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Photographed Above:
Left to right, rear: Adam Jimenez, Joey Jimenez, Allan Jimenez (my brother), Ransom Miller, Brian Jimenez
Left to right, front: Mike Coutu (family friend), Edgar Jimenez
Left to right, rear: Adam Jimenez, Joey Jimenez, Allan Jimenez (my brother), Ransom Miller, Brian Jimenez
Left to right, front: Mike Coutu (family friend), Edgar Jimenez
Early, in the morning of Saturday, November 21, 2009, over 600 volunteers converged on Bell Multicultural High School in Washington, DC to share their blessings with those less fortunate in our community. ALPFA-DC and Project GiveBack Board Member Edgar Jimenez was among the first ones to be there at 4am along with his children, brother, and friends. For several months prior Edgar, a manager in KPMG’s Advisory Practice, had been working along with a core team of organizers and volunteers in the planning and organization of this event.
Project GiveBack, a community service organization based in Washington, DC, held its 15th Annual Thanksgiving Food Distribution. People, from all walks of life, gathered to distribute over 900 food baskets to families in the Washington, DC Metro Area. The 900 baskets represent an increase of 80% over the number of families assisted in 2008. "The stark need for assistance to underprivileged and common citizens feeling the pinch of the worst economy of our lifetime prompted the organization to attempt to double the amount of families it assisted" said Project GiveBack founder, Ransom Miller, III. He also told volunteers that "The current economic conditions have turned some long term Project GiveBack donors into recipients.”
In addition to the volunteers at Bell Multicultural High School, Project GiveBack coordinated satellite distribution sites including La Clinica del Pueblo in Northwest DC; Barry Farms in Southeast DC; Culpepper Gardens Assisted Living Center in Arlington, VA; Bright Beginnings Northeast DC, National Center for Children and Families, Gaithersburg, MD, Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Northeast DC Housing Unit, Project GiveBack Baltimore Branch, and The Boys and Girls Club of Kentland/Glen Arden, MD.
This year, through a relationship with former and current military personnel Project GiveBack was able to identify 125 active military families (25 in each branch including the Coast Guard) who have been negatively affected by the economy. Edgar Jimenez, a former Marine, said "Charity organizations tend to think that the military people are taken care of by the military. In a lot of cases the military tries to work with them but is unable to meet a lot of their needs so charity organizations really need to reach out to them, now more than ever." Also for the first time, baskets were distributed in Baltimore, Maryland by members of the newly formed Project GiveBack Baltimore Branch.
This project would not be possible without individual and Corporate Sponsors. There is still the opportunity to support this and other Project GiveBack endeavors.
Please visit http://www.projectgiveback.org/ to donate online and see how you can get involved.
