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A [Still] Serving Event: Community Care, Close to Home

Volunteers came together for an afternoon of hands-on service supporting neighbors across Washington D.C.

On Sunday afternoon, March 8, over 50 adults and their families gathered at The Festival Center in Washington D.C., for a few hours of hands-on service. Organized by OneAID and wellfed, the event brought together current and former federal workers, contractors, friends, and families to assemble supplies for several local organizations across the city.

OneAID and wellfed designed the family-friendly event to help demonstrate that public service didn’t stop when employment with USAID or other federal agencies ended. It aimed to show that service is an act that can be done by anyone, at any age. One child attending the event said “I enjoyed helping my mom help other people like she did when she worked for USAID.”

Volunteers joined each other across several stations, each representing a different project. Thanks to donations made to OneAID, our volunteers:

- Assembled 120 hygiene essential kits for Ward 2 Mutual Aid
- Arranged 40 snack bags for Friendship Place, supporting unhoused neighbors along with Ward 2 Mutual Aid
- Prepared 20 birthday cake kits for families staying at the Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter through Catholic Charities so children celebrating birthdays there can still celebrate their birthdays with something special
- Sorted and packed over 50 books donated by Reading Is Fundamental Northern Virginia (RIF NOVA), pairing them with handwritten encouragement cards for middle school students served by United Way of the National Capital Area.
- Provided words of encouragement and hope on over 25 poems written by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth through Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop.

Participants were treated to complimentary shaved ice provided by Clayboy’s Shave Ice, while a craft table stocked with materials from Red Panda Art Studio kept younger volunteers busy between service activities. As the projects wrapped up, attendees gathered together to share a hearty dinner generously donated by Shaw’s Tavern.

For many who attended, the afternoon offered a chance to do something tangible for neighbors in the city while spending time with family, friends, and former colleagues. Nearly a year after many public servants experienced sudden professional disruption, the instinct to serve remains strong. Sunday’s gathering showed that service can continue in new ways and close to home.

Once more, we wanted to extend our gratitude to our donors, Clayboy’s Shaved Ice, Shaw’s Tavern, and Red Panda Art Studio for their support in making this event welcoming for all.