Produce For People | Capital Area Food Bank

 

Just getting the word out…

The CAFB is making a renewed commitment to provide fresh, nutritious produce to members of our community who are experiencing hunger – many for the first time.

We are issuing an urgent appeal for your support to help us increase the amount of fresh produce we distribute to our more than 700 partner agencies.

The goal of our campaign – Produce for People — is to distribute 30 million pounds of food, including 15 million pounds of fresh produce, by June 30th. We have six million pounds to go and we need your support to reach that goal.

Why is the need so critical? Since 2006, hunger in the Washington metro area has increased by 25 percent and with the current rise in food prices, it’s only getting worse. With 1 in 5 children in the metro area struggling with hunger and with so many families having to choose between paying the mortgage, health care, or paying for utilities, it is imperative that we do more to nourish our community.

via Produce For People | Capital Area Food Bank.

Homelessness increases in D.C. area – The Washington Post

No surprise here. Please spread the word that if people need help or food they can come to the TCCOC. We have a food distribution service this Saturday at our DC location from 9 AM to noon.

The number of homeless families in the Washington region rose nearly 10 percent during the economic downturn, according to data released Wednesday as part of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ annual survey of the homeless.

via Homelessness increases in D.C. area – The Washington Post.

Social Networking and Non-profits

Part of being a nonprofit is networking and reaching out to the community to ask for help.  Today that means more that just having a bake sale or a spaghetti dinner or raffling off a prize.  Those things are still important, it gives the charity an opportunity to directly interact with their supporters; however, today the use of social media is just as important.  The Internet has given nonprofits an endless stream of supporter and partners.

Today I decided that I would do some general upkeep on our Twitter account (@TCCOC) and I thought it would be a good idea to find and follow some like minded organizations.  It really is impressive… the number/diversity of the nonprofit organizations that you can interact with is really astonishing. From clean water projects (@charitywater, @TheWaterProject), AIDS (@GreaterThanAIDS, @AIDSgov), environmental causes(@nature_org, @RainforestUS) , to disaster relief (@SalvationArmyUS, @RedCross) sites like Twitter have really helped nonprofits connect with supporters and partners.

While all these causes are more than worthy of your time and donations, the TCCOC would like to highlight the following organizations.  These are, for the most part, based in the Washington, D.C. area, or they are the national partners of charity organizations that work in D.C.

Fair Chance DC

http://www.fairchancedc.org

@FairChanceDC

Fair Chance provides capacity building services to community based nonprofits in Wards 5-8 to give every child in DC the Fair Chance to Succeed.

TCCOC Blog Picts

DC FoodForAll

http://dcfoodforall.com

@DCFoodForAll

Eaters and advocates, growers and wonks, working to bring healthy, sustainable and affordable food to all.

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So Others Might Eat

http://www.some.org

@SOME_DC

SOME (So Others Might Eat) is an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of our nation’s capital

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DC Central Kitchen

http://www.dccentralkitchen.org

@dcck

DC Nonprofit that uses food as a tool for community empowerment

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Capital Area Food Bank

http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org

@foodbankmetrodc

We feed people at risk of hunger

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Feeding America

http://www.feedingamerica.org

@FeedingAmerica

Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity helping more than 37 million Americans each year.

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Fredericksburg Area Food Bank

http://www.fredfood.org

@FredFoodVA

More than 7,000 people are receiving food assistance each month through our network of non-profit, faith-based, and community food assistance organizations.

From homeless child to star student – The Washington Post

 

 

Awesome accomplishments by this young man!

The young life of Michael Robinson is a story of sweat, studies and struggle. He is Springbrook’s first Ron Brown scholar; the designation, named after the late Clinton administration commerce secretary, comes with a $40,000 scholarship. It’s the latest accolade for an 18-year-old who grew up fatherless on a diet of canned foods and rice, endured months in a homeless shelter, and is now a first-generation college prospect choosing among Columbia, Princeton and Yale.

 

via From homeless child to star student – The Washington Post.

Homeless forced to leave Dale City tent camps along I-95 – The Washington Post

At least 80 people are believed to live in tents scattered through the area, near a Prince William County winter shelter, a bus terminal, a Kmart and some fast-food places. In the woods nearby, small neighborhoods have sprung up with camps. Some have wooden lean-tos, generators, TVs, heavy dinner tables.

via Homeless forced to leave Dale City tent camps along I-95 – The Washington Post.