The Holiday Season at Martha's Table

The Holiday Season is a very special time of year at Martha's Table. The community is focused on helping those in need over the holidays. Even in these rough economic times, we have had an overwhelming amount of support with people contacting us to volunteer and donate in unique ways.
Local neighbors and businesses have helped in many different ways this year and holiday season. 1000's of volunteers have volunteered their time. Staff from PricewaterhouseCoopers volunteer at Martha's Table every Thursday and really helped out during our Winter Holiday Community Dinner and Pantry Thursday's this year. Many individuals have energized their offices to coordinate food drives for Martha's Table's emergency food services. Schools and churches have been collecting hats, gloves, scarves and coats for our clothing distribution center, Martha's Outfitters. Many families are volunteering in their homes by making peanut butter & jelly sandwiches or meat & cheese sandwiches and bringing them into Martha's Table.

Our Children's programs are also celebrating this holiday season. Just last night they performed a play, Christmas Around the World, for their Christmas Pageant.

Recently, Office of Human Resources Management, Benefits, Medical and Worklife Division came to Martha's Table with gifts for all the children in our Daycare program. Pictured above, the children are having an early Christmas thanks to all the generous staff.

The Washington Post put out an article today, highlighting corporations that stepped up to help the neediest in a rough 2009. Note the photo: a longtime volunteer, Linda, sorts linens in Martha's Outfitters.
The Washington Post

We thank everyone who has participated in helping the community this year. Even though so many have generously donated we still need help. We are always in need of non-perishable food items. There is a list posted on our website in the wishlist section. wwwmarthastable.org

We are also in need of volunteer drivers for McKenna's Wagon. Every evening, McKenna's Wagon rolls out to 3 different locations around DC. We could not do this without the help of our dedicated volunteer drivers. Drivers must make a 6 month commitment and have a valid drivers license. The vans leave at 5pm and return around 6:30.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver, please contact:
Kimberly Lyons
Development and Volunteer Manager
Martha's Table
202.328.6608 x 232
klyons@marthastable.org

Vote for DC and Martha's Table

To coincide with Mother's Day, Colgate-Palmolive launched a campaign, 'Share Mom's Love', that features an online contest to support summer feeding programs (http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/Corp/CommunityPrograms/share-moms-love.cvsp) in select cities in the U.S. Colgate-Palmolive and Share Our Strength identified one site in ten different cities that have the chance to receive funding to support their work - Martha's Table is the selected site in Washington, DC!

The three cities with the most votes will receive generous funding from Colgate-Palmolive. I know you are aware of all the work we do at Martha's Table, but there are summer feeding programs around that country that also help to ensure that at-risk children who receive lunch through federal, school-based feeding programs during the school year continue to receive free, nutritious meals when school is out.

We are asking that you go online to VOTE by May 10th to ensure that we are one of the top three cities chosen - and thus recipients of much needed additional funding for our work! You will also have a chance to win a trip for two plus dinner with Colgate-Palmolive personalities. You can vote more than once.

We are delighted to be a part of a partnership between Share Our Strength® and Colgate-Palmolive, that is working to increase funding for summer feeding sites around the country.

This Mother's Day, help end childhood hunger.

Not Eating Candy Has a Sweet Reward!

Martha’s Table received a letter from one of our youngest donors yesterday – seven-year-old Andrew Kaleigh was donating some hard-earned money. He participated in the Candy Challenge 2008, giving up eating candy for an entire year! He made a deal with his parents, and earned money for each day that he did not eat candy. This ties right in with our healthier initiative for McKenna’s Wagon! At the end of the year, Andrew divided the money he received equally among savings, spending money, and a charity of his choice. We are very honored that he chose Martha’s Table!

In his own words:

"I chose Martha’s Table for the charity that I would like to help. My little brother and I have visited Martha’s Table before when we dropped off sandwiches and bagged lunches that we have made with my family and sometimes with my neighbors. I think that Martha’s Table is a good place for kids. You help a lot of people and I think it’s a good thing to do. I hope that the boys and girls who come to Martha’s Table before and after school will like what we brought."
Thank you, Andrew, for all your help!