Welcome! Small Things Matter is a 501(3)c nonprofit founded on the idea that small acts of kindness can make a big impact on someone’s life. Our motto is “kid-powered kindness for those in need!” Small Things Matter is committed to helping others in need through our food, literacy and charity crafting programs.
Volunteer opportunities
Volunteers of all ages are invited to help serve our community by participating in either in-person or at-home activities such as baking cookies, bagging rice and beans, packing and giving out food at our distributions, crafting items for those in need at our community events, etc. You can find a list of our current volunteer opportunities here: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/agency/mgrNeeds/?agency_id=81036
Middle School and High School students can earn SSL hours for all of the opportunities listed there. Young children, families, groups, and individuals are also welcome to join in.
If you are interested in earning a Presidential Volunteer Service Award, please check this out here: Volunteer Opportunities/PVSA Award – Small Things Matter
Kokua Foods
Small Things Matter believes that providing supplemental food to food insecure children and their families as well as individuals including the homeless, elderly, and disabled in Maryland is one way that we can help improve lives. We offer fresh produce and grocery, meat, casseroles, non-perishable, and household goods on a monthly basis through amazing partnerships with Wegmans Germantown, Imperfect Foods, Trader Joe’s Bethesda, Lyon Bakery, TPSS Co-op, Takoma Park Seventh Day Adventist Church, Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery County, and our community. STM members pickup, pack, and distribute the food to over 1000 households in the Takoma Park, Silver Spring, and Rockville communities.
Books for Bedtime Literacy Program
Small Things Matter is also committed to educating children by encouraging them to strengthen their reading skills which we believe lays down a strong foundation for educational success. Through our literacy program “Books for Bedtime” we distribute free books to at risk-children at our Kokua Foods distributions at Rolling Terrace Elementary School and Takoma Park Middle School each month. Children are treated to a snack, read to, and encouraged to read to others. They are also allowed to choose a free book of their choice to take home to keep and read. STM also hosts school-wide distributions of new books at Title I schools including Rolling Terrace Elementary School. Our Books for Bedtime Program is also implemented at Takoma Park Elementary School/Piney Branch Elementary School during their PTA meetings where children are read to and do literacy-based crafts.
Crafting for Charity Program
Small Things Matter also empower kids of all ages to use and share their talents to help others in need whether it be with an encouraging word on a rock, a handmade stuffie, or a card with a hand drawn picture. We lead crafting workshops and charity birthday parties and the resulting handcrafted items are donated those in need. We share handcrafted items with the food insecure families we serve as well as children’s hospitals and homeless shelters.
Spreading Awareness
Small Things Matter also shares important information with the community including information on SNAP, WIC, rental subsidies, COVID clinics and other health information, food distributions, and more.
Raising Leaders
Our teen members plan and run our events and in doing so develop strong leadership skills. Small Things Matter also provides encouragement and help for children of all ages that want to lead a project of their own. If you have an idea for a new project that you’d like to lead in your area please contact us by email or phone. We would love to work with you and feature your project on our website.
Together we will do great things!
Lana and Roxanne
Small Things Matter
thesmallthingsmatter@yahoo.com
202-669-8550