Assisting a mother with feeding her children. Building a house for a senior citizen in a small town. Clearing a forest trail for all to enjoy. These are just some of the ways that we, the employees of USDA, serve people as part of our day-to-day jobs. And these are also just a few of the many ways that USDA employees can give back to our communities and serve others by volunteering.
The President and First Lady have often said that each of us has a role to play in contributing to a better future for our country. That's why they have asked all Americans to join them in their summer of service initiative, 'United We Serve.' I also strongly encourage all USDA employees, partners and grantees to join in volunteer service between now and September 11, a national day of remembrance and service. Many of our partners have posted numerous service opportunities at www.serve.gov and I would ask you to do the same.
During these difficult times, we all need to ask ourselves if there is anything more we can give to help improve the lives of our neighbors next door and beyond. I want to thank for serving our country and the neighbors in our communities.
With best wishes,
Secretary Tom Vilsack
Below are a few suggested volunteer opportunities related to addressing hunger in our area. We recognize that this list is not comprehensive and the USDA does not endorse the activities of these organizations.
Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network
The Mid- Atlantic Gleaning Network is established as a nonprofit organization to conduct gleaning in the National Capital region. Annually, the Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network provides more than 3 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to hungry people in our area.
There is no sign-up to volunteer, unless coordinating a large group. To listen to upcoming gleaning events, please call 703-370-0155 or contact: Tom Chandler, 703-780-7809 or Garrett Hutsko, 703-303-8179.
DC Central Kitchen
Since 1989, DC Central Kitchen has served as a central location to recover unused food, prepare and deliver meals to partner social service agencies, train and employ homeless men and women for the food service industry, and intellectually engage volunteers.
On-Site Meal Preparation: Volunteers help prepare fresh, locally grown produce and recovered food for 4,000 meals a day. To volunteer visit http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/volunteer.php, create a user login, and register for a specific day/time.
First Helping: First Helping is a mobile street-level outreach program serving breakfast every morning throughout the District as a tool to establish trust and build relationships with homeless and low-income individuals. To volunteer contact Carolyn Parham, Volunteer Program Coordinator at 202-234-0707 x108
(cparham@dccentralkitchen.org).
Off-Site Food Preparation: Volunteer groups organize themselves and make sack lunches, healthy snack bags, casseroles and toiletry kits. If you have questions about off-site opportunities or if you want to schedule a pickup, please contact Erin Littlestar (elittlestar@dccentralkitchen.org or 202-234-0707, Ext. 145) at least three business days in advance of your event.
So Others May Eat
So Others May Eat is an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of our nation's capital with food, clothing, and health care and help break the cycle of homelessness by offering services, such as affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment, and counseling, to the poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. Volunteers serve as Dining Room Volunteers and spend time preparing and serving meals and interacting with the homeless guests. For volunteer information contact Gwen Benton at 202-797-8806 ext.7 or email gbenton@some.org
Capital Area Food Bank
The Capital Area Food Bank is the largest public, nonprofit food and nutrition education resource in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. Last year, the CAFB distributed 23 million pounds of food, including 6 million pounds of fresh produce, to over 700 partner agencies. Volunteers help sort non-perishable food into bins or boxes, repack food, or re-label boxes. To volunteer or for more information, please send an email to volunteer@cfoodbank.org, or you may call Nicole Durant at 202-526-5344 ext. 235, or Oye Omorogbe at 202-526-5344 ext. 286.
The SHARE Food Network
SHARE distributes high quality, affordable nutritious food as a way to build community and strengthen families. Established in 1990, the SHARE Food Network provides approximately 13,500 food packages each month through 320 churches and community groups. Volunteers may break down bulk foods, serve individual units, pack specific orders or load vehicles to distribute food. To volunteer contact Ms. Twitty, at 301-864-3115 or Ninochika.Twitty@catholiccharitiesdc.org
