GIVES collection, Post Office lobby, Penn Place, 9am-1pm - Saturday, May 1, 2010

Opportunity to Give to GIVES

While many folks stop by the table set up in the Post Office the first Saturday of every month, not many residents realize that GIVES has been an ongoing town tradition for over 30 years, collecting over $142,000 in donations for the American Friends Service Committee, which has many relief operations abroad, including Haiti, and for local DC shelter Thrive DC, which provides food and health services to DC residents in the Adams Morgan area.

This month marks the passing of Peg Winegarten, long-time Garrett Park resident and founder of GIVES. In her honor, friends like Rhoda Myers Capon have made GIVES donations,
and a gift card has been sent to Ms. Winegarten’s daughter in San Francisco. You can use GIVES gift cards as well, for special occasions or just to let someone know they make a difference in your life. Stop by the P.O. on May 1 or contact Karen Anderson for a gift card.

This summer, GIVES hopes to expand its summer collection days to include the third Saturdays of May, June, July, and August, in addition to our regular first Saturday of the month schedule. We’ll collect outside, right near the Farmers Market, pending approval of the Town and Tim.

The new additional collection location (which will not replace the P.O. location) provides an opportunity to expand our audience to neighboring community members, but we will need
additional volunteers to help sit at the table and explain what GIVES is about. If you would like to give 2 hours of time, it is a relaxing way to spend a summer morning, catch up with friends, and do some real good for those less fortunate. Please contact Rana Koll-Mandel or Nancy Walz to sign up.

We’re also organizing a group visit to Thrive DC on June 8. All are welcome. We will gather at 4:30 here in Garrett Park and carpool to Thrive DC’s location, where we will have a tour of the facilities and a presentation on the services offered. If any GP family members are interested in possibly volunteering at a soup kitchen, this would be a good time to check out Thrive DC with no obligation.