From an email:
“Lena puts the magic in Santa’s sleigh!
With 3 toy drop off (gas) stations, she makes sure there are gently loved regalos to go the whole way
By way of Ethiopia 20 years ago, she now makes sure other migrant children have a holiday bright
Toys drop offs and top offs and to all a good night!
Lena, a deep-hearted community leader, distributed food for us out of one of her five gas stations during the pandemic. Now she brings Santa to 3 of her stations to ensure migrant children have gently loved toys. This is not an abstract concept for her. She came here 20 years from Ethiopia as a Black muslim migrant and knows intimately what it is like to live with little. See it all here and find your way to 1 of her stations in the DMV or all 3!
MORE SANTA CON SABOR INFO HERE: Read More
photo by Robert Lintott
Readers ask: “We’re staying in town this year for a very low key Thanksgiving, and thought it would be nice to give back to the community. Crowdsourcing the Popville community for any knowledge of local volunteer events on Thanksgiving day or over the weekend. Park clean up, food drives, etc. Thanks in advance!”
“wondering if we can crowdsource ideas for volunteering on Thanksgiving?”
From an email:
“Join Us in Making a Difference at the Washington DC Food Drive!
Date: September 2nd, 2023 Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Location: Farragut Square Park Read More
“Dear PoPville,
A group of local community members are planning an inaugural “Uptown Pride” event on June 10th 2023 and we are looking for volunteers to help with the event!
Finalizing the events across the next few weeks but the event is slated to have: Read More
“Dear PoPville,
We’re the volunteer coordinators for the Japan-America Society of Washington DC’s Sakura Matsuri. It’s the Japanese street festival that closes out the cherry blossom season every year in downtown DC. We’re a volunteer run festival and we still need people to help! We’re especially looking for volunteers to help on the second day of the festival Sunday, April 16.
Volunteers get free admission to the festival, a t-shirt, snacks, and drinks which include beer for anyone over the age of 21! They can register online here or email us at [email protected] with any questions.”
“Dear PoPville,
A volunteer organization I am part of, Lasagna Love, delivers homemade Lasagnas to families in DC. There are more requests than volunteers available to make Lasagnas in DC. In DC, there is a backlog of 60 families requesting a lasagna due to health reasons, financial situations, life events, etc. On average, it takes about $15- $20 to make each lasagna. If anyone is looking for a volunteer opportunity in DC, please check out Lasagna Love and sign up.
Volunteering is easy and you can sign up once or many times! Read More
“Dear PoPville,
The installation of a new playground (teen adventure park and dog park) being built in Parkside (Ward 7) is next month. Read More
“Dear PoPville
Looking for volunteer opportunities in the district for about 10 people. We are a college alumni group and are striking out in our outreach to organizations. Thanks for any leads!”
photo by Beau Finley
From a press release:
“A dire blood shortage continues across the U.S. It is the worst blood supply shortage in over a decade, according to the American Red Cross. The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is partnering with the American Red Cross in holding blood drives throughout the region. The YMCA Metropolitan Washington has branches and program centers in Washington, D.C., Maryland and northern Virginia. Read More
“Dear PoPville,
For many of us, back-to-school time means shopping for school supplies for our children and enjoying the last days of summer. For scores of tutoring and mentoring organizations in the DMV, however, back to school means filling an urgent need to sign up and onboard hundreds of tutors and mentors to support underserved children and teenagers. With at least 2 out of 3 DC children reading below grade level, the need is great. The DC Tutoring & Mentoring Initiative (DCTMI) acts as a matchmaker, connecting volunteers with tutoring and mentoring organizations in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Read More