CHGM’s 2012 Thanks-Giving Food Basket Program helps feed 1,480 community members.
Because of your generosity, support, and compassion, Capitol Hill Group Ministry’s (CHGM) 2012 Thanks-GIVING Food Basket Program was successful in serving a Thanksgiving Day Feast to more than 1,480 members of our Capitol Hill community.
In keeping with the unfortunately growing trend over the past several years, CHGM received record demand in requests from the community for thanksgiving food baskets. Starting as early as August, calls and emails from community members in need began flooding CHGM’s inboxes.
Many of the parents and grandparents reaching out to CHGM explained how unemployment and dwindling public benefits have left them with little opportunity to provide a special meal for their families. One grandmother commented that her household had 9 people living together and they simply did not know where else they could turn for help. Many calls came from concerned neighbors who were just looking for information that might help their friends who have fallen on hard times.
Throughout the October and November months our Shirley’s Place Day Center office was filled with neighbors in need submitting their requests, conducting need assessment interviews, and checking on the status of their name on the waiting lists.
Thankfully, CHGM’s congregational partners, our local community based groups, the Capitol Hill Businesses, and many individual sponsors heard the community’s call for help and were able to answer it. Longtime friends and partners such as Mothers on the Hill (MOTH), St. Monica & St. James, and Christ Church Washington Parish all made significant contributions to help CHGM keep up with this year’s demand.
Beyond the large groups that made contributions, individual sponsorships significantly increased over previous years. Well over 80% of this year’s food basket donations came from individual donors sponsoring either 1 or 2 families.
Shelah Wilcox, CHGM’s Special Events Manager, commented that “CHGM truly made an impact and difference for so many families this Thanksgiving despite the high demand.” She added that “With the help of our partners, sponsors, and the numerous volunteers, it’s incredible to know that 1,480 of our neighbors were able to sit down to a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.”
The success of the 2012 Thanks-Giving Food Basket Program has given all of Capitol Hill something to be thankful for. For a holiday depicted by Norman Rockwell as being one celebrating our freedom from want, your contributions and participation has turned his idealistic holiday portrayal into a reality for so many. So congratulations sponsors, donors, friends, and neighbors for helping make this year’s food basket drive the best one to date.
CLICK HERE to read about CHGM’s Thanks-GIVING Basket Program in the December 2012 issue of Street Sense
