A Note From Amy
Here’s something we talk about a lot at A Wider Circle: dignity.
Not as a buzzword or a value on a wall — but as a real, everyday way of showing up. For our staff. For our volunteers. And most importantly, for our neighbors.
You see it in the details. When someone selects the furniture that feels right for their home, instead of being handed whatever’s available. When professional clothing is offered in a space that supports confidence and comfort. When career coaching starts with listening — not assumptions — and centers the goals that matter most to the person sitting across the table.
It shows up in our Ward 8 Hub, too. If you’ve been there, you know it’s not just a building. It’s a place that feels welcoming, intentional, and grounded in respect for the people who walk through the door.
This year marks 25 years of A Wider Circle, and a lot has changed over that time. But this hasn’t. From the beginning, we’ve believed that meeting basic needs and honoring people’s humanity go hand in hand. That belief still guides how we do the work — and who we are as a community.
That’s the throughline: Rooted in dignity. Built by community.
And there’s plenty more ahead.
Talk soon,
Amy Javaid
President & CEO
In This First Friday
Fill the Need
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 February:
With your support, we can provide our neighbors with exactly what they need, when they need it most.
January at a Glance
- 189 homes furnished
- 1,487 furniture, home goods, and professional clothing items contributed
- 28 parents received baby items for their new arrivals
- 538 visits to our Ward 8 Hub
- 215 families in Southeast DC received market bags containing cleaning and personal care products
- 67 job seekers supported on their journey to finding meaningful employment
- 187 job seekers received professional clothing
- 339 volunteers joined us to serve
Thank you to the volunteer groups who joined us in January:
Delegation of the European Union to the US, Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, Giving Together, Junior League, Marriott Global, National Cathedral School, Ohio State University, Solutions Met, LLC, Temple Sinai Men’s Club, and Yale Alumni Association.
MLK Day of Service
Over 130 volunteers joined us for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Thank you to those who served with us to honor Dr. King’s legacy — including groups from Ohio State University, Delegation of the European Union to the US, Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, National Cathedral School, and Solutions Met.
Benefit Concert with Close Enough at El Golfo
We had an amazing time at El Golfo Restaurant for our benefit concert with 50s-80s cover band, Close Enough!
We’re incredibly grateful to Close Enough for performing, El Golfo for hosting us, and to all who turned out to support our work.
BLOG: Furniture is a Foundation for Health
In our latest blog post, Chief Program Officer Eddy Ameen shared how living without furniture can impact mental, physical, and social health. Check it out here.
Mobile Clothing Event at Rockville Library
We hosted a Mobile Clothing Event at Rockville Library, in partnership with the library’s Career Week. At the event, we outfitted 57 individuals with professional clothing, empowering them to step confidently into new opportunities.
On The Horizon
Art Show: The Human Flood
From February 13 through March 14, artists Ellyn Weiss and Sondra Arkin will showcase their compelling exhibition, The Human Flood, at the Dumbarton Concerts Art Gallery. Arrive early to enjoy the art before the music — gallery doors open at 6:00 p.m. ahead of the 7:30 p.m. evening concerts and at 3:00 p.m. prior to matinee performances. Best of all, a portion of gallery proceeds will benefit A Wider Circle. We’re grateful to Ellyn and Sondra for believing in our mission and standing with our neighbors.
Save the Date: Home Reimagined 2026
In 2024, we transformed 10 homes.
In 2025, we jumped to 35.
And this year? We’re going big: 50 homes in one day.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 7 — our biggest Home Reimagined day yet.
