Serve & Help

During this time of physical distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19, our desire and call to serve does not go away - in fact, it may even grow stronger.  Look for ways to plug in and reach out to our neighbors in need!  Questions, want more details or to help?  Contact our service leaders: Sophie (sophie.guiny@gmail.com) or Brittany (brittanyrgodin@gmail.com).  Have ideas to add?  Fill in a comment at the bottom of this page.
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Keeping our Commitment to Serve
Opportunities to serve and your donations & support at work:

• Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of the Capital Area, in partnership with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, is a trusted organization that receives refugees. LSS will be resettling many Afghan refugees in the DC area. We can help and make an impact. Visit https://lssnca.org/take_action/afghan-allies.html to learn more about ways to donate and volunteer.
• Starting Sunday 9/12, we're collecting grocery gift cards (any amount, physical gift cards only, preferably from Giant, Safeway, Target, Walmart, Harris Teeter, Lotte, and Aldi) to share with arriving refugees. Grocery gift cards were one of LSSCNA's top donation requests, apart from monetary donations. Besides housing (which in the short-term is being taken care of), food is the next biggest need. LSSNCA has found that giving people the opportunity to choose their own food and cook something familiar provides a small amount of both dignity and comfort when their lives have been upended. So, next time you're at the grocery store, get a couple as you checkout, and bring them to church to make a real impact in care!
• We're continuing to serve meals and support financially the Georgetown Saturday Suppers program.  Our next service date is  December 4th.  We can use your help; we need:
  • just a few volunteers - sign up for this and future opportunities here
  • donations to provide food (we purchase from a local restaurant to reduce contacts, ensure safe food prep, and support local businesses)
  • donations of trial-size/hotel toiletries, and other needs. Coordinate drop-off or purchase via our Amazon list, here.

• Grate Patrol -  We're continuing our commitment to support as we usually provide 100 meals on the 2nd and 5th Sunday each month.  The program cannot accept volunteers or donated food at the moment, so we're contributing additional funds to provide the meals and support staff time.

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Service Ideas

Do/Make

Things you can do safely from home!

Writing letters and/or cards to people living in retirement/senior living facilities.  Coordinated effort coming soon!
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Making and sending self-care kits to staff at a local hospital.  Coordinated effort coming soon!

Make cloth masks - some good patterns are here.   Many places are in need of donated masks, including Georgetown Ministry Center.

Getting groceries for elderly, vulnerable, or sick folks.  Possible connections: Georgetown Village, Iona Senior Services, or contact Pastor Brett.

Record a video (storytelling, songs, etc.) for a child in your life!  Know a single parent or ones trying to work from home and juggle kids?  How could you help or send support from afar?  Coordinated effort may be coming soon.

Make “blessing bags” for those experiencing homelessness.
Coordinated effort may be coming soon.

We're working on learning more on how we might:
Assisting the homeless who have been housed in hotels
TBD: learning more about the need, how to connect through DC Health and Human Services possibly or DC Dept of Health.

​Give

We want to share some local community needs and current status of service agencies.  Every donation makes a difference!

Homeless & Vulnerable Services:

• Miriam's Kitchen - (located in Foggy Bottom) is still providing the following homeless services: daily breakfast and dinner, caseworker/support services, and staff support for the doctor and psychologist street outreach to homeless folks in Georgetown.
• Martha’s Table is another ongoing homeless/need provider in the city providing meals and various services.  It is one of the only ones who can receive donated food and other item donations.
• Friendship Place continues to provide street outreach in Georgetown through a partnership with the Georgetown BID, as well as job placement services for homeless folks and veterans’ services.
• The Georgetown Ministry Center day drop-in center has reopened, offering limited use for showers, mail pickup, bagged lunches, and laundry.  They have an Amazon wish list here with critical things (masks and gloves, as well as gift cards for food/essentials) which will be distributed to guests.   Contribute to support through the Spirit of Georgetown annual campaign event going on now!

Feeding & Meals

• ​Support local food pantries by giving a donation to the Capitol Area Food Bank.  The food bank has also taken over meal delivery to elderly folks from many smaller agencies.  
• Food for Others (Northern Virginia)
• Give a designated donation to help the costs of supporting Grate Patrol and the Saturday Suppers.

Other

• Greater DC Diaper Bank - Providing essentials for babies & families.
• Dogwalkers, and doggy daycare like Fur Get Me Not Dog Daycare - a business, but one that needs support, shared by a member.

Have a service idea or a way to help?  Comment below!