#GivingTuesdayNow with the Circle
In the Scott Circle Communications #WFH (“work from home”) Slack channel, our most persistent thread of conversation has been about how to feel connected to our DC community. These past weeks have upended our regular routines, but our team has been creative as always in finding ways to work together while apart and balance this with the need to unwind and disconnect. From safely supporting our local farmers’ markets to volunteering from home, we’ve been finding a lot of joy and inspiration in adapting to the times and feeling civically engaged.
When we learned that #GivingTuesday was launching a global day of giving on May 5th in this spirit, our team overwhelmed the Slack channel with tips about ways to participate. As a company, we support N Street Village throughout the year and we hope you’ll consider contributing however you can to help their remarkable frontline staff continue to provide assistance to homeless and low-income women in DC. Check out the other local causes, businesses, and groups our team is supporting as they respond to the coronavirus crisis:
Dani: One of my favorite organizations in DC is GirlTrek. GirlTrek supports a health movement for African American women and girls grounded in civil rights history through walking campaigns, community leadership and health advocacy. Most notably, GirlTrek organized the largest moving tribute to Harriett Tubman by gathering 15,000 supporters to walk around the National Mall. During this COVID-19 crisis, they’ve been forced to suspend their walks but they have not abandoned their health campaign. On their website, one can find Meditation Mondays and at home self-care tips that are perfect for social distancing.
Daniella: I have definitely taken for granted what it means to gather in some of my favorite places in DC like restaurants, cafes, stores, parks, and in the wake of COVID-19, I quickly realized that support was desperately needed for the hospitality industry. This industry is made up of so much more than servers and chefs - it includes dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, housekeepers, etc. The good news is there are many organizations working to provide resources, support and food to the DC hospitality industry. The DC Hospitality Coalition is a forum for allied hospitality workers to share information, solve challenges, and provide support. They have organized a DC Virtual Tip Jar, where you can provide monetary support directly to food and beverage workers. Also, Friends and Family Meal is a nonprofit organization founded by two DC restaurant veterans for the purpose of taking care of the people who take care of people. They provide nutritious food to hospitality workers worried about food scarcity, while also keeping money flowing to struggling local farmers.
Dee: Just north of the DC line in Silver Spring, MD is Shepherd’s Table -- a local nonprofit with a mission to provide help to people who are homeless through a variety of services ranging from meals to medical support to clothing. In addition to assembling and providing desperately needed meals right now, they are also helping support local businesses - using donations to purchase food from local restaurants to help meet the increased demand. They are a great example of “neighbors helping neighbors.”
Elizabeth: I Support the Girls (ISTG) collects gently worn bras, underwear and menstrual hygiene products so no woman has to choose between feeding herself and her personal health. Dana Marlowe, DMV local and the founder/executive director of ISTG (Editor’s Note: Dana is also a friend of the Circle), aptly describes why this cause is important to me: “periods don’t stop for pandemics.” Period products are one of the many items clearing the shelves in grocery stores. During times of distress, women’s health is often forgotten and ISTG makes it their mission to ensure women in need have the ability to maintain their dignity. While the nonprofit has DC roots, beginning with a simple Facebook post, ISTG created a global movement. Now is the perfect time to sort through your bras for any unused, lightly worn items or through your bathroom cabinets for a spare box of tampons to consider donating.
Kellie: My husband was among the first responders at the Pentagon after 9/11. Seeing firsthand the lasting emotional and financial impacts crisis situations have on the families of America’s law enforcement and firefighters prompted mine to support First Responders Children's Foundation. Since its founding in 2002, the Guidestar Gold Seal of Transparency nonprofit has provided financial support to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty as well as families enduring significant financial hardships due to tragic circumstances. Donations made to the First Responders Children's Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund provide first responders and their families with emergency financial assistance. It also helps provide food, supplies, rent or mortgage, utility and child care assistance. Even during this public health crisis, we count on our brave and selfless law enforcement and firefighters to be there to protect us. Supporting First Responders Children's Foundation is my way to show them that they can count on us to help their families and honor their sacrifice.
Laura: My family knows someone who has been in the hospital because of COVID-19. We have sent food to the doctors and nurses at the hospital that have taken care of this person. Quick tip - healthcare workers are getting a lot of pizza so are looking for different, healthy food. There’s actually someone at the hospital coordinating all the meal drop offs for healthcare workers. (Editor’s Note: Beyond dropping off food directly to your nearest hospital, you can also support local groups working to feed healthcare heroes such as Feed the Fight DC and TwentyTables - Feed the Front Lines.)
Lauren: DC has such an incredible community of chefs, and I deeply miss enjoying meals out with friends – even though my home cooking skills are now better than ever. Each week I’ve been choosing a few local spots for food (and wine!) takeout and Purple Patch is among my favorites. The woman-run business not only serves incredible Filipino food, but they’ve been offering free takeaway meals for kids everyday, in a time when school-lunch is no longer accessible. I’m proud to support them and to contribute to the Capital Area Food Bank to help people struggling with hunger and food insecurity amidst this crisis.
Matheson: Although it is a global organization, World Central Kitchen was started in DC by Chef José Andres and Patricia Andres. After early success with promoting clean cookstoves, providing culinary training programs, and supporting social enterprise ventures, WCK began responding to natural and man-made disasters around the globe. You are probably familiar, but their work includes providing meals and supplies on the ground, and is coupled with a deep understanding of the logistics and systems that must be put in place to be effective. Unsurprisingly they have been very active in the COVID-19 response. WCK supports people because they need a helping hand, not because they have something to offer for political gain, and I couldn’t be happier to lend my support too. You can donate to World Central Kitchen here or buy a cool BEANS t-shirt (100% of proceeds go to WCK) here!