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Is there a better way to celebrate the holidays than to help provide holiday meals to thousands of DC families living on low incomes?  I don’t think so! I’ve only been Bread for the City’s Board President for a few months; but I’ve joined family, friends, and coworkers to raise and donate funds and to bag and distribute holiday food for Holiday Helpings every year since 2003.  Of course, I will go to some wonderful holiday parties, and my wife Joan and I will host and visit our children, grandchildren, and friends over the next several weeks. But the holiday season just wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t donate and volunteer for Holiday Helpings.  I hope you feel this way, too!

I share the belief of so many of our community members that Bread for the City is a wonderful organization.  It offers outstanding services and programs – medical, dental, legal, social, clothing, food, community organizing, and advocacy – to DC families in need and treats all of its clients with dignity and respect.  I take to heart Bread for the City’s commitment to undo racism and end poverty in DC. And I am overwhelmingly impressed by the great efforts of Bread for the City’s awesome staff. The holiday season is a time to be grateful for good works and generous people, and I am especially thankful for Bread for the City.  I’m glad that Bread for the City and Holiday Helpings are part of my holiday traditions.

This year, we hope to reach 11,000 DC families with holiday meals (turkey or ham and all the trimmings) so that they, too, can enjoy family traditions regardless of their financial circumstances.  Our board, staff and volunteers are confident that we will readily meet that goal with the generosity of our many DC supporters and friends.  

If you haven’t already, you can make a contribution to fill a family’s holiday table (or, better still, multiple families’ tables) or set up your own Holiday Helpings online fundraising drive by visiting the website at https://breadforthecity.org/holidayhelpings/, which also has information about volunteering for Holiday Helpings and other Bread for the City activities.  Of course, you should also check out the website if you and your family need a holiday meal. We’re here to help. 

Thank you to all of Bread for the City’s friends for volunteering and contributing, and for making holiday meals available for our DC neighbors in need.   Let’s all rejoice for the holidays in friendship, family, community, goodwill, justice, and peace.