Tag Archives: Community

Helping Hands – The Neighborhood Well

Community, Uncategorized,

Omolayo Adebayo recently launched a program in Maryland that provides showers for the homeless called The Neighborhood Well. When Adebayo is not practicing law as an attorney, she devotes her time and energy to this mission. It is the first non-profit organization of its kind that provides mobile showers to homeless individuals.

“I love encouraging people. My name means, ‘This child brings us joy,'” Adebayo said, smiling. “My parents have always instilled in me to give and give freely.” Joel Bassam from Easterns Automotive Group was touched by Adebayo’s selfless nature and wanted to help in any way he could.

“The Neighborhood Well is a truly amazing organization. The way that you all are providing resources to people experiencing homelessness for them to take the first steps to achieve self-sufficiency is an incredible way to help those individuals,” Bassam said. “We want to donate $2,000 so you can continue supporting those people and achieving the amazing work that you are doing in your community.”

It will help with the purchase of supplies, water disposal, maintenance, and other issues, Adebayo said. “I am overjoyed and always overwhelmed when people see the same vision that I see because it’s not easy to walk this journey,” Adebayo said.

Get Up Give Back – Hope Connections

Community, Uncategorized,

Hope Connections for Cancer Support believes that no patient should face cancer alone. The organization provides emotional and physical support to people living with cancer.

Get Up DC’s Allison Seymour met with the non-profit’s president and CEO, Mary McCusker. Hope Connections helps cancer patients cope with the mind-body connection through its support groups while receiving medical treatments.

“There is something very therapeutic to be able to sit in a room of people that know exactly what you’re going through and what you’re feeling at any given time,” McCusker said. “And then also the physical side. We offer gentle yoga, Pilates, mind-body boxing, and also meditation and relaxation, and all of the things that will really help you on that journey.”

Hope Connections also provides educational programs run by a medical advisory board of professionals. These experts provide information on cancer treatment options and how to deal with fatigue related to cancer.

We had the opportunity to surprise McCusker and donate $1,000 to Hope Connections. McCusker was happy just to share about Hope Connections but walked away in awe by this surprise!

Pay It Forward – Blessings Box

Community, Uncategorized,

Residents in a Capitol Heights neighborhood joined together to create what they call the “Blessing Box.” It is a large box in their community full of food for others to take when in need. Maureen Umeh met with two community members to learn more about the different things they do to help each other. One neighbor shared that she has a garden and often gives away fresh vegetables to others in the community.

Inspired by these neighbors coming together to help one another Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group joined with a special surprise, “You guys show that blessings begin with a heart to give! We want to be a blessing to you and your neighbors by giving each household a $100 gift card to help with their Thanksgiving day shopping!” The neighbors lit up with joy and excitement as they heard the good news!

Helping Hands – St. Stephens Baptist Church & Project Bright Future

Community, Uncategorized,

Every Tuesday, St. Stephens Baptist Church in Temple Hills has a massive food distribution for those in need in the community. “We’re excited about serving the community. We’ve got all kinds of food. We’ve got produce. We’ve got chicken. We’ve got pork chops, apples. We’ve got sweet potatoes, and we’re giving it all away until it’s gone. We do it every Tuesday consistently,” said Bishop Lanier Twyman, Sr., Senior Pastor at St. Stephens Baptist Church.

Driven by volunteers, they have about 60 volunteers every week to help distribute food but could use the help of others. Serving the community doesn’t stop with food distribution. About ten years ago, St. Stephens Baptist Church in Temple Hills, Maryland, started a mentor program called “Project Bright Future.” The program mentors young children and prepares them to be a better part of their community and pursue college degrees.

Their great deeds of service got the attention of our 7News Helping Hands campaign.

Joel Bassam joined virtually to share a special message for St. Stephens Baptist Church, “Hi there, I’m Joel Bassam from Easterns Automotive Group. We were blown away by what you guys are trying to do—feeding people and giving people clothes. Helping them in any way they need without anything in return is the best way to give. We want to help you continue to do that by donating $2,000, so you can continue to help those in the community. Thank you,”

Blown away by this donation, St. Stephens Baptist Church cheered in excitement! We are honored to be able to help such a fantastic cause.

Helping Hands: Operation Renewed Hope Foundation

Community, Uncategorized,

The Fairfax County non-profit, Operation Renewed Hope Foundation, is on a mission to end veteran homelessness by helping veterans get back on their feet, one home at a time.

Deborah Snyder is a former army helicopter pilot and the President of Operation Renewed Hope Foundation. She says the work to end veteran homelessness never stops, and giving back is in her blood. In this Helping Hands segment, she is renovating a four-bedroom home for a veteran family.

Snyder’s dedication to helping veterans led Easterns Automotive Group to make the non-profit a 7 News Helping Hands recipient. 7 News met with her inside the Alexandria home that she will be giving to the next veteran family on Veteran’s Day.

“What Operation Renewed Hope Foundation is doing, providing quality housing for the nation’s veterans who are experiencing homelessness, is incredible,” Bassam said. “We want to help you continue to break that cycle for those who have selflessly served this nation by donating $2,000 to your cause. Please continue doing the amazing work that you are doing and helping those who are in need.”

“Usually, it’s us giving the surprise to the veterans, but thank you so much to Easterns for the surprise. This is fantastic!” Snyder laughed.
Snyder.

Helping Hands: Aaliyah in Action

Community, Uncategorized,

A former Washington, D.C. teacher who delivered a stillborn baby last year is now on a journey herself to help others. Having lost her own child in December 2020, Elizabeth O’Donnell launched a nonprofit called Aaliyah in Action to assist mothers who have lost a child at birth. O’Donnell explained that she is now a stillbirth advocate full-time.

The organization partners with local hospitals to provide free self-care packages to families grieving. Most of the items in the box are items from local businesses or items created by families who have experienced loss. Supporting small businesses was also very important to O’Donnell as she gathered ideas for what to include in the boxes. Each box has a pair of fuzzy socks, lip balm, a face mask, and lavender shower steamers.

“They are not meant to make anybody feel better because that’s not possible,” O’Donnell said. “But it’s a gentle hug from someone who knows the pain.”

From Easterns Automotive Group, Joel Bassam learned about O’Donnell’s work in the community and decided to make her a 7News Helping Hands recipient.

“When Helping Hands brought us the story of the way you have turned this life experience of a way to help other individuals who are going through something so traumatic, we were blown away. We want to donate $2,000 to Aaliyah in Action to help support those individuals going through this terrible time, help them take the next steps in their lives with the boxes you are giving to them, and the bereavement support as well.”

Elizabeth was blown away and shared that this donation would help her reach more families and hospitals.

Helping Hands – Homes Not Borders

Community, Uncategorized,

Recently an empty Maryland apartment was transformed into a home for two women to start their new life in the U.S. If it weren’t for volunteers and Homes Not Borders, they would come home to an empty apartment. Homes Not Borders’ mission is to provide the refugee, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), and asylum-seeking population of the D.C. area with what they need to thrive and feel at home in the United States.

Laura Osuri, the groups executive director, said her home setups for those in need tripled as Afghan refugees entered the United States and continue to be in high demand.

Moved by the hard work Homes Not Borders has put into making sure the families are comfortable in their new homes, Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group joined with a special surprise.

“We were blown away by what you were able to achieve at Homes Not Borders, helping individuals and families when they need it most by helping them find homes and employment. It’s absolutely incredible,” said Joel Bassam with Easterns Automotive Group. “We wanted to donate $2,000 to your cause to help those most in need. Continue to do everything you are doing.”

Laura was overwhelmed by Eastern’s generous gift. “It’s wonderful,” she replied. “We are looking to hire more staff. We have a lot to do, so this can help with that.”

Pay It Forward – Manizi Azizi Helps Families Who Fled Afghanistan

Community, Uncategorized,

For the past month, thousands of Afghans have been fleeing Afghanistan. Some of these refugees are starting a new life here in America with nothing but a Maryland resident named Manizha Aziz has decided to pay it forward and help.

Aziz understood how these families felt since she came to this country as a refugee with her family years ago. She first volunteered with local groups and helped distribute donated items, but soon, refugees reached out to her directly because she spoke Farsi.

They felt comfortable with Aziz because she was once in their shoes. Aziz worked for weeks and had a trailer full of items ready for the families until it was stolen from a parking lot in College Park, Maryland. 

Aziz didn’t let that stop her with the help of family and friends; she started over and began to collect more donations and distribute items needed to families. Many families asked for things like diapers and winter clothes because of the upcoming winter months, and that has been her current goal.  

Heartbroken by what happened to Aziz’s trailer, we wanted to help replace some of the stolen items. Joel Bassam, President of Easterns Automotive Group, told Azizi that the company would be donating to help clear her wish list on Amazon. Manizha was speechless and grateful as she received the check for $2,000.

If you know someone who should be featured on Pay It Forward, you can nominate them by emailing wttgpayitforward@foxtv.com. In your message, be sure to include who they are and why they deserve to be recognized.

Road to A Better Community – Camp Kesem

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There is an estimated population of over 5 million children in the United States who have lost a parent to cancer, have a parent undergoing cancer treatment, or whose parent is a cancer survivor. In the heart of Maryland’s Eastern Shore is Camp Kesem. A far from ordinary camp. They are the largest organization that serves kids who have been impacted by their parent’s cancer.

Cancer already places massive stress on families, and they do not want financial barriers to stop kids from coming. Local college students drive the camp, and year-round they are fundraising to make sure this experience is 100% free for children ages 6 – 18. Camp Kesem isn’t a grief or cancer camp; it is an opportunity for kids to be kids again. They are all given Camp names that allow the kids to embody that personality and be whoever they want.

Joined by Joel Bassam from Easterns Automotive Group, he surprised Camp Kesem counselors with a check for $2,500. “It is impossible to find a family who has not been touched by cancer in some way, and it’s important that you are helping these kids move on,” shares Joel. This donation from Easterns saves Camp Kesem from some fundraising and helps them purchase supplies for activities like all of the slimes they made this summer.

Pay It Forward – Omar Fulcar & Hispanic Heritage Month

Uncategorized,

15-year-old Omar Fulcar from John Lewis High School in Springfield, VA, has volunteered with different organizations throughout Fairfax County. 

His work includes helping organize and distribute backpacks to kids returning to school, packing and distributing food to needy families, distributing flyers, and helping day laborers get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Claudia Morcelo, his aunt who works for the Fairfax County Department of Health, says Omar has really put his heart into helping others. “From a small kid to now, he loves to serve. 

Easterns Automotive Group was moved by Omar’s dedication to helping his community, we surprised him with a $250 Visa gift card and will make a $1,000 donation to one of the non-profit organizations he works with. 

If you know someone who should be featured on Pay It Forward, you can nominate them here. In your email, be sure to include who they are and why they deserve to be recognized.