Blog / Development

Bread for the City CEO George Jones explains the importance of Holiday Helpings this year. For 2020, we are expanding our reach to 15,000 families with more options to receive holiday helpings.

Last year, Bread for the City believed no family or individual should spend the holiday season without celebrating with their families and friends, due to their inability to pay. This year, we still have that same belief, but celebrating with family and friends may not be a priority to everyone.  Holiday Helpings this year is about turning tradition into progress, we’re providing the necessary tools for people to make their own decisions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people may not celebrate the holidays with a feast, but we still must provide support to our neighbors during these times.

For over 30 years Holiday Helpings has given families and individuals the food to celebrate with their loved ones. It has always supported low-income residents in our communities who don’t have the resources to provide a holiday meal for their families.

This year’s infographic is a reflection of our programmatic expansions in response to the needs of our city. Bread for the City successfully provided the most support with the least amount of barriers from the onset of the pandemic. For us, that meant loosening our requirements on food distribution as it became more important to protect our clients, staff, and greater community than to meet face to face and complete paperwork to receive food. With an incredible increase in the need for our services we vowed not to allow paperwork be the mountain in the way of diapers, food, or COVID testing.

Did you know that Bread for the City is a founding member of Thrive East of the River, an innovative cash transfer project? It’s true! We’re working together with three other nonprofits to provide 500+ households impacted by COVID-19 shutdowns with $5,500 in cash, groceries, diapers, and other dry goods; and assistance with financial counseling and job readiness.

A very timely gift arrived this summer! Bread for the City was honored as the recipient of online car buying platform gettacar and Carmelo Anthony’s vehicle giveaway in support of our pandemic response efforts.

Bread for the City introduces Kenrick Thomas as our new Communications and Events Manager and Samra Stoner as our new Northwest Volunteer Coordinator.

Bread for the City (BFC) has completed construction on a new, 28,136 square foot comprehensive service center at 1700 Good Hope Road SE. Construction began in January 2019. A virtual grand opening and ribbon cutting took place Thursday, September 3, 2020, which featured legendary DJ Donnie Simpson and DC’s Backyard Band. BFC exceeded it’s $35,000 goal by raising $67,136 to help staff the new center once it’s safe to fully open.