Give the Gift of a Meaningful Thanksgiving

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As Thanksgiving approaches, Everyone Home DC is once again working to ensure that every family we partner with can celebrate the holiday in their own special way.

This year, more families are feeling the strain of rising costs and limited resources—making it harder to gather around the table or create moments of rest and connection. That’s why we’re raising funds and collecting gift cards to help families purchase the ingredients and items that make their Thanksgiving feel like home—whether that’s a favorite meal, a warm gathering, or simply a peaceful day together. Our goal is to distribute 100 gift cards ($50–$100 each) to families before Thanksgiving. With your help, we can make sure every household has the flexibility and dignity to create their own celebration. Here’s how you can help:

🧡 Make a donation today. Your gift will be used to purchase and electronically distribute grocery and debit gift cards directly to families.

🧡 Host a collection drive. Rally your colleagues, friends, or community group to collect Visa, Mastercard, Safeway, Giant, or Harris Teeter gift cards.

🧡 Set up a fundraising page. Invite your network to join you in making the season brighter for local families.

Every contribution—big or small—brings comfort and joy to our neighbors this holiday season. We’ll begin distributing gift cards in mid-November, so now is the perfect time to get involved. Let’s make Thanksgiving brighter, together. You can make a monetary donation today here. 

For more information or to share your plans to run a drive, contact Kate Akalonu at akalonu@everyonehomedc.org.

Everyone Home DC plans to begin distributing gift cards to families by mid-November.

We Did It! This Year’s September Challenge Raised Over $90,000!

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We are so incredibly grateful to YOU for helping Everyone Home DC’s September Challenge reach historic success. For the sixth year in a row, you showed up for individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness in DC. This year, together, we achieved our record-breaking $90,000 goal—with more than 200 gifts made throughout the Challenge!

This milestone was a collective effort of our AMAZING September Challenge Sponsors, Benefactor Circle and Committee members, staff, volunteers, donors, event hosts and participants, fundraisers, online auction partners, and our social media ambassadors. The urgency to raise critical funds to support people at risk of or facing homelessness has never been greater, and each one of you played a vital role in ensuring this campaign’s success. Thank you.

Some highlights from this year’s Challenge:

  • In the final week of the campaign, nearly 100 unique gifts raised almost $20,000.
  • Personal fundraisers raised nearly $13,000, and the Leaderboard had seven active fundraisers! Top fundraisers included Rifat Jafreen, Edith Shine & Mark Sherman, Alison Harwood & Chuck Rohe, Catrell Brown, Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Pat Joseph, and Rosa Moreno.
  • Our online auction raised over $9,000, with 70 participants placing more than bids.
  • We are honored to introduce one new and welcome back four Lead Sponsors: Christ Church + Washington Parish on Capitol Hill, The Jeanne Phil Meg Team at Compass, National Capital Bank, Dawn Nelson, and Louise Walsh & Charlie Rupp. Be on the lookout for our celebration advertisement in the November Hill Rag.

This year, more families are struggling to make ends meet—navigating rising rents, unpaid bills, and basic expenses. At the same time, more single adults are turning to our Day Center and Street Outreach teams for support. Public funding for homeless services is uncertain, leaving us concerned about how we will meet growing needs. That makes private contributions through campaigns like the September Challenge even more critical. Your generosity ensures that Everyone Home DC can remain flexible and responsive, helping people move toward stability when they need it most.

Thank you for joining Everyone Home DC in this month-long campaign to support our mission to ensure everyone in our city has access to safe, affordable, and comfortable homes. Ending homelessness in Washington, DC, is a collective responsibility, and your support makes that work possible. We could not do this without you—and we are so glad you are here.

Support Families So They Can Start the School Year Strong

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It may be peak popsicle season, but backpacks and school supplies are already top of mind for some families. Right now, many families across DC are navigating rising costs for just about everything—from groceries to rent—while also facing ongoing uncertainty around housing support and other vital safety net programs. For the families Everyone Home DC walks alongside, the back-to-school season brings not just excitement, but added financial stress.

That’s why Everyone Home DC continues to be committed to showing up with meaningful, flexible support—so parents and caregivers in our housing and prevention programs can shop for the items they need to prepare for a new school year with dignity and confidence, and children can head into the new school year ready to thrive.

Everyone Home DC is raising funds for the upcoming school year to provide gift cards for families to use during back-to-school shopping. This year, we aim to distribute 200 $50 gift cards to Everyone Home DC scholars, and we need your help to reach our goal. 

Check out how you can support Everyone Home DC in reaching its goal again this year:

  • Make a donation today towards our fundraising goal.
  • Create a fundraising page to share with your community. We are on standby to provide support! 
  • Host a drive to collect gift cards (Visa, Mastercard, Target, Walmart, and Amazon) at your work, place of worship, or with your favorite people. 
  • Please email or post on your favorite social media platform to spread the word and share the need with your friends and family. 

Everyone Home DC plans to distribute gift cards to families the week of August 5.

Every little bit helps. Below is more information on getting started and getting gift cards or cash gifts to Everyone Home DC. 

GETTING STARTED

  • We want to hear if you plan to run a drive or collection! This will support Everyone Home DC’s planning (and budgeting) efforts. Contact Kate Akalonu at akalonu@everyonehomedc.org to discuss what types of gift cards to focus on collecting and to share how many gift cards you plan to contribute. We can also provide brainstorming support to get the word out to your community if you run a drive.
  • You can also make a monetary donation, and program staff will purchase gift cards and send them electronically to families. Please note families have openly expressed how much they appreciate the convenience of receiving gift cards electronically. Consider donating in $50 increments (or any amount) today!
  • Families express most appreciating Visa, Mastercard, Target, Walmart, and Amazon gift cards.
  • Are you interested in setting up a personal fundraising page? Email Kate Akalonu at akalonu@everyonehomedc.org. She is on standby to help you get started!

GETTING CARDS TO EVERYONE HOME DC

  • You are welcome to skip the process of purchasing cards and make a donation on our Back to School Collection donation page. Program staff will then purchase gift cards and send them electronically to families. Make Your Donation Today!
  • If purchasing gift cards at a store or online, you can mail them directly to Everyone Home DC’s main headquarters address. Please contact Kate at akalonu@everyonehomedc.org if you have any questions or to discuss dropping the gift cards off.

Mail Gift Cards to:
Everyone Home DC
 Attn: Back-to-School
415 2nd Street NE, 3rd Floor
Washington DC 20002

Please note: We will not be accepting gift card drop-offs at our drop-in day center. 

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out! Thank you for standing with Everyone Home DC now and always. We are so glad you are here.

 

Join the #HalfMyDAF Movement & Further Your Impact

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Everyone Home DC needs your support more than ever—and right now, your impact can go even further.

Through the #HalfMyDAF movement, donors like you can help bridge this growing gap. Since 2020, this initiative has helped move more than $70 million from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) into the hands of nonprofits doing urgent work. You can be part of this momentum and help ensure our programs continue uninterrupted.

Here’s how it works:

  • If you commit to spending down half of your DAF (based on its January 1, 2025 balance) by September 26, 2025, every grant you make, including to our organization, becomes eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match. You can learn more about how to submit your DAF allocations (aka grants) that could receive matches here.
  • Matching grants of up to $5,000 per gift will be awarded on June 27 and September 26, 2025, from a $2.25 million pool of unrestricted funding.
  • Four nonprofits will also receive special $25,000 bonus matches.

As the District confronts potential funding cuts and economic pressure intensifies for the city’s most vulnerable residents, your support can help us continue to provide vital services that keep people housed, fed, and safe.

The more DAF holders who commit—and the more who give to us—the greater our chances of securing matching funds and sustaining our work through this challenging time.

You can learn more and make your pledge at halfmydaf.com. AND giving from your Donor Advised Fund just got easier—Everyone Home DC now accepts DAF gifts directly through our donation form!

Thank you for standing with us—and with the people of DC.

Spring Social Auction is Now Open. Browse & Bid Today.

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The countdown to Everyone Home DC’s Spring Social is on—and the excitement starts now with our Inaugural Spring Social Auction, launching online today and closing in person at the Spring Social! For those of you who are followers of our September Challenge Auction (or who just want to score a great deal on one of our exciting offerings!), Everyone Home DC’s Spring Social Auction is for you! Read on for all of the answers to your questions about this newly introduced experience.

When is the Spring Social Auction?
The Spring Social Auction is LIVE online NOW! Online bidding will close on May 20 at 12 PM and resume in person at the Spring Social, which is being held at Cynthia, 502 H St NE, at 5:30 PM. In-person bidding will go until 7 PM, at which time the winners will be announced!

Does this mean I have to attend the Spring Social to win?
No, it does not! Online bidders will still have the opportunity to win, either by placing the highest bid that does not get outbid at the live event, OR by opting for the Buy Now option, which will be available on select items.

What kinds of items will the Spring Social Auction feature?
A wide range of local businesses are participating in the Spring Social Auction. There will be DC Council Suite tickets to sporting events, specialty classes for food and wine connoisseurs, gift cards to fantastic shops and restaurants, and more! Check the Auction out now and place your bids today!

How will I receive my prizes if I win?
If you are planning to attend the Spring Social, you will be able to take home any physical items that evening upon payment! Digital items will be emailed the following day. If you are a winning bidder who is unable to attend, your items will be sent to you either digitally or via USPS mail at no additional cost to you.

We would LOVE for you to join us at Everyone Home DC’s Annual Spring Social. Tickets are required and they are going fast. If you want to engage with the auction onsite and spend some time with our community, purchase your tickets today!

Thank you in advance for your support. Join this new hybrid Auction experience today and place a bid (or two!) All of the Spring Social Auction proceeds support Everyone Home DC, which makes winning feel twice as nice.

Your 2024 Annual Report!

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On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff, and the individuals we work alongside, Everyone Home DC is proud to share with you the 2024 Everyone Home DC Annual Report.

Within these pages, we share your support’s impact in the past year. Though 2024 feels far behind us amid the rapidly shifting landscape of 2025, reflecting on last year’s progress is essential. You can view your full 2024 Everyone Home DC Annual Report here. 

As we confront mounting threats to funding and continued injustice toward people experiencing homelessness, the wins of 2024 remind us what’s possible when we advocate boldly and act collectively. That progress is our launching point for the work ahead. Thank you for being a part of this community! We are so glad you are here.

2024-Everyone-Home-DC-Annual-Report_Digital

Fight for DC >> Tell Congress Now

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The District of Columbia’s budget is under threat and will result in mid-year cuts to essential services such as public safety, education, emergency services, and sanitation. This alarming federal overreach treats D.C. as a federal agency rather than a self-governing city, threatening our autonomy and putting the well-being of all residents at risk.

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution spending bill that treats the District of Columbia like a federal agency, requiring District leaders to immediately cut $1 billion from the current fiscal year budget. Instead of addressing this mistake, the Republican-led House reinforced the harm already inflicted on the District’s workforce and economy. Now, the Senate must act to prevent further damage.

The Senate is scheduled to vote at 10 AM TODAY, March 12, 2025. We need every D.C. resident and ally to take action now. Every call, email, and voice matters. DC deserves better. Let’s make our voices heard and stop Congress from stripping away our future.

Here’s how you can take action:

Thank you for any urgency you can put towards these actions. DC families and communities are counting on us. Call and Email the US Senate Leadership TODAY!

Share Your Merry with Families in DC

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This winter holiday season is the perfect time for Everyone Home DC and our amazing network of supporters to provide a little something extra for this special time of year. Everyone Home DC is committed to ensuring that the families we work alongside will have the flexibility to celebrate their winter holiday and experience the joy of giving gifts. This holiday season, Everyone Home DC will distribute debit gift cards throughout our community, allowing each household the opportunity to decide how they spend these funds to create a meaningful holiday for their family.

Based on the family size, Everyone Home DC will provide gift cards valued between $150 and $500. 

We need YOUR help to reach our goal. You can make a monetary donation today here. You can also consider running a drive to collect gift cards with your favorite community or network OR set up a fundraising page and watch your social network support you in reaching your goal! Every little bit helps. Below is more information on how to get started and some of the most preferred gift cards. Thank you for your continued support of Everyone Home DC!

Everyone Home DC plans to distribute gift cards to families in December.

GETTING STARTED

  • We want to hear from you if you plan to run a drive or collection! This will support Everyone Home DC’s planning (and budgeting) efforts. Contact Kate Akalonu at akalonu@everyonehomedc.org to discuss what types of gift cards to focus on collecting and to share how many gift cards you plan to contribute. We can also provide any brainstorming support to get the word out to your community and create personalized donation forms to track your progress easily.
  • You can also make a monetary donation, which program staff will use to purchase gift cards and send electronically to families. Consider donating today!
  • Everyone Home DC families most appreciate Visa, Mastercard, Target, Walmart, Old Navy, Amazon.

GETTING CARDS TO EVERYONE HOME DC 

You can skip purchasing gift cards and donate on our Winter Holiday donation page. Program staff will then purchase gift cards and send them electronically to families. Consider donating today!

If purchasing gift cards at a store or online, you can mail them directly to Everyone Home DC’s main headquarters address. Please contact Kate at akalonu@everyonehomedc.org if you have any questions or to discuss dropping the gift cards off.

Mail Gift Cards to:
Everyone Home DC Development
Attn: Holidays
415 2nd Street NE, 3rd Floor
Washington DC, 20002

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out! Thank you for standing with Everyone Home DC now and always. We are so glad you are here.

**Any funds received above the goal for this campaign will be redirected to the general fund.**

Celebrate Giving Tuesday with Everyone Home DC & Solid State Books!

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This year, Everyone Home DC and local business Solid State Books (600F H St NE, Washington, DC 20002) are teaming up to celebrate Giving Tuesday–and we want you to join us!

“Housing security is a most concerning area of need in our DC community, and we are proud to partner with Everyone Home DC for this Giving Tuesday. Please join Solid State Books in helping to continue to address the hard things in our local worlds.” Solid State co-owner, Scott Abel.

 Drop by on December 3, any time between 11 am – 7 pm, to visit Everyone Home DC’s table and learn more about our organization’s work in the community and throughout the District. We will also be featuring our “Recommended Reading List” full of books that discuss DC history, housing security, racial equity, and more:

  1. Evicted by Mathew Desmond 
  2. Color of Law by Richard Rothstein 
  3. Chocolate City by Chris Myers Asch & George Derek Musgrove
  4. I’m Still Here. Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness By Austin Channing Brown
  5. Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
  6. How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
  7. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
  8. On the Housing Crisis: Land, Development, Democracy by Jerusalem Dembas

 A portion of the proceeds from sales of this list will go towards Everyone Home DC’s vital programs, which provide resources for our unhoused neighbors. 

“We’re looking forward to this opportunity to meet community members and to highlight some amazing resources. We’re grateful for Solid State Book’s partnership and for all of our supporters who believe in our mission to end homelessness in DC.” Grace Arenas, Everyone Home DC Development & Engagement Specialist

Giving Tuesday is a day when people come together to show their generosity and support for causes that can bring about impactful change. With Everyone Home DC and Solid State Books’ partnership, you can give back to your community while supporting a local business. The timing couldn’t be better with the upcoming holiday season! We can’t wait to see you on December 3. 

 

Provide a Little Something Extra This Thanksgiving

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Support Everyone Home DC’s Goal to Distribute Gift Cards to Support Families in Celebrating Thanksgiving This Year.

This Thanksgiving holiday season is the perfect time for Everyone Home DC and our amazing network of supporters to provide a little something extra for this special time of year. Everyone Home DC is committed to ensuring that the diverse families that we work alongside will have the flexibility to celebrate their Thanksgiving. Everyone Home DC will distribute grocery and debit gift cards throughout our community, allowing each household the opportunity to decide how they spend these funds to create a meaningful holiday for their family.

Everyone Home DC’s goal this year is to distribute $100 gift cards to individuals and families before Thanksgiving. Thank YOU for helping us reach this goal. We will put these critical funds right to work, distributing them directly to the families we work with.

If you are interested in helping Everyone Home DC reach this goal, you can make a monetary donation today here. You can also run a drive to collect gift cards at your work, place of worship, or social club, OR set up a fundraising page and watch your social network support you in reaching your goal! Every little bit helps. Below is more information on how to get started. Thank you for your continued support of Everyone Home DC!

Everyone Home DC plans to begin distributing gift cards to families in mid-November.

GETTING STARTED

  • We want to hear from you if you plan to run a drive or collection! This will support Everyone Home DC’s planning (and budgeting) efforts. Contact Kate Akalonu at akalonu@everyonehomedc.org to discuss what types of gift cards to focus on collecting and to share how many gift cards you plan to contribute. We can also provide brainstorming support to get the word out to your community if you are running a drive.
  • You can also make a monetary donation, which program staff will use to purchase gift cards and send electronically to families. Consider making a donation in $100 increments (or any amount) today!
  • Everyone Home DC families expressed most appreciating Visa, Mastercard, Safeway, and Giant gift cards.

GETTING CARDS TO EVERYONE HOME DC

You are welcome to skip the process of purchasing cards and make a donation on our Thanksgiving Celebration donation page. Program staff will then purchase gift cards and send them electronically to families. Consider making a donation in $100 increments (or any amount) today!

If purchasing gift cards at a store or online, you can mail them directly to Everyone Home DC’s main headquarters address. Please contact Kate at akalonu@everyonehomedc.org if you have any questions or to discuss dropping the gift cards off.

Mail Gift Cards to:
Everyone Home DC
Attn: Thanksgiving
415 2nd Street NE, 3rd Floor
Washington DC 20002

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out! Thank you for standing with Everyone Home DC now and always. We are so glad you are here.

Any funds received above the goal for this campaign will be redirected to the general fund.

Please note: Everyone Home DC’s Day Center will not be accepting gift card drop-offs at our drop-in day center. Thank you for understanding.

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