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.

The new Southeast Center will serve 20,000 clients through 75,000 visits each year. It will feature a new dental clinic to provide cleanings, extractions, dentures, and x-rays to 1,000 patients. The increase in space will help other programs: food and clothing distribution, comprehensive social services, legal advice and representation, and community organizing and advocacy.

“The reason for this comprehensive service center is to improve the service for Black Washingtonians in Southeast,” says George A. Jones, CEO of Bread for the City. “This center will give us the necessary tools to provide quality services to help our clients. Our organization will fight to dismantle the systemic racism that is deeply affecting our community members.”

The virtual grand opening was a live video simulcast on Facebook and YouTube with interviews and testimonials from George Jones, Board President Jon Fee, and members of the leadership team. There were donations made during the event that helped exceed the fundraising goal of $35,000. There are still donation and recognition opportunities available here, your gift will help provide superiority services in Southeast.

BFC is grateful to the DC Department of Housing and Community Development, Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, and The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation who were substantial partners in this project. BFC also participated in the New Markets Tax Credit program through City First Bank of DC.