A Note From Amy
Dear neighbors,
In challenging times like these, we’re reminded daily of the deep and shifting needs in our community, along with the resilience and generosity that continue to meet them.
Some neighbors are hesitant to seek help when they’re in need. Others are navigating the social safety net for the first time. Still others are giving furniture and donations as they prepare for life changes, like layoffs or moves. We’re meeting each person where they are, connecting them with resources, and bringing services directly to communities most impacted.
We’re working closely with nonprofit, government, and private partners to plan for the growing demand we know is coming — and to respond to urgent needs already here. That includes a meeting we had last month with an array of other implementers in Montgomery County. It also includes partnering to support those displaced by the flooding in Silver Spring and those affected by recent violence near our Ward 8 Hub.
July brought intense heat, but the needs of our neighbors didn’t slow down, and neither did our work. From daily service to regional partnerships, the past month has been full of action, connection, and care.
Read on to see what we’ve been up to and what’s ahead.
With Gratitude,
Amy Javaid
President & CEO
In This First Friday:
Furnish Together
On Monday, July 21, A Wider Circle hosted representatives from 15 furniture banks across the country for a meeting of Furnish Together: The National Furniture Bank Coalition (representatives from another 25 furniture banks joined virtually). The following day, we led a critical policy briefing on furniture poverty on Capitol Hill. We presented data, shared personal stories, and outlined concrete solutions to address this crisis. Check out the slideshow above for photos from both events.
Furniture poverty — the inability to afford or access essential home furnishings — affects millions of families, yet it remains largely invisible in public policy discussions. More than 70% of the families we serve don’t have a bed when they come to us.
32% of people in the U.S. cannot access, afford, or maintain essential furniture items like beds, tables, or dressers.
The impact is real. It can lead to body aches, poor sleep, heightened anxiety, and chronic stress.
Furniture provides more than comfort. It offers dignity, stability, and a foundation for health and well-being. By engaging policymakers at the local, state, and national levels, we hope to expand our reach and support more individuals and families in need.
Because having a bed to sleep on, a table to gather around, and a chair to sit on aren’t luxuries—they’re foundations for health, dignity, and opportunity.
Learn more about furniture poverty in this recent data snapshot from Furnish Together.
Read more about Furnish Together’s day on Capitol Hill in this article from Furniture Today.
Neighbor to Neighbor Night: Sneaker Soiree
A Wider Circle’s Neighbor to Neighbor Night 2025 will be a SNEAKER SOIRÉE!
Our annual Neighbor to Neighbor Night fundraising gala honors the strength and generosity of the community we serve. This evening highlights the importance of our work supporting families transitioning into stable, furnished homes; job seekers building their career path; and community members investing in their neighborhood.
Join us in your festive attire (and sneakers) as we Step into Stability:
Thursday, October 9, 2025
6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
The Ann & Don Brown Center for Community Service
9159 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Join us to celebrate shared progress and ensure ongoing support for all who seek it. The gathering is more than a celebration; it’s a reminder that lasting change begins when we stand together.
Sponsorship opportunities and tickets available now!
Fill the Need: August
In every issue of First Friday, Fill the Need highlights three specific ways you can help make an immediate impact. Whether you choose to Drop It Off, Ship It, or Fund It, your support makes it easy to fill our most urgent needs.
Here’s how you can Fill the Need this August:
- Drop It Off: This month, we have a big need for non-perishable food for the pantry at our Silver Spring Center. The most needed items include peanut butter, tuna, rice, pasta, and pasta sauces. Consider hosting a canned food drive in your neighborhood to help fill this need! Donation drop-off hours for our Silver Spring Center can be found here, and questions about hosting a food drive can be directed to our In-Kind Donations scheduling team at furnish@awidercircle.org.
- Ship It: Want to help but don’t have the item on hand? Check out our Fill the Need Wishlist to purchase a high-need item and have it shipped directly to us. This month, our Ward 8 Hub is looking for Solar Charger Power Banks. Many clients who visit the Hub are living without electricity, and these provide a way to charge phones and other devices.
- Fund It: Some opportunities to support our work arise outside of our regular budget. Each month, we’ll share one specific item or service that your gift can help fund — something timely and meaningful that will make a real difference. This month, your donations will allow us to purchase bed sheets of all sizes, as we often do not have enough sheet sets on hand to include with the beds we redistribute. Click here to make a gift.
(Sheet sets can also be purchased and shipped via our Amazon Wishlist, and gently-used sheet sets can be dropped off at our Silver Spring Center.)
With your support, we can provide our neighbors with exactly what they need, when they need it most.
Circling Back
Styled By Jen: Tahiti
In this month’s Styled By Jen, Jen styled Tahiti, a chef, caterer, and entrepreneur who is passionate about feeding others, especially those experiencing food insecurity.
Did you know August is National Make-A-Will Month?
Did you know August is National Make-A-Will Month? Adding A Wider Circle to your estate plans is a great way to build a legacy that supports your neighbors for generations to come. One simple way to do this is by making a gift to A Wider Circle in your will. Learn more.
Back to School Update
This back-to-school season, we’re once again asking for your help to fulfill emerging needs in our community by assembling Care Packs!
Our region is fortunate to have many school supply initiatives that take place at the end of each summer. After consulting with volunteers, neighbors, and other nonprofits, A Wider Circle now directs families requesting school supplies to these initiatives and has discontinued our annual backpack drive. Instead, we will focus on two new efforts to address unfulfilled needs identified by the neighbors we serve. Learn more about Care Packs here.
Thank you, Bethesda Big Train!
Many thanks to Bethesda Big Train Baseball for volunteering with us in July and bringing such great energy!
We’re especially grateful to Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz for taking the time to join us and show his continued commitment to local service.
July at A Wider Circle
In July at A Wider Circle:
- 242 homes were furnished (including 11 deliveries!)
- 890 visits were made to our Ward 8 Hub
- 215 families in Southeast DC received market bags
- 34 parents received baby items for their new arrivals
- 80 job seekers were supported on their journey to finding meaningful employment
- 187 job seekers received professional clothing
- 1,357 donations of furniture, home goods, and professional clothing were contributed
- 332 volunteers joined us to serve
Thank you to the volunteer groups who joined us in July:
McLean School, GRF CPAs and Advisors, Potomac School, Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, Serve Camp Loudoun County, Giving Together, Calibre Cares, Big Train Baseball, Union Church of Silver Spring, Daughters of Anwar Court # 197, Bozzuto, Kindness Corps, Temple Sinai Men’s Club, Cherry Bekaert, and Casa Millie
Thank you — we could not do this without your support.
