The Pay it Forward crew had the opportunity to visit the Senior Line Dancing Group in Northeast DC for Senior week at the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center. The line dancing teachers have been instructing within the community since 2012 and say it helps to keep them young and is a great sense of community and camaraderie.
We wanted to surprise the members of the Senior Line Dancing Group with a special goodie bag to show our appreciation for what they are doing in the community. The goodie bags include everyday goods to make life easier as well as treats from Madison Square Bakery.
Upcounty Hub is a program that provides resources for our senior citizens and families in Montogomery County. Maureen Umeh met with the coordinator, Grace Rivera-Oven, to learn more about what they are doing.
Upcounty Hub started during the pandemic 2 years ago when they began feeding 23 families and they are now feeding about 1300 families a week. They are focused on making sure senior citizens get everything they need because so many spend time home alone.
The volunteers have the heart to serve others and spend a lot of their time handing out food and everyday needs. Easterns Automotive Group wanted to pay it forward with a special surprise. We surprised them with gift bags to everyone within the program.
Teenagers can face many challenges, and for young girls struggling with body image and lacking confidence or support, it can be especially difficult. An organization in Bowie is looking to change that, inspiring young ladies to be bold, brilliant, and beautiful.
Dr. Jacqueline Marshall has been in education for over 20 years and is the founder of the Bold, Brilliant, Beautiful Girls Youth Empowerment group that she started in 2019. She saw the need to help young women find their voice and feel empowered.
Parents like Monica Freeman, who has two daughters apart of the group, noticed the positive changes that have taken place with the help of Bold, Brilliant, Beautiful. Aaliyah Waterman is a program graduate now in college who loved her experience learning about financial literacy, finding her voice, gaining confidence, and even helping within the community.
Easterns Automotive Group wanted to pay it forward as well by giving them a $2,000 donation. Joel Bassam joined with a special message. “We want to support your cause of empowering the young women of that community by preparing them for college, gaining financial literacy, and helping them with body acceptance by donating $2,000 to your programs to continue to support the young ladies of that community.”
If you want to learn more about this organization or to get involved, please visit www.bbbyeg.org.
As soon as the lowest-income seniors in Washington get the call that they can move to Sarah’s Circle, they know it will change their lives. Most of the people who come to Sarah’s Circle come from unfortunate and unsafe places.
“We’ve been homeless. Where we were living was very dangerous. Sometimes you step outside, and you were afraid. Now I step outside I’m not afraid any more. Thank God,” said D.C. resident Joe Boomer.
Sarah’s Circle provides affordable housing for low-income seniors in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. The renovated building allows seniors to thrive independently, and to help prevent food insecurity, the organization also offers hot meals to the community and more.
According to Sarah’s Circle Executive Director Jessica Petro, the organization plans to expand to other neighborhoods since waiting lists are hundreds and hundreds deep.
Easterns Automotive Group saw Sarah’s Circle Story as part of 7News On Your Side’s Helping Hands initiative last year, and they were moved by the organization’s mission. They were surprised with this message from Joel Bassam at Easterns Automotive Group.
“What is there not to say about Sarah’s Circle? You guys support low-income seniors in every way imaginable. Housing, nutrition, health, and exercise, it’s simply incredible. We want to support your mission to help those in need by donating $2,000 to your cause. Continue doing the amazing work you’re doing,” Bassam said.
Petro and the residents at Sarah’s Circle were blown away by the generosity and are looking forward to how the money will enrich the good work being done there.