Tag Archives: Community

Get Up Give Back – Fuel The Fight DC

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There is nothing better than seeing people pitching in to help their community.? A group of friends from Maryland created the Fuel the Fight ? campaign.? Amanda Cohen, Chelsea Widerlite, and Carly Steren created the fundraiser to raise money for local restaurants and healthcare workers.? Both have been severely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Cohen is currently studying to be a nurse so witnessing a pandemic happen right in front of her eyes inspired her to do her part.? Her friends Widerlite and Steren both wanted to give back and do the right thing as well.? All three of them grew up in Potomac, MD (Montgomery County) and attended Bullis High School.? They are very proud to have been able to come together in their later years and make an impact on the community that raised them.

These ladies made it super easy to donate to Fuel the Fight ? DC by creating a Go Fund Me campaign.? With the donations received, they purchase food from restaurants and deliver it to nurses, doctors, EMT workers, and hospital staff.? It is extremely difficult to work during a pandemic so these free meals are able to bring them a smile and ease some of their stress.? Everyone needs a nutritious meal especially those working 12-hour shifts to care for patients.

Easterns Automotive Group and Reese Waters of WUSA 9?s Get Up DC heard about the Fuel the Fight ? DC campaign and wanted to get involved.? Every month the two partner for a Get Up Give Back segment to help out those doing good in the community.? Reese Waters scheduled a video call with the three ladies to discuss their mission.? During the call, he announced that they would be receiving a $1,000 donation on behalf of Easterns Automotive Group.? To date, Fuel the Fight ? DC has been able to provide over $4,596 meals to healthcare heroes across the DMV.? Teamwork makes the dream work!

Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 are always here to help. If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that is worthy of being helped or recognized, please contact at @ReeseWaters on social media. #GetUpDC #GetUpGiveBack

 

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/sqFwWHK1Uho

Link to original article ? https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/outreach/get-up-give-back/get-up-give-back-gives-1k-to-fuel-the-fight-dc/65-01021aec-a042-40b2-b36c-36cdfe4391d3

Road to a Better Community – Nurses Giving Back to Frontline Workers

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Being a nurse during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is tough.? However, what is even more difficult is finding time when you?re off to give back to frontline workers.? Natalie Crawford and Lauren Bickel are the prime example of what it looks like to truly care about your community.? These two healthcare heroes are on the front lines themselves so they know first-hand the toll that this virus has not only on patients but essential workers as well.? They founded a campaign called #WECARE as a way to give back and support other workers on the front lines during their days off.? They have been raising money on social media that they use to bring to local restaurants to purchase meals and care packages.? Then Crawford and Bickel hand deliver the packages to frontline workers.

The fact that they are nurses makes this even more special because they can relate.? A small gesture like a free meal can mean the world to an employee who has been on their feet for 12-hours straight caring for ill patients.? Their #WECARE campaign has been a complete success and has garnered attention all throughout the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area.? One of the people that caught wind of it was Joel Bassam, Director of Marketing for Easterns Automotive Group.

Joel Bassam put in a call to WUSA 9 because he wanted to bring attention to both Crawford and Bickel?s hard work and also surprise them.? Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 have a partnership called Road to a Better Community where they highlight people doing excellent work in the community.? Ellen Bryan of WUSA 9?s Great Day Washington called the two ladies on a video call with Joel Bassam on the line.? Bassam surprised the ladies with a $2,500 donation on behalf of Easterns to help their #WECARE fund.? With this money, they will able to continue their mission and keep the free meals coming to the frontline and essential workers.? Please click here if you too would like to make a contribution to the #WECARE Go Fund Me.

 

To learn more about Easterns Automotive Group?s partnership with WUSA 9 and how they come together to empower the DMV community, please visit www.wusa9.com/BetterCommunity

Pay It Forward – Virtual Hugs for Heroes (Supporting the staff at Children?s National Hospital)

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The toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the economy is one for the books. Small businesses not only continue to be impacted but so does the healthcare system. Hospitals nationwide are facing a plethora of issues as elective services are canceled. This results in a lack of finances that affects the ability to provide a safe environment for both treatment and testing for coronavirus.

For weeks now, Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC have been doing their part to help everyone they can that has been affected by this virus. They got word that Children?s National Hospital in Washington D.C. was in need of help, so they decided to step in and try to ease some of their stress. Allison Seymour was able to chat with Emily Dorosz, Clinical Program Coordinator for the Emergency Medicine and Medicine Center at Children?s via video call to discuss some of their current challenges. Dorosz informed Seymour that they are having trouble securing PPE needed for nurses and doctors due to their decrease in revenue. There is a nationwide shortage of PPE as it is so not having the necessary funds can truly prevent one from having access.

Joel Bassam of Easterns joined the video call with Seymour and Dorosz to deliver a very special message. He announced that he would be donating $2,500 to Children?s National Hospital on behalf of Easterns as part of their Pay It Forward ? Virtual Hugs for Heroes segment. People in the healthcare field already to so much to keep our lives safe that they should not have to worry about a lack of safety equipment. Please visit www.childrensnational.org to get informed about their incredible care or to find ways that you too can help.

 

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized, Click here to nominate them.

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/DKJWlQ5jGHk

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/pay-it-forward-community-comes-together-to-support-childrens-national-hospital-staff

Pay It Forward – Virtual Hugs for Heroes (National Nurses Day)

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National Nurses Day is celebrated in May of each year as a part of National Nurses Week. This is the time where people all across the United States come together to celebrate nurses for their hard work and dedication. Now especially, frontline workers are crucial in how our country recovers from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has killed almost 100,000 people. Many nurses and doctors are working around the clock and urging people to stay home to help flatten the curve.

Easterns Automotive Group along with their Pay It Forward partner Fox 5 DC decided to team up for something special. Maureen Umeh of Good Day DC took Fox 5 cameras with her as she visited the University of Maryland Prince George?s Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland. She was greeted by CEO, Dr. Joseph Wright along with an army of nurses. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group joined in via video call to announce that they purchased over 100 jars of Combat Ready hand balm from Skincando for all of the frontline workers and essential staff.? Constant handwashing can leave your hands extremely dry so this moisturizer will be perfect.? The entire UM staff was truly grateful for the kind gesture.

Please continue to wash your hands, wear your mask, and practice social distancing!

STAY SAFE EVERYONE!

 

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized,?Click here?to nominate them.

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/pOXv853xXkc

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/pay-it-forward-frontline-workers-recognized-on-national-nurses-day

Pay It Forward – Virtual Hugs for Heroes (Providing free meals to 911 Dispatchers)

Community,

 

Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC have both been hard at work since COVID-19 hit the DMV region. The pair created a new segment called Virtual Hugs for Heroes under their Pay It Forward umbrella. The purpose of this was to highlight and give back to the frontline employees that still have to work through this pandemic. Coronavirus has certainly impacted everyone in negative ways, but several positives have come out of it too. This has given many a new perspective on things that are important in life and brought the community closer together during such an unknown time.

In celebration of hard-working men and women on the frontlines across the DMV, both Easterns and Fox 5 DC wanted to put a spotlight on a special group of individuals. They chose to recognize 911 dispatchers at the McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center in Fairfax, Virginia. These are the people that we call to talk us through an emergency and send immediate help. With so many people dying and getting ill from coronavirus, many of these dispatchers are working around the clock. Working 12-hour shifts is certainly no easy task especially in the middle of a pandemic.

The Pay It Forward team wanted to show these dispatchers their appreciation for the hard work that they continue to put in. Easterns Automotive Group purchased lunch for the entire dispatch team from Choong Man Chicken in Fairfax, VA. It was important to them every dispatcher receives a hot meal because nutrition is extremely important especially while working those long hours. The wonderful owner of Choong Man Chicken donated 500 PPE bundles to the dispatch team as well. As an organization, the staff at McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center remains dedicated to helping people in need. They are working with Communities of Trust to collect items for families. If you or someone you know would like to help this cause, please visit www.communitiesoftrust.com

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized, Click here to nominate them.

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/rPI_zzQd1PI

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/community-comes-together-to-provide-free-meals-for-911-dispatchers

Helping Hands – Surprising a furloughed Salvation Army Worker that continues to volunteer

Community,

 

Easterns Automotive Group and ABC 7 have teamed up once again to offer another helping hand. The pair created this segment as a platform to help those in need and worthy of being recognized in the community. Unfortunately, there are many people seeking help with over 14.7% of Americans unemployed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There are also many working on the front lines risking their health but one person in particular really stood out.

Anthony Gonzalez has been furloughed for weeks from his job at the Salvation Army in Fairfax County, Virginia but still continues to come in every day to volunteer. He loves his job and helping others so much that he didn?t feel that being furloughed should stop him. Gonzalez is a jack of all trades that hands out food to those in need and even answers the phones when people need assistance.

The reason Easterns and ABC 7 formed ?Helping Hands? is for people like Gonzalez. Technically, he could just stay home but his love for others is what’s keeping him volunteering day in and day out. It is time that he is recognized for his own kindness and generosity. Jonathan Elias and the ABC 7 crew surprised Gonzalez at work with a personal message from Joel Bassam of Easterns. Bassam and the rest of the team at Easterns were so touched that Gonzalez continues to volunteer his time that they surprised him big time. Gonzalez received a $2,000 check donation from Easterns and ABC 7 to help out with his bills during this unprecedented time. Words can not express the level of appreciation he felt.

Watch the video to see how everything unfolded.

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

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/FXmspNdOAMQ

Get Up Give Back – Kindness Community

Community,

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Easterns Sponsors Get Up DC Segment

Coronavirus has affected not only the lives of Americans but millions across the nation. However, the ones directly affected each and every day are those on the front lines. Hospital workers put their lives in the line every day to care for these sick patients who are still highly contagious. This inspired Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 ? Get Up DC to join forces for a very special edition of Get Up Give Back.

Five women from the Spring Valley neighborhood in Washington D.C. came together to form the Kindness Community. They are raising money to buy food from local restaurants to feed hospital employees during this pandemic. According to them, all of the doctors and nurses that they have fed thus far have been extremely appreciative. They have fed about 1500 people to date. A small gesture like a free meal can mean the world to someone working hard around the clock.

Both the teams at Easterns Automotive Group and Get Up DC were so impressed that they decided to help their mission. Typically, all Get Up Give Back segments are filmed in person but all parties are practicing social distancing to flatten the curve of COVID-19. Reese Waters joined Kathleen Norris of Kindness Community on a video call to discuss their work and also a surprise gift.

Kindness Community Donation

On camera, the announced that the Kindness Community would be receiving a $1,000 donation on behalf of Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 Get Up DC. The money will help them continue their amazing work of feeding doctors and nurses around the district. Today, May 6th is #NationalNursesDay so please send them some love and remind them that they are appreciated and irreplaceable.

Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 are always here to help. If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that is worthy of being helped or recognized, please contact at @ReeseWaters on social media. #GetUpDC #GetUpGiveBack ?

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/MYwcWm6_M9Q

Link to original article ? https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/outreach/get-up-give-back/getupgivebackkindesscommunity/65-39aec7ac-2287-4bdd-85c1-65abda48efc8

Pay It Forward – Virtual Hugs for Heroes

Community,

 

Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC have kicked their philanthropic efforts into overdrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has truly been a rough time for people in general but especially healthcare professionals and first responders. There has been a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) around the country that has affected the way doctors and nurses do their job. However, they have remained strong and united in fighting this disease.

As partners, Easterns and Fox 5 DC recognizes the numerous sacrifices that healthcare professionals have made during the pandemic. The pair made the choice to Pay It Forward by providing free meals from HalfSmoke to over 200 nurses and staff at Howard University Hospital In Washington D.C. It is important that they are properly nourished while working these long shifts. Fox 5 DC cameras were on site to capture the meals being dropped off to Chief Nursing Officer of Howard University Hospital, Dr. India Medley. She took some time to speak with both Allison Seymour of Fox 5 DC and Joel Bassam of Easterns on a video call. Dr. Medley discussed the dangers of coronavirus, steps that her team is taking, and ways to flatten the curve. As a country, we are truly lucky to have such great healthcare workers that risk their lives each and every day to keep Americans healthy and safe.?

 

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized, Click here to nominate them.

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

YouTube Link – https://youtu.be/Tx28l8jbblI

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/community-comes-together-to-provide-enough-food-to-feed-200-hospital-workers

Road to a Better Community – Feeding Families Affected by COVID-19

Community,
There is absolutely no doubt that this current COVID-19 pandemic has shifted America as we know it.? With the unemployment rate at more than 20 percent and millions struggling, there are many in need of assistance right now.? Easterns Automotive Group came together with WUSA 9 once again to sponsor their Road to a Better Community segment and help those directly affected by COVID-19.? According to the CDC, Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an illness caused by a virus that can spread from person to person.? One of the amazing non-profit organizations that stepped up during this unprecedented time was Manna Food Center located in Montgomery County, Maryland.? They have been serving their Maryland community since 1983 through food distribution, education, and advocacy.   When COVID-19 hit, Manna Food Center had to shift their attention and adapt to how quickly things were changing.? They are in the process of developing a solution that is more efficient for those in need during this tough time.? One way that they are adapting is by doing home deliveries to the homes of seniors and medical conditions.? Each pack that goes out includes about a week?s worth of grocery for those that can?t currently leave their home.? A drive-thru for food pickup has also been started as a convenient and safe way for families in need to get food yet still practice social distancing.? A huge focus of Manna Food Center has also been feeding students that are out of school due to this virus.? Many children count on those meals given during the school day.   Easterns Automotive Group made the choice to support by donating $2,500 to Manna Food Center for their incredible work in the community.? Joel Bassam of Easterns was happy to do this because giving back as always been a part of their DNA.? They are a company that truly believes in helping the people that have in turn helped them stay in business for 30+ years.? Manna Food Center has so many ways that people can get involved.? If you would like to find out more, please visit www.mannafood.org   To learn more about Easterns Automotive Group?s partnership with WUSA 9 and how they come together to empower the DMV community, please visit www.wusa9.com/BetterCommunity

Pay It Forward – Supporting Montgomery County Hospitals and Restaurants

Community,

Unfortunately, COVID-19 aka coronavirus has affected over 5,000 people to date just in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia alone.? With all non-essential businesses closed in the area many businesses have begun to suffer.? All restaurants are closed for dine-in but still remain open for takeout and delivery.? A Montgomery County woman by the name of Julie Sapper joined Mandy Starley Coelho?s Facebook group that supports Montgomery County restaurants during this economically tough time.? They order takeout from local area restaurants and donate the meals to the staff at local hospitals.? By doing this, they are able to help keep certain restaurants afloat while still helping the healthcare workers working day and day out to help patients with this virus.

The success of Heidi Forster Gertner inspired Sapper after finding out that she raised almost $9,000 to feed the staff at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.? Sapper reached out to Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville, Maryland to set up the same thing with them.? She had the help of a great sponsor, Mitch Wool of the Bean Bag Deli & Catering Company who is helping them to deliver 1,400 meals to their emergency room staff.

Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC got wind of this and decided to Pay It Forward.? Normally, this segment is done in person but due to coronavirus and social distancing, all parties decided to do a video conference.? Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group joined Sapper and Allison Seymour of Fox 5 DC to make a donation for $2,000 to keep their wonderful work going. If you would like to join this Facebook group to support Montgomery County restaurants, please click here.

 

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized, Click here to nominate them. ?

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

 

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/WnGYO04ZwxI

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/montgomery-county-residents-come-together-on-facebook-to-feed-hospital-staff