On the afternoons of December 9 and 10, 2017, a group of 50 Stone Ridge students of all ages and their parents volunteered for those in need at A Wider Circle, in Silver Spring, MD.
A Wider Circle is a Washington, DC metro area community organization with a mission to support individuals and families rise out of poverty. Through their Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, A Wider Circle provides furniture, kitchen goods, baby supplies, and many other essential home goods to families transitioning out of shelters, escaping domestic violence, or otherwise living without their basic-need items. Families simply come to the showroom at A Wider Circle and select the items they need, free of charge. Each year, A Wider Circle furnishes the homes of more than 4,000 families, helping to create the stability and dignity that everyone deserves.
The Stone Ridge volunteer group served many roles. Students and their parents carried items off the trucks donated by local families in the DC area community; determined which items were appropriate for families; staged children's toys and books in the children's corner and furniture items in the showroom; and carried items to trucks for delivery after families selected their items. At the end of the day, the group engaged in a guided reflection discussing the prevalence and causes of poverty in the Washington DC area, and connecting the experience to the question: What can we do to end poverty, individually and collectively?
The experience was meaningful to each Stone Ridge student who participated. Of the experience, Codi Johnson '23 stated, "I realized the work we were doing would have a positive impact." Kate Gannon '24 noted, "I liked the message that this was not just charity work, but justice work." Marieve Lange '24 indicated the experience helped her realize she, "has a responsibility to give back in a respectful way." And Nora Gannon '26 liked the volunteer work because it,"led to other kids getting to take items home."
In addition to the Neighbor-To-Neighbor program, A Wider Circle operates a number of other programs to support individuals and families rising out of poverty, including programs for workforce development, wraparound support, and neighborhood revitalization.
The Stone Ridge community plans to continue to partner with A Wider Circle. Next up, the Race To End Poverty on April 15, 2018, to raise awareness and funds.
