This past Saturday, Holy Trinity Catholic Church held a day of community service for its parishioners called the Power of One. We were lucky enough to have six wonderful and enthusiastic volunteers from Holy Trinity bring snacks to GMC and spend the afternoon playing bingo and singing karaoke with our members!
Our guests munched on cookies and strawberries as they played bingo for prizes ranging from shoe inserts to candy. Marty from Holy Trinity set up his karaoke machine, and everyone had such a blast! People were amazed by the pipes some of our members have been keeping a secret. Everyone also got up and did the YMCA at one point. It was such a fun time, and everyone is already asking us when we’re going to do it again.
If you have walked down lower Wisconsin Avenue this week, you may have noticed some construction taking place next to the C&O Canal in the old Verizon parking lot that borders one side of GMC’s alley.
The developers have told us that they will be blocking off access to GMC from Wisconsin Avenue this week as the construction progresses. Until further notice please access GMC from 31st Street. They alley is next to the new Capella hotel. You may call the front desk at GMC (202-338-8301) and request that someone meet you at the end of the alley to bring in any donations or food.
We are hoping that the developers will work with us in creating a temporary un-loading parking spot on Wisconsin Ave for our sandwich donors, but until then, please use the 31st Street entrance to the alley.
Please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns.
L-R: Stephanie (Program Manager), Warren, and Tony
Last winter, we met Warren, a quiet, friendly guy, who sat in our center reading or helping staff keep the center clean. We took him in to our winter shelter and began to work with him to help him find work and housing.
Through a community service group we started with the Georgetown BID, Warren proved to be a hard worker. A few weeks after he started volunteering with the BID, he joined the Block by Block Street Cleaning Team as a full-time employee!
Warren wrote GMC a letter of appreciation. We hope it will warm your hearts as much as it did ours.
To Whom It May Concern,
This letter is being written to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to GMC Ministries. A few months ago, my life had taken a turn for the worse. I had been lay-off and what I once called home, no longer existed. With no money, no home or a job, I was slowly losing the hope and peace, I had within. Until, a friend directed me to the GMC Ministries, in hopes of regaining my self-respect and re-building my confidence. In my heart, I always know and felt that I was a good person, who believed in higher power and that He would not put no more on me than I could bear. GMC Ministries afforded me the opportunity to get back on my feet and to establish a solid foundation. Through this ministry, shelter, food and clothing were given not only to me, but to others who participated in the program. This ministry provided physical and mental screening, training sessions where resumes could update and submitted for employment and substance abuse counseling and so on. In addition, there were volunteering opportunities where I one could be recruited and hired for a full-time position. As a result, I had been hired by Block By Block Cleaning Company. Now, I have something to look forward to and to be proud of.
I would like to give a special thanks to the GMC staff members Gunther, Roy, Stephanie and others for trusting and believing me when I did believe in myself.
Thank you for showing so much compassion, love and concern for others who had fallen on hard times. May God bless and keep you always.
We receive many requests for pants and do not have many pairs to give away. Most of our requests are for men’s pants, since most of our members are men, but our ladies have also been asking. Most people are asking for jeans or khakis. Men’s sizes: 32-38 waists, Women’s sizes: 6-12.
Other items that are often requested:
socks and underwear (we have a lot of XL, but no smaller sizes)
feminine hygiene products (sanitary napkins and tampons)
XXL or XXXL t-shirts or sweatshirts
men’s shoes, size 10-14. We’ve also had a request for a size 17 shoe. Can you help us find that tricky size?
Can you help us with other items that we need?
Washcloths and towel — they always start disappearing at an alarming rate when the weather warms up!
Pens
Travel-sized toiletries
Thank you! Donations can be dropped off at GMC between 8am and 4pm any day of the week.
