A Note From Amy
Twenty-five years ago, A Wider Circle was a few people with a shared purpose. Today, it is a community.
That’s long enough for a volunteer to become a longtime friend. Long enough for a loading dock to become a place where thousands of stories begin. Long enough for a small idea to grow into something that belongs not just to an organization, but to a community.
Yesterday, A Wider Circle turned 25. Twenty-five years of furniture being carried up stairs, volunteers giving up Saturdays, job seekers walking through our doors, donors saying yes, staff finding a way forward, and thousands of people asking the same wonderfully simple question: How can I help?
There is a lot to be proud of in 25 years. There is also plenty left to do. And 25 years in, we are still very much in the business of showing up for one another. Not a bad way to spend a quarter century.
Thank you for being part of our circle.
With gratitude,
Amy Javaid
President & CEO
Neighbor to Neighbor Night
On October 8, we’re opening the doors at our Silver Spring home base and filling the room with the people who got us here. Supporters. Partners. Friends. The folks who’ve shown up for families across this region since day one.
We’ll honor the partnerships that built this place, celebrate a quarter-century of work, and raise a glass to what comes next.
There are just a few seats left for Neighbor to Neighbor Night. Come be in the room.
When: Thursday, October 8 | 6 to 10pm
Where: Ann & Don Brown Center for Community Service, 9159 Brookville Rd, Silver Spring
A special thank you to our Legacy Sponsors for Neighbor to Neighbor Night:
- Marty & Eden Durbin
- The Schifrin Foundation
P.S. The Neighbor to Neighbor Night Silent Auction is now open!
Click here to view items and start bidding.
Did You Know?
Your DAF gift could go twice as far, but only until October 8.
If you give through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), the #HalfMyDAF campaign could turn your grant into a double gift. DAF holders who commit to granting at least half of their fund can nominate a nonprofit for a matching grant of up to $25,000. That means your support for A Wider Circle could be matched dollar for dollar.
Three quick steps:
- Visit HalfMyDAF.com to see if it’s a fit for you.
- Make your pledge.
- Nominate A Wider Circle.
Tell us how it goes! Your experience helps us guide other DAF donors. Questions? We’re happy to help: development@awidercircle.org.
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 October:
With your support, we can provide our neighbors with exactly what they need, when they need it most.
September at a Glance
homes furnished
furniture, home goods, and professional clothing items contributed
parents received baby items for their new arrivals
visits to our Ward 8 Hub
families in Southeast DC received market bags containing cleaning and personal care products
job seekers supported on their journey to finding meaningful employment
job seekers received professional clothing
volunteers joined us to serve
Thank you to the following volunteer groups who joined us in September:
Bain & Company, Donohoe, Bethesda Chevy Chase Rotary Club, Giving Together, Holy Child Upper School, JBG Smith, Parkmont High School, Ruder Finn, Sidwell Friends School Faculty, Silver Spring Masonic Lodge #215, Takoma Park Seventh Day Adventist Church, Temple Sinai Men’s Club, Washington Gas, and WittKieffer
Home Care Kits from NBC
Clothing Giveaway at the Hub
Our quarterly clothing giveaway at the Ward 8 Hub served 95 neighbors! It can be challenging for clients living in Southeast DC to reach our Silver Spring office for a clothing appointment, so these events allow better access to meet seasonal clothing needs.
On The Horizon
October 23: Paddle for a Purpose
Join B.F. Saul Insurance’s fourth annual Paddle for a Purpose Charity Pickleball Tournament, an afternoon of fun and friendly competition in support of A Wider Circle. Register and learn more here.
December 5: Circle Up – A Day of Giving Back
This holiday season, Circle Up with A Wider Circle for a day of giving back, getting involved, and doing good together.
On December 5, we’re bringing our community together for a hands-on volunteer day supporting our neighbors across the Greater Washington region. Whether you’re a longtime A Wider Circle volunteer or joining us for the first time, there’s a place for you here.
Come roll up your sleeves, meet new people, and spend a few hours making a difference alongside your neighbors. Learn more and register here.
