By Regina Mazur
Keeping our community safe has been a long-standing priority of Serve Your City/ Ward 6 Mutual Aid (SYC/W6MA). For more than two years, the Southwest community has been coming together, providing invaluable support to each other with food, cleaning supplies, household items, and clothing. They have been putting a continuous effort into providing our neighbors with food and supplies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
A partnership between the Christ United Methodist Church and the Southwest Pod of SYC/W6MA as well as their collective work with Black and Brown grassroots organizations have proven to be an incredible contribution to this cause.
The Southwest Pod is incredibly grateful for the donations and support that they continue to receive. These supplies are critical to aiding our neighbors in need. It is a great accomplishment to unite as a community and support each other.
In April and May, SYC/W6MA hosted a temporary Clothing Closet at our Southwest Pod in Christ United Methodist Church (CUMC). This project involved accepting clothing donations, which were checked for cleanliness and quality and then organized and displayed by size. Multiple volunteers spent hours assisting with that project. The care and desire to help those in need and the effort put forward by the people who helped made this project a true success.
Throughout the month of May, community members made appointments to come and select men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing that they needed. The donations of new underwear and socks from the CUMC congregation and SYC/W6MA were much appreciated by the over 100 individuals who were served during this project.
Summer is in full swing!
Sign up your DC student for Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid’s
Free School for Unlimited Youth Summer 2022 Programs! Teen art camp, trapeze school, robots & coding learning camp, field trips & more. **Register TODAY at: bit.ly/sycw6masummer22 (**next steps will be emailed upon online registration.) Questions? Email us at: youthenrichment@serveyourcitydc.org
Interested in ways to help?
SYC/W6MA continues to collect non-perishable foods, toiletries, and household cleaning items on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church’s back courtyard gate (900 4th Street Southwest: entrance near library).
This Month’s Donation Needs:
- Food: canned fruit, soup, cold cereal, pasta sauce, canned tuna, or chicken
- Cleaning: spray disinfectant, Pinesol or other cleaning concentrates, dish soap, sponges, bathroom cleaner, etc.
- Household: bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, bed sheets, and blankets (in good condition and clean)
You can find a SYC/W6MA table at the Southwest Farmers Market every Saturday of the month (weather permitting). Donations of fresh produce, meat, and dairy products are accepted and help to provide a healthy selection of food. Please stop by to say hi and donate.
Food Distribution: Takes place at Christ United Methodist Church at 900 4th St SW. On the 2nd & 4th Saturdays at 2:30 p.m., CUMC gives out groceries, paper products, and cleaning supplies. SYC/W6MA gives out fresh produce, eggs, and bread every Saturday at the same time and location. If you need additional support with food and supplies, please call the Mutual Aid Hotline at 202-683- 9962 or email ward6mutualaid@gmail.com
Want to Learn More or Get Involved? We need more people to help with the food distribution on Saturdays. Please contact us for more information at swmutualaid@serveyourcity.org