By Regina Mazur
As we bid farewell to 2023, the Southwest (SW) Pod of Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid (SYC/W6MA) pauses to reflect on yet another year of effectively delivering vital resources to Black and Brown residents in Southwest DC who may face barriers in accessing them. We extend our gratitude to all of SYC/W6MA’s partners and supporters for their unwavering support, ensuring that all our neighbors across DC have the necessary supplies and resources not just to survive but to thrive as we enter 2024.
Throughout the year, the SW Pod of SYC/W6MA organized highly successful food drives in both spring and fall, thanks to the incredible support from our neighbors and partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to the numerous neighborhood communities, including River Park, Harbor Square, Tiber Island, Riverside, Modern on M, Waterside, The Channel, Incanto,The Banks, Vio, Amaris and Wharf Marina, who rallied around our food drive campaigns, hosting donation boxes and contributing to their success.
In addition to the impactful food drives, the SW Pod of SYC/W6MA commemorated another year of abundant produce distributions. Our sincere thanks go to the generous Southwest Farmers Market Vendors – Ochoa Produce, Ashton Farms, Sandy Bottom Acres, and Panorama Baking Company and community members – for their generous donations of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons, benefiting those in need.
A heartfelt appreciation goes out to our community partner, Christ United Methodist Church, for their unwavering support and to all our SYC/W6MA SW Pod volunteers and supporters. Without their dedicated assistance and contributions, our food drives, clothing drives, food distributions, and various other campaigns throughout the year would not have been possible. Collectively, these efforts paved the way for another year of success.
As we approach the conclusion of 2023, we want to express a profound THANK YOU to everyone whose unwavering efforts contributed to yet another successful year. Your “solidarity, NOT charity” has made a significant impact, providing invaluable help to those who need it most.
Interested in More Ways to Help?
Join Us in Sustaining Mutual Aid Beyond 2023: 2023 may end soon, but our work doesn’t stop. Didn’t get a chance to contribute to our work on “Giving Tuesday”? It’s not too late! Your “solidarity, NOT charity” makes mutual aid possible into the future. Keep the abundance flowing in 2024 and beyond by visiting bit.ly/sycw6ma-eoy-23 today.
Join us every Saturday at 2:00 p.m. for our Food Distribution Event: SYC/W6MA collaborates with Christ United Methodist Church 5000 Food Pantry to provide fresh produce. Additionally, on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, also at 2:00 p.m., we expand our selection to include groceries, cleaning supplies, and personal care items. Find our distribution location at 900 4th St SW. For further assistance with food and supplies, feel free to contact SYC/W6MA’s SW Pod by sending an email to swmutualaid@serveyourcitydc.org.
Support SYC/W6MA’s SW Pod! We are seeking donations of:
- Non-perishable foods, such as canned tuna, canned chicken, pasta, pasta sauce, soup, canned fruit, boxed milk, peanut butter, jelly, cooking oil, condiments, hot & and cold cereal, Ensure, tea, coffee.
- Toiletries, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, deodorant, and feminine products, Depends.
- Monetary Donations: Donate online at bit.ly/sycw6ma-donate. These funds allow us to purchase food from the Capital Area Food Bank, tripling the amount of food you could purchase at the store.
Want to Learn More? For additional information, please contact us at: swmutualaid@serveyourcitydc.org.