (kdschifrin@gmail.com) 301-520-6228

Wendy Yaross (wyaross@gmail.com) 301-351-2613

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Aspire Counseling

www.we-aspire.org

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Greatest needs:

  • Diapers, especially newborn, 1, 2 and wipes

  • General hygiene items

 

  • Winter clothing for infants, toddlers, early childhood

  • Gift cards for grocery stores (Giant, Safeway, etc.)

  • Gift cards for Target, Walmart, CVS, will be greatly appreciated

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GT Liaison: Nancy Ebb (ebbford@verizon.net) 301-538-1624 

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Career Catchers

www.careercatchers.org


Volunteers are needed for one-on-one remote guidance in subjects such as Microsoft Office, reading/writing, GED, health and allied sciences, and business. Volunteers are also needed to help clients taking classes with both basic setup, general support and in specialty areas. How you can help: 

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  • Via ZOOM: Help teach classes for their Job Club and Empowerment "Workshops" to help clients with Job prep, networking, soft skills.

  • If the client has a problem getting started, use a combination of phone calls, screenshots, and FaceTime to walk them through it.

  • Contact them once a week to check-in.

  • Encourage them to move on to new classes once they’ve finished the first ones.

  • Help clients to prepare to take special tests like the GED, RN-NCLEX, Project Management, TEAS Exam, Financial skills, Language skills.

  • Teach intro classes on QuickBooks, MS Excel, MS Word, or using Google+.

  • Career Catchers has a volunteer opportunity (5-10 hrs /week) for someone who has experience working on databases.

 

CareerCatchers will provide detailed instructions, Zoom training, and backup.
Volunteer requirements: basic Web understanding, good communications skills, a mountain of patience, and a willingness to help.

 

If you are able to help from a distance, please contact Emma@careercatchers.org

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Gift cards are much appreciated.

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GT Liaison: Pam Feinstein (feinstep@gmail.com) 

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CASA

wearecasa.org

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Many of the people you will be helping are immigrant families facing extreme hardships.    

 

GT Liaison: Leah Steinberg (leahgsteinberg@gmail.com).

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Computer C.O.R.E.

computercore.org

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They have a particular need for:

  • Gently used computers or laptops. They will refurbish and wipe clean. If you know any businesses that are replacing old units, kindly reach out. Chromebooks are welcome also.

  • On-line/Distance Learning Instructors (i.e. teaching a Zoom class on MS Word or Excel)

  • Lead Computer Instructors (Microsoft Office)

  • Teaching Assistants

  • Career Coaches

  • On-line Tutors via ZOOM: Help clients learn various computer and office skills

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They also have an ongoing need binders and flash drives. They welcome help with organizing computer equipment.

 

GT Liaison: Lynn O'Connell (lynnoconnell.va@gmail.com).

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Crossroads Community Food Network

crossroadscommunityfoodnetwork.org

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Our neighbors are struggling to put food on the table because of the pandemic. SNAP usage at Crossroads Farmers Market increased 154% this season. Donations are needed to support:

 

  • Fresh Checks nutrition incentive program, which matches SNAP dollar-for-dollar so people can buy twice as much fresh fruits and vegetables at Crossroads Farmers Market:

--$40 provides 2 families with a week's worth of Fresh Checks
--$80 provides 1 family with a month's worth of Fresh Checks

 

  • Low-income food entrepreneurs who are shifting focus and resources to stay in business during the pandemic. It’s a time of profound uncertainty, but also opportunity. Food businesses that can successfully adapt can also thrive:

--$75 supports 15 hours of community kitchen use for a food entrepreneur
--$120 supports 1:1 technical assistance (e.g., developing new products or online ordering systems) to help a food business pivot

 

  • Healthy Eating Program, which lays the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating for students and families:

--$150 covers the cost of supplies for 3 socially distanced workdays for families at school and community gardens
--$225 covers the cost of plants, seedlings, and seed kits for windowsill gardens distributed to families at Crossroads Farmers Market

 

They have implemented a new fresh produce delivery program to get healthy food to senior shoppers who are staying away from the market due to COVID-19. Each week, they deliver to two low-income senior apartment buildings. 85 people receive weekly deliveries of fresh fruits and vegetables. 

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ONSITE OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES
- April through November in Takoma Park: Box up food that others will deliver to Senior Facilities on Wed Mornings 9:30-10:30 am - outdoors in tents
- Wednesdays through November 24, varying hours: In-person, outdoor help with tasks including Fresh Checks distribution, setting up and taking down signs and tables, etc.

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More ways to support CCFN:

  • Patronize the Farmers Market in Takoma Park on Wednesdays between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm through November 24 (Anne Street between University Blvd. & Hammond Avenue).

  • Help community kitchen applicants with obtaining food management licenses, making business plans, or otherwise mentoring their start-up food businesses.

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GT Liaison (temporary): Pam Feinstein (feinstep@gmail.com).

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DC Volunteer Lawyers Project

www.dcvlp.org

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Domestic violence victims and at-risk children are in homes that may not be safe.

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Items needed for the Teens At‐Risk: Growing, Engaging & Thriving (TARGET) program:


Distance learning items:

  • Gently used iPads/tablets

  • Lap desks, actual desks

  • Noise blocking earphones

  • Graphing calculators

  • Toiletries

  • Non perishable grocery items

  • Gift cards

  • Prepaid phone cards

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Click here to make a tax-deductible donation. 

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Lawyers are needed to volunteer in the areas of Civil Protection Orders, Family Law (Custody & Divorce), ad Child Advocacy (Guardians ad litem). DCVLP provides training, guidance and support to volunteer lawyers.

 

GT Liaison: Christine Kessides (ckessides@gmail.com)

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Food for Others

foodforothers.org

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Power Pack volunteers deliver weekend food packages to eight Fairfax County Public Schools where children receive free/reduced meals.
 

Their biggest needs are:

  • Canned meats (particularly chicken), canned chili, rice, pasta, pasta sauce, canned fruit, produce

  • Medium sized boxes (banker sized, printer paper sized)

  • Help organize snack packs for students and/or deliver to distribution sites. Masks and social distancing are mandatory.

  • Contributions towards their Stuff the Bus campaign to collect food for their numerous programs

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If you’re a Fairfax County resident, write/email/phone your Supervisor and Jeff McKay to advocate for the increased funding for Human Services to remain in next year’s budget.
 

Financial support is also always appreciated.

 

GT Liaison: Lynn O'Connell (lynnoconnell.va@gmail.com) for more details. 

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George B. Thomas Saturday School

www.saturdayschool.org

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Most needed:

  • Grocery gift cards in any amount - trying to give families $50-100.

  • Chrome books (gently used) for students. At least one is needed at each of five schools they serve. Raising funds to purchase new Chrome Books, and/or used Chromebooks in good working condition. 

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Volunteers are needed to help support staff and teachers in a variety of tasks or in mentoring students in specific subjects.

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GT Liaison: Pam Feinstein (feinstep@gmail.com). 

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Healthy Babies Project

healthybabiesproject.org

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Greatest needs:

  • Financial support

  • Safeway, Giant, CVS Gift Cards   

  • Lysol wipes and sprays

  • Pots and pan sets, kitchen utensils, oven mitts, sheets and comforters for twin beds, towels, wash cloths, clothing for Moms and infants

  • board books (English and/or Spanish) including Good Night Moon, Guess How Much I Love You, Pat the Bunny

  • toys for infants, toddlers, pre-school and elementary school children

  • infant and toddler clothes

  • child and adult size hats and mittens/gloves

 

Volunteer opportunities at HBP: 

  • Facilitate a group workshop for youth in your area of expertise, such as emotional self-regulation, personal finance, relaxation, networking, professional appearance 

  • Sponsor a dinner for HBP’s weekly teen parenting workshops

  • Provide Thanksgiving baskets for HBP families

  • Sponsor an HBP family with gifts during the holiday season

  • Fill welcome baskets for new residents with soap, lotion, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and other personal items

  • Provide tutoring in any subject

 

If you can help, email Jazmine Brazier (jbrazier@healthybabiesproject.org) for specific opportunities, or contact GT Liaison (temporary): Pam Feinstein (feinstep@gmail.com) 

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Identity, Inc.

identity-youth.org

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Identity is currently building long-term capacity as a trauma-informed organization to address trauma-related needs among immigrants and refugee women and girls in high-poverty areas of Montgomery County and who are most at-risk for poor academic and economic life outcomes.

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GT Liaison: Christine Kessides (kessides@gmail.com) 

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Interfaith Works

iworksmc.org

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DONATE: Clothes, personal care and small household items;

PROVIDE: Bagged lunches,  meals or snacks for the womens' center or older women residences. (approx 8-10 residents)

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Items they need urgently to ensure the staff and those in their care remain safe and healthy:

 

  • Women's underwear

  • Face masks

  • Hand sanitizer, soap

  • Disinfectant spray, wipes, surface cleaners with bleach

  • Bath tissue, paper towels

  • Snack bars and water bottles

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GT Liaison: Gail Dratch (gaildratch@gmail.com)

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John H. Bayne is a public school in Capitol Heights, Maryland serving approximately 500 students in grades Pre-K through Fifth Grade.

 

They are requesting help with: 

  • Grocery Gift Cards

  • School Supplies

  • Enrichment opportunities for students, including mentors, chess clubs, opportunities for exposure to cultural and other resources

  • Parent university, to help instruct parents and caregivers on how to use school-related technology and to provide emotional/social support

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GT Liaison: Renee Licht (renee.licht@gmail.com)​

John H. Bayne

PG County Elementary School

 

For medical and counseling services for vulnerable adolescents and young adults currently lacking access to most health care systems in the County, the following items are needed:

 

  • Anti-pyretics, such as Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen - can make use of bottles of all sizes

  • Over the counter creams, such as 1% Hydrocortisone or Clotrimazole

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GT Liaison: Marea Hatziolos (marea.hatziolos@gmail.com)​

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My Sister’s Place, in Washington, DC, serves families fleeing domestic violence by providing emergency shelter, transitional-to-permanent housing, and a wide range of supportive services. 

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Volunteers are needed to: 

  • Sort donations of coats at the MSP office on U Street NW during their fall coat drive. 

  • Load or unload moving vans and help families move into housing on Saturday mornings between 9:00 am- 12 noon.

  • Drop off items to families lacking transportation.

  • Staff the front desk at MSP to respond to donation inquiries.

 

Beginning in November volunteers will be needed to collect non-perishable food items and sort donations of toys in the MSP office on U Street NW. 

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Interested in helping out? Click this link to sign up and volunteer, or contact Angela Cavanaugh at (acavanaugh@mysistersplacedc.org)
 

Nourish Now

nourishnow.org

 
CURRENT TOP NEEDS:

 

  • ONSITE FOOD SORT (Rockville): help sort and organize groceries – must follow guidelines - wear masks and maintain social distance

 

  • VOLUNTEER: Nourish Now needs volunteers on Tuesday-Friday from around 12 noon-3:00 at their food distribution sites, and two Saturdays per month from 10 am-1:00 at their Rockville warehouse.  Volunteers will help NN staff sort food, unload food from trucks and distribute it into family cars, as well as help staff keep track of how many families NN is feeding. If you’d like to help, email volunteer@nourishnow.org. 

 

  • CANNED FOOD DRIVE: Please consider hosting a long shelf life food drive for Nourish Now. Among the recommended food items to donate are canned vegetables/fruit, canned tuna/chicken, bread, peanut butter, jelly and jam, granola bars, shelf stable milk, canned beans, dried beans, rice, pasta.  If you are interested in hosting a canned food drive, please contact volunteer@nourishnow.org. Nourish Now also will accept gift cards to purchase these items.
     

Location: 1111 Taft Street, Rockville 20850 

 

GT Liaison: Susan Alberts (susanalberts@gmail.com)

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Sasha Bruce

sashabruce.org

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  • Donate: Client essentials, like: T-Shirts, Socks, and Toiletries. Household items such as kitchenware and bath towels are listed on their Amazon wish list. Click here to donate. 

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  • ZOOM tutoring and mentoring​. Share your knowledge! we have several opportunities to share your skills to help us keep our sites operational and to support youth with distance learning. Positions are updated regularly based on need (www.sashabruce.org/volunteer).

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  • Facility Essentials: Twin-sized comforter and sheets, pillows, and other "welcome items" for youth arriving at our emergency shelter.

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  • Notes of Encouragement: Help us keep our youth motivated by writing small notes of encouragement to be included with each meal distribution.

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  • Bake & Deliver: Pick a month to provide a birthday cake or cupcakes to help celebrate residents having birthdays that month. Many of the youth in our care have not had a formal birthday. By providing a cake and perhaps a small gift card, you can help brighten someone's birthday month.

 

GT Liaison: Paula Norwood (PN1153@gmail.com)

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Urban Alliance

urbanalliance.org

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Urban Alliance serves high school youth from under-resourced communities who are at risk of disconnecting from pathways to economic self-sufficiency and lack the skills, experience, and networks needed for success. Urban Alliance provides professional or “soft” skills training, access and exposure to direct work experience, and meaningful adult relationships to help young people connect to pathways leading to self-sufficiency.

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GT Liaison (temporary) Harriet Shugerman (hshugerman08@gmail.com)

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We Are Family

wearefamilydc.org

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Volunteer opportunities (in North Capitol, Shaw, Columbia Heights) include Saturday morning grocery deliveries and shopping and delivery assistance .

 

GT Liaison: Harriet Shugerman (hshugerman08@gmail.com)

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