Bread for the City

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve teamed up with DC United’s Ben Olsen once again for a special arts event! On Wednesday, January 5th, at 7pm at Morton Fine Art (1781 Florida Ave NW), this event will feature the works of several local artists (including Peter Loge, Ben Ferry, Mike Weber, Mike Dowley, Choichun Leung, Rosemary Feit Covey, Susan Burnstine, the Redskins’ Chris Cooley, recently profiled in the New York Times — and of course Ben himself). Proceeds will go to Bread for the City.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Free food and drink included with ticket purchase, as well as 15% off clothing purchases at the very trendy Commonwealth on Florida Avenue for that night only.

Space is limited, so get your ticket today.

As we wrap up this crazy holiday season, let’s take a moment to reflect on the year that was 2010. It was a busy one for Bread for the City, filled with challenges, loss, innovation and growth. Have a look:

For most of the year, we watched the ongoing construction on our new Northwest Center facility (which includes a major expansion for our Medical Clinic). The expansion was finally completed in November, and we’ve moved in this month. (The Grand Opening is next Friday – you should come!)

But even before the move, our Medical Program was busy innovating – developing health-oriented literacy classes for both kids (with childrens’ books) and adults (with computer classes). Our cooking and nutrition classes ventured into ethnic cuisines, and even launched weight loss support groups.

Meanwhile, our Legal Team won some major victories for tenants that resonated across the city – like pressuring the Powers that Be to create a docket for tenants to file complaints about housing conditions in Landlord/Tenant court, and successfully representing the rent-striking tenants of Marbury Plaza as they demanded improvements to one of the largest housing complexes in the city. Other Big Wins included the Jerrold Scoutt Prize (Lord High Legal Director Vytas V. Vergeer) and Jeopardy (power-blogger Stacy Braverman).

Our food pantry saw both great steps forward and a devastating loss this year. Our Southeast Center introduced a whole new model of distributing food called “Client Choice,” which we’ve subsequently worked to improve, and ultimately permanently adopt, to widespread approval from staff, clients, and volunteers. Our second annual Glean for the City season was such a success that we actually had to put surplus fresh veggies out for anyone to take as much as they wanted; we even hosted a Free Farmers Market (which we hope to reintroduce and expand next summer). Amid all this, however, we said goodbye to our Food Pantry director, Ted Pringle, who built Bread for the City’s pantry into what it is today, and whose legacy will stay right with us in the future. Rest in Peace, Ted.

Even as we dealt with loss in our own family, we also took note that this was an especially difficult year for many of our clients. As the Great Recession trudged on, this blog recorded the dramatic rise in the need for utility assistance, the diminishing stock of affordable housing, and the devastating impact of budget cuts to critical programs such as disability benefits. Our social services staff worked furiously to meet new needs; for instance, Southeast’s Sherita Evans developed specialized protocols for working with low-income veterans who are increasingly turning to us. We also took more active advocacy responses to rising poverty, helping to launch the Save Our Safety Net campaign, and championing the expansion of food stamps in the District. You could even turn to the blog to hear it directly from our clients themselves, like Patty Anne, who is becoming something of a Beyond Bread regular.

That’s just a sampling of the year behind us; and, of course, we considered many issues that we’ll have even more to say about in the future (like our seedling rooftop garden program!). Here’s a huge thank you for everyone who helped us over the course of the past year. Your support makes all of this work possible.

If you haven’t yet, please consider making a year-end donation — and share that with your friends and loved ones. And to all of us, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

For a special segment to be broadcast on Christmas Day at 4pm, CNN visited our expanded Northwest Center and produced a feature on our health clinic, and Medical Program Director Dr. Randi Abramson. Enjoy!

Note that we are almost one week into our Year End Challenge: we’re trying to raise $150,000 (and add 200 new donors to the Bread for the City community) by the end of the year! This will help us move forward immediately with staffing and operating our new medical clinic in 2011. Join us today!

It’s the holiday season and although again this year I don’t have a lot, I’m grateful to have a roof over my head and my daughter Kerryn, who has been by my side through all the tough times. She’s the reason I’m here today.

I was in an abusive relationship, and I got out of it because I knew I was pregnant. I know some people will stick with a person and take what they can get. My husband had money, he had nice cars, but underneath he was abusive – I didn’t want that for my daughter. So I chose to walk away.

Even after all the troubles with my crazy landlords, having to be homeless for a little while, getting sick from mold in the places we were living, having to move from house to house, I don’t regret my decision. But sometimes it’s hard, knowing that Kerryn doesn’t have what other kids have, knowing she deserves better. I wish I were a millionaire so I could give her it all, but I have what I have, and I am trying to make it work.

Last year when we moved, I had no money to buy her gifts, and Kerryn had no Christmas. There was no tree, there were no lights. She came down the stairs and I know she was looking for something. I just said “Kerryn, I am so sorry,” and she said, “It’s ok Mommy, it’ll be better next year.” Even though things were that way, she never complained. Some kids would get mad. Instead, when I cry, Kerryn will hug and kiss me and tell me it’s alright.

Now here we are at Christmastime again, and I get just $118 a month in Food Stamps, even though Kerryn has food allergies and needs more expensive foods. I’m disabled and on a fixed income, so I’m not sure I can even get her the basics, let alone a special holiday meal. And even as I struggle to put food on the table, the City Council is cutting the budget for programs like Interim Disability Assistance and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Some people in my situation would give up. Because I have Kerryn, I find hope when so many people are trying to take our hope away. She is on the Principal’s Honor Roll, and she was just voted Vice President of the student government. I am so proud of her, and I want so much to be a mother she can be proud of. I want to take care of her the way I know she deserves. She gives me joy and peace, and the strength to fight for my rights and make sure my voice is heard.

I had quite a surprise this weekend: I woke up to find that my name has been offered for the Washington Post‘s “Person of the Year.” See this note by Mike McCurry, former press secretary to President Bill Clinton.

“There weren’t many political heroes in Washington this midterm election year, but some extraordinary people are on the verge of doing something our politicians should celebrate: ending childhood hunger in the District. There are about 35,000 kids in the District who live in poverty. Now a partnership of activists (both faith-based and secular) and concerned public officials have come forward with a real plan to make sure that by 2016, no child goes hungry. Many deserve recognition, but most would agree that the greatest champion of hungry kids is George Jones of Bread for the City.”

Mr. McCurry was right: recognition is due to the entire community of people working together to end hunger in our city. As flattering as it is to see my name mentioned among such prominent company, I hasten to assert that it’s our community — service providers, policymakers, educators, organizers, and supporters like you — that deserves special recognition for our work this year. I am merely fortunate to work among such dedicated and generous people. Thank you.

The DC City Council votes a second time tomorrow on the city’s revised budget. On the first vote, December 7th, the Council chose the approach of spending cuts instead of progressive revenue. Instead of investing in our city, the Council cut funding for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), disability services, child care subsidies, affordable housing, mental health services, and other essential programs. While we celebrate the partial restorations that were made — to Access to Justice, Energy Assistance, HIV/AIDS services, Grandparent Caregiver Subsidy, Adult Job Training, and others — we are dismayed that the Council didn’t make the bold, smart choice to create new tax brackets.

This video from Empower DC offers a good recap and features Bread for the City client blogger Patty Anne asking Mayor-Elect Vince Gray to not make cuts to the TANF program:

Despite the disappointment of the cuts and ultimate defeat of progressive revenue proposals, five Councilmembers again provided leadership in introducing progressive revenue: Michael Brown (At-Large), Jim Graham (Ward 1), Harry Thomas (Ward 5), Tommy Wells (Ward 6), and Marion Barry (Ward 8). Each supported income tax reform and designated the money that would have been raised to fund safety net programs. Please take a moment to email a thank-you to our Safety Net Superheroes.

Gray’s proposal included even harsher cuts to the TANF program. Just today, advocates learned that the latest proposal is to cut TANF cash assistance for all families by 12% and to implement full family sanctions, a policy change that completely cuts off any household that is not complying with the work requirement.

It’s too late to raise taxes, but it’s not too late to stop this harmful policy change. Please call the At-Large Councilmembers and your Ward Councilmember today or tomorrow morning, and ask them to implement improvements to the TANF program that will get people back to work before removing financial support. Consider saying something like this:

“I am calling to ask _________ to oppose full family sanctions and reducing TANF benefits in the Budget Support Act. I believe the City Council needs to slow down and approach this issue in a thoughtful manner. Rushing TANF reform puts families at risk and does not address the underlying problems preventing families from moving to work. We need time to plan and develop good TANF policies that promote work and protect children.”

Chair Vincent C. Gray, vgray@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8032
At-large David Catania, dcatania@dccouncil.us, 724-7772
At-large Michael Brown, mbrown@dccouncil.us, 724-8105
At-large Phil Mendelson, pmendelson@dccouncil.us, 724-8064
At-large Kwame R. Brown, kbrown@dccouncil.us, 724-8174
Ward 1 Jim Graham, jgraham@dccouncil.us, 724-8181
Ward 2 Jack Evans, jackevans@dccouncil.us, 724-8058
Ward 3 Mary Cheh, mcheh@dccouncil.us, 724-8062
Ward 4 Muriel Bowser, mbowser@dccouncil.us, 724-8052
Ward 5 Harry “Tommy” Thomas Jr., hthomas@dccouncil.us, 724-8028
Ward 6 Tommy Wells, twells@dccouncil.us, 724-8072
Ward 7 Yvette Alexander, yalexander@dccouncil.us, 724-8068
Ward 8 Marion Barry, mbarry@dccouncil.us, 724-8045
Councilmember listserv membersonly@dccouncil.us

Christmas is just a week away, and here at Bread for the City, we’re filled with anticipation for the holiday — and, suffice it to say, busier than ever!

It’s not just that we’re still moving into our brand new facility. It’s also that Holiday Helpings is still going strong in this final week. Indeed, still more families will come to us in the week to come, seeking help to make a holiday meal possible.

If you haven’t yet given to Holiday Helpings, please give today. And if you’ve already given, please consider making another donation in honor of a friend or loved one as a holiday gift. Just give us your instructions in the comment field of our Holiday Helpings donation page by the close of business today, and Bread for the City will mail a special gift care to the designee of your choice. (Such gifts can be made after today, and we will send an email on Christmas Day.)

I am so proud of our staff for their steadfast commitment and capabilities. And I am so inspired by our generous community of donors, who have given us the support we need to meet this increased need. Thank you for making this Holiday Helpings one to remember.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649

Our new medical clinic’s new children’s waiting area is already filled with books awaiting readers of all ages.

When Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church (CCPC) in Northwest DC learned about the beautiful new space and its empty shelves, they held a book drive during October to make sure that every child visiting the clinic could find a book to read (and maybe take home). They collected more than 300 books for all reading levels: board books for the tiniest hands, picture books, easy readers, and chapter books for tweens and teens.

Then CCPC’s Weekday Nursery School also found out about the new clinic, and they dedicated part of their Book Fair to the book drive and brought in nearly 150 more books. Now all the new parents and children coming to Bread for the City’s medical center can come browse the shelves for something to read while they wait.

We’ve been distributing books to our pediatric patients for some time now (read more about our Reach Out and Read program, which provides a new book for each child per medical clinic visit). More books, of course, are always needed and welcomed. Please contact Erin Garnaas-Holmes at eholmes@breadforthecity.org with any donation offers or questions. Thank you!

Many thanks to Steve Robertson, Associate Pastor, Joan Rademaker, who combed all the library book sales in her area and filled up 4 boxes with books, the Mission Committee, which approved and promoted the book drive, Sandy Meredith, who carried boxes and bags of books and was the most joyful booster of the book drive, Cindy Walsh, Director of the Weekday Nursery School, and Kristen Best, who organized the book fair.

(And many thanks also go out to Cynthia Krus and George Corey, who made this new children’s waiting area possible through a donation to the capital campaign in honor of the Krus-Corey Family.)

Lastly, a reminder that you can join us to see this space, at the Grand Opening of the new center on January 7th. RSVP at rsvp@breadforthecity.org.