Get Involved
Ways to Give
Monetary Donations
Our work is possible because of generous donors and partners like you. We can never overstate the ripple effect that one donation can have on the lives of our clients. Whether you give $1 or $10,000, the strength of our circle lies in all who are a part of it. Support at every level makes us feel proud to have you in our community and fortunate to have a generous circle of friends with a shared vision — a society where all of our neighbors have the resources they need to thrive.
We value our donors and take seriously the responsibility to use donations in the best way possible to achieve impact — supporting our neighbors to attain financial self-sufficiency and a pathway out of poverty.
Donations can be made online, or by sending a check to:
A Wider Circle
6841 Elm Street #6133
McLean, VA 22106
Checks should be made out to “A Wider Circle”
Donate Items
Thank you for thinking of us for your donation! Our goal is to help families start anew with dignity and hope. We accept donations that are in dignity condition: free of rips, stains, or excessive wear, and ready to use. Imagine giving the intended donation to a friend or neighbor – if you would be proud to share it with them, then please share it with us.
View our Wishlist and Donation Guidelines
Review the menu below for more information about how to donate in-kind goods.
If you would like to get in touch with a member of our donations team, please email furnish@awidercircle.org.
Donation Drop-Off
We accept drop-off donations at our Center for Community Service (9159 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910) Monday – Wednesday and Friday – Saturday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Appointments are not needed for drop-off donations.
To prioritize service to our clients, we do not accept donations on Thursdays. Thank you for your understanding as we work to better serve our neighbors.
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Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in volunteering! We look forward to quickly getting you involved in the work that we do.
From the day A Wider Circle was founded, volunteers have been at the heart of our efforts. Every day a person volunteers here translates into more families having the opportunity to create stability and independence.
A Wider Circle is an open and welcoming environment for everyone. We welcome volunteers who need to complete SSL hours, we welcome volunteers who need to complete court-ordered hours, and we welcome volunteers who are looking for episodic and long-term volunteer opportunities.
All new volunteers are asked to participate in a virtual orientation session. Volunteers will learn about the history and mission of A Wider Circle and its volunteer program. Additionally, volunteers will learn A Wider Circle’s and our volunteer program’s policies and procedures and about the different volunteer opportunities that are available. This will take 1 hour.
Episodic and Short-Term Opportunities (18+ over)
Episodic volunteer opportunities are a great way for volunteers to serve when their schedule allows or for a short period of time.
Available Opportunities
Essential Support Volunteer
This program focuses on providing basic needs items for the home to our neighbors seeking to rise out of poverty. The donations we receive include household furniture,
linens, kitchen items, toys, and professional clothing and accessories. Volunteers help us to sort donations and stock the showrooms where our clients select their items. With the help of volunteers like you, A Wider Circle
is able to furnish 10-20 homes free of charge each day for our neighbors in need. Volunteer shifts that are available for this opportunity are at least 3 hours long.
Care Package Delivery Drivers
Each month, we deliver nearly 200 care packages to the residents of Highland Dwellings and Additions in Southeast, DC. We need delivery drivers with their own vehicle to pick up the bags at our offices located in Silver Spring, MD (9141 Brookville Road) and drop them off at the homes of the residents, in a contactless and safe way. Deliveries are made on the last Tuesday & Thursday of the month during the morning and early afternoon. Volunteer shifts that are available for this opportunity are at least 3 hours long.
Volunteer FAQs
A Wider Circle can provide SSL hours for youth looking to complete their school-related volunteer requirements. Students will track their own hours and should speak to a staff member on the day of their volunteering about this process. The volunteer engagements that have been approved for SSL hours are noted above.
All volunteers serving at our Center for Community Service or Professional Development Center should report to 9159 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910. We do not have on-site parking for volunteers, other than for those with mobility concerns. Please email volunteer@awidercircle.org or call 301-608-3504 for our convenient parking directions just offsite!
In order to serve our clients with dignity and respect, we ask all our volunteers to dress in a professional manner.
Professional attire includes:
- Family-friendly and non-political messaging on clothing
- Jeans, t-shirts (shoulders covered), or shorts
- Sneakers or other comfortable footwear that is closed-toed
Attire that is not considered professional includes:
- Tank-tops or mid-rise shirts
- Shorts that are too short, leggings worn as pants, sweatpants/pants that are too baggy to stay up.
- Clothes with excessive holes
- Non-family friendly messaging or political messaging on clothing
If a volunteer is not dressed professionally, unfortunately, we may have to ask them to return at a later time/date with appropriate attire.
We care about the health of all in our shared space and therefore require anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 to stay home and reschedule their volunteer service for another time. Per CDC guidelines, if you have recently recovered from or were exposed to COVID-19, please wear a mask when volunteering. Otherwise, the practice of mask-wearing is encouraged but optional. Masks are readily available at A Wider Circle for anyone who needs one.
As of May 12, 2023, in accordance with the end of the federal public health emergency, we have suspended our policy requiring volunteers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This policy may be reinstated if we deem it necessary to do so (e.g., due to a spike in COVID cases in the region).