The average youth soccer player’s yearly cost ranges between $1,500 and $5,000, and due to the lack of financial resources, many kids are left out of leagues and unable to play. The nonprofit Open Goal Project provides opportunities for underprivileged children in Washington, D.C., to play competitive soccer.

The program gives kids the chance to showcase their skills in a family-oriented environment. Gio Ceron, a member of the Open Goal Project, expressed, “If I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t have all these friends, and I wouldn’t know all of these skills the coaches taught me,”

Easterns Automotive Group was inspired by what they do for our community and wanted to give back. Joel Bassam from Easterns joined in surprising Amir Lowery, co-founder and Executive Director of Open Goal Project.

“We were blown away by what you’re doing to support your community and support the dreams of those who are trying to play soccer at the next level,” said Joel Bassam. “We want to support you guys by donating $2,000 to continue to spread the love and share these stories with other kids doing what they love most. Continue to do the amazing things you’re doing.”

Lowery and the Open Goal Project were grateful for this donation. They expressed, “It really means a lot. I really appreciate you guys. This will go a long way toward our mission and further leveling the playing field.”

Mariflor Ventura is an immigrant from El Salvador and a local hero living in Arlington, Virginia. Mariflor, a mother who spends her time raising her twins when not working on an Arlington County School bus, usually kept to herself before the pandemic. Until one day, during the lockdown, her nearby neighbors, who became jobless and hungry, reached out for help. 

After helping one neighbor with milk, food, and diapers for the children, she noticed a need throughout her community. Mariflor expressed how she feels connected to single moms because she was once in their shoes a couple of years ago. Now she is determined to help mothers because she couldn’t help before. Many families in her neighborhood couldn’t go to food banks to get the help they needed, so Mariflor has been a saving grace for those in her community by providing for others right outside of her home.

Mariflor’s living room is stacked to the ceiling with toiletries, food, and everyday items for her to give away to the community, and every Friday, a line forms outside of her house around noon, and volunteers from her church help pass out boxes filled with food. She helps families with donations she receives from the support of neighbors, her church, and strangers. Her goal is to turn this into a non-profit since her journey of helping others has turned into something greater than she expected.

Amazed by how Mariflor is helping her community right from her home, Joel Bassam, from Easterns Automotive Group, sent Mariflor an inspirational video message and surprised her with $2,000 to continue to support her community. Brought to tears, the first thing Mariflor thought about was others. “I don’t deserve this,” she cried. “There are other people that deserve this more.”

Lana Anderson, a junior at Montgomery Blair High School, and her mom started an organization in 2017 called “Small Things Matter.” They are committed to helping others in need through food, literacy, and charity crafting programs. “Small Things Matter” is a teen-led effort that initially began to involve the youth of all ages in service.  

Lana’s mother shared that her daughter started volunteering when she was younger, and from there, she just liked helping others. She began to help those in need in little ways, which is the inspiration for the club’s name.

They currently run a food distribution program that began serving 300 to 400 families, and over the last year, has expanded to over 1,000. 

7News reporter Kidd O-Shea showed Lana and her mother a video from Easterns Automotive Group’s Joel Bassam, who joined with a special surprise. Blown away by the way they have pivoted their support for the community by feeding others, Easterns Automotive Group donated $2,000 to “Small Things Matter.”

Helping Hands, powered by ABC 7, is always looking to help people or organizations in need worthy of assistance. If you know someone that fits this description, please click here to nominate them.

Francis on the Hill is a program run by non-profit, Following Francis, that supports children and families in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. They provide fresh groceries and new clothing to neighborhood residents. They also improve public spaces in and around Meridian Hill Park.

When COVID-19 restrictions began, Dr. Carol Conner, the founder of Francis on the Hill, saw a chance to help those affected by the pandemic. They are proud to give fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need and not what they call “hand-me-down” food. Jay Steptoe, the East Coast Director, shared that they started with 30 families, and they now serve 450 families from two locations. Both of their sites, Cardozo High School and Chapin Street Merdian Hill Park, help about 450 families a week with about 20,000 pounds of food total. They accept large pallet-sized donations from organizations like the Capital Area Food Bank. However, they are always taking clothing donations.

Their message is to “Give with Dignity,” and we wanted to ensure that Following Francis and the Francis on the Hill Program can continue to do this incredible work in the community! From Easterns Automotive Group, Joel Bassam joined on this 7News Helping Hands segment to give Following Francis $2,000 towards their mission to continue giving to others in need!