volunteers

Volunteer Voices is written by Sarah Katz-Hyman. Sarah is a student at University of Maryland and lives in College Park. She previously wrote about Food For All – DC.

This column focuses on service organizations in D.C. – what they do, their history and how you can volunteer. If you know of any service agencies in D.C. or have a place where you regularly volunteer, please share your experiences in the comments below and those agencies could be featured in this column.

This week’s organization is Miriam’s Kitchen located at 2401 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

What They Do:

Miriam’s Kitchen (MK), housed in Western Presbyterian Church, provides a full range of services, activities and resources for homeless man and women in D.C. They offer four main programs that comprise their services. Their meals program serves over 300 individuals for breakfast and dinner Monday through Friday and for lunch of Wednesday. They also have case management services and social workers connect guests with various services, from providing housing resources to simply getting a toothbrush. Miriam’s Kitchen also has a therapeutic program, called the Studio, where guests can participate in activities like knitting, book club, art classes, yoga and many more between breakfast and dinner. MK has even partnered with Theater J to bring guests to shows, and Theater J actors have come to MK to talk to guests and share their stories through monologue performances. Their fourth program is advocacy and education. MK partners with other service organizations in the District to raise awareness with a focus on housing and a goal to end chronic homelessness.

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Volunteer Voices is written by Sarah Katz-Hyman. Sarah is a student at University of Maryland and lives in College Park. She previously wrote about Back on My Feet.

Photo of St. Patrick’s Day 8K earlier in March, courtesy of Back on My Feet

Volunteer Voices is written by Sarah Katz-Hyman. Sarah is a student at University of Maryland and lives in College Park. She previously wrote about Christ House in Adams Morgan

This column focuses on service organizations in D.C. – what they do, their history and how you can volunteer. If you know of any service agencies in D.C. or have a place where you regularly volunteer, please share your experiences in the comments below and those agencies could be featured in this column.

This week’s organization is Back on My Feet located at 122 C St., NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20001.

What They Do:

Back on My Feet (BoMF) is a service organization that uses running to provide support and resources for currently homeless men and women. BoMF uses running to encourage those experiencing homelessness to gain confidence and use running as a healthy outlet. Back on My Feet’s hope is that through running as a team, participants will gain the skills and confidence to take steps to find a more permanent living situation and a job. BoMF has 10 chapters all over the country, including chapters in D.C. and Baltimore. BoMF works with local residential facilities (shelters, missions, halfway houses, etc.) that support homeless men and women to start “teams.” Teams are made up of volunteers, homeless men and woman, and BoMF representatives. These teams meet three times a week at 5:30 a.m. to go on runs together. All team members must sign a “Dedication Contract” committing to showing up for the runs, being on time, respecting themselves and supporting teammates. After thirty days in the program, participants who maintain a 90% attendance rate move to the “Next Steps” part of the program. In “Next Steps,” participants meet with a BoMF staff member to plan a road map to a better life. BoMF has financial aid for members to address barriers including tools for employment, education, security deposits, etc. Once participants find employment and housing they become alumni members, many of whom still join in on team runs.

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From an email:

My organization is looking for volunteers to help out at the Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Marathon and Half Marathon on March 17th. We’ve got a water stop at North Capitol and Bryant Streets and could use some help from the community! Please see below for the announcement. Thank you so much!

The TEAM TO END AIDS (T2) endurance training program is currently recruiting volunteers to represent T2 at the Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Marathon and Half Marathon on Saturday, March 17th.

T2 will be hosting a WATER STOP at Bryant and North Capitol Streets. Volunteers here will assist with the set-up of the station and the distribution of water and Gatorade to runners of the Rock ‘n’ Roll USA race. For planning purposes, volunteers will be needed from approximately 6:30 am until 10:30 am. Come out and support runners from across DC and the nation as they run through OUR neighborhoods! Experience the excitement of a world class event in our own backyard.

If you have additional questions or would like to sign up as a T2 volunteer please contact Anna Bavier at 202.408.4848 x 260 or via email at abavier@aidsunited.org.

On behalf of AIDS United and the Washington AIDS partnership, thank you!

From an email:

Firefly Restaurant and Hotel Madera will host a blood drive to benefit the American Red Cross on Thursday, January 19th between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Chef Daniel Bortnick will provide a blood sugar-boosting Red Velvet Cupcake treat, as a thank you to everyone who donates. The cupcake is a staple on Bortnick’s dessert menu and is made with cream cheese frosting and chocolate pearls. Donors can conveniently schedule appointments online by clicking here.

Firefly is located at 1310 New Hampshire Avenue, NW.

Photo by PoPville flickr user Glyn Lowe Photos

From an email:

Monday, January 16, (10am-1pm, 1pm-4pm or 10am-4pm)

Sign up today for our We the People-MLK Day projects.  Please register ASAP!  Spots fill quickly.   All volunteers 14 and over are welcome.

You will be placed on one of these two projects:

Rachael’s Women Center

One of two day shelters for homeless people in DC, the center provides a warm community space, two hot meals, access to showers and laundry services and a sense of home.  Help us rehab the building by painting, installing shelving, and tearing up carpet.

Rising Sun Baptist Church Community Center

Once complete, the center will house four of the church’s ministries including a food pantry, clothes drive, HIV/AIDS testing, and activities for children of incarcerated parents.  We will be installing flooring, cabinets and more.

To participate, a $25 tax-deductible donation is requested.  This donation is matched by an anonymous Yachad donor.

From an email:

“This is the final week to sign up to participate in Children’s Law Center’s annual Holiday Hope Drive as a volunteer Santa, the deadline is Friday, December 2. We hope you can include the announcement in your publication, as we still have many children waiting for volunteer Santas to ensure they have a happy holiday.

Children’s Law Center is offering a new way to help our teen clients this year: donating gift cards. As in years past, Santas may also choose to “adopt” a younger child and receive a wish list with specific items.

Please visit www.childrenslawcenter.org/join-our-team/holiday-hope-drive for stories of children enrolled in the Hope Drive this year.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Vileinist

From an email:

“Join us at the AARP District of Columbia 3rd Annual Food Drive on Friday, October 14, 2011. We are still in need of volunteers to assist in collecting food at several DC stores. We also have a need for volunteer drivers to deliver food to Capital Area Food Bank from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on the day of the event. This is an intergenerational project. Please email me at jwjordan@aarp.org for more information.

The following locations are in critical need of volunteers:

Safeway (Ward 1) 1747 Columbia Rd NW (Adams Morgan) ALL TIMES AVAILABLE: 8:00 – 11:30; 11:30 – 3:00, 3:00 – 6:30 pm

Safeway (Ward 2) 490 L St NW, (5th St & New York Ave NW) (11:30 -3:00pm ; 3:00 – 6:30 pm

Contact me and provide your desired store and the time you will volunteer! Times are flexible.

Join us at the AARP DC 3rd Annual Food Drive and let’s work together to end hunger. If you are unable to volunteer please stop by one of the ten DC locations to donation needed nonperishable items. www.aarp.org/dc”