STM recently shared fresh produce with seniors in need at the Muryang Buddhist Temple and Global Mission Church. The silent struggle of food insecurity among middle-class seniors is a significant issue that often goes unnoticed. Despite owning homes, receiving pensions, or living in comfortable neighborhoods, many seniors face  challenges in affording or accessing nutritious food. This problem is exacerbated by fixed incomes that donot keep pace with rising living costs, mobility challenges, and the fear of burdening family members. need. Our thanks to Judge Chung Pak and Alanna Lee for coordinating these donation efforts.

Food Insecurity Stat from our friends at Takoma Park Meals on Wheels

• 7 million older Americans faced food insecurity in 2022
• 12.8% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2022
• 13.7% of U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 2024
• 86.3% of U.S. households were food secure throughout 2024
• 18.4% of households with children under age 18 were food insecure in 2024

A huge thanks to everyone who joined us in honoring Tommy Raskin at Kindness Day 2026 with 6,459 acts of kindness inspired by Tommy. The day was filled with making and sharing items including friendship bracelets, toiletry kits, snack bags, cups of cheer blankets, clothing, to benefit those in need.  Our thanks to those of you who are coming out to volunteer with us, to all the nonprofits, groups and individuals who hosted tables (Linus Project, Homeshare, TPSS CSN, MoCo IRC, Blair Unidas, For Such A Time As This, Bombas, Sudanos, Takoma Art Library, PBES PTA, Olive Lounge, Rachel Gold, Kathleen Nixon, Difference Makers Bakers,Nonprofit Wellness, Miller Coaching Services, Seven Oaks Evanswood Citizens Association (SOECA), John Salmen, John F. Kennedy High School Leadership Training Institute (LTI), Not Child’s Play/Risa Shaw, STM at Richard Montgomery High School, I Support the Girls, Let’s Play America, STM at Walter Johnson High School, Girl Scout Troop 34054, Personal Care Foundation, Kindness corner at Montgomery Blair High School, STM at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Crochet Club for Teens, ProjectKnitwell, Girl Scout Troop 31456, Girl Scout Troop 34262, Marcelle Fozzard, Sophie Holt, and Lindsey Archuletta) and to all the businesses that held instore kindness events including the TPSS Coop, Old Takoma Ace Hardware, Tabletop, and Takoma Bev Co!

RESCHEDULED to February 7 due to the snow!

Save the NEW date! Kindness Day In Honor of Tommy Raskin is on Saturday, February 7 from 10am-1pm at Piney Branch ES. Join us in making a difference by celebrating the power of kindness in honor of Tommy.

 ­­On-site Activities at Piney Branch ES

• STM hygiene kits, Cups of Cheer, rice and beans, and fresh produce giveaway in partnership with Sudanos, plus blankets from Project Linus, winter coats from Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Washington, D.C. for families in need
• For Such A Time As This/Esther Sagguruthi mental health assessment and paper doll decorating
• Nonprofit Wellness/Susan Comfort gratitude card and envelope making
• PBES PTA/Mari Quenemoen Cards for teachers and staff, collecting gently used books for 3rd – 5th graders
• Lindsey Archuletta Woven friendship bracelets 
• Takoma Art Library/Sarah Voisin scrappy kindness badges
• Miller Coaching Services/Chantelle Miller Kindness tree with leaf notes
• Seven Oaks Evanswood Citizens Association (SOECA)/Elicia John pack a shoebox for families in need
• John Salmen Assembling “CapOrnaments” 
• Elijah Hillard/John F. Kennedy High School Leadership Training Institute (LTI) Lego giveaway for families in need
• TPSS CSN/MoCo IRC/Blair Unidas/Jamie Iwugo and Jaime Koppel Watercolor butterflies and letter writing to impacted families
• Not Child’s Play/Risa Shaw Spin the board game and sticker giveaway
• STM Richard Montgomery HS/Ved Bhise feminine hygiene packing/distribution
• Let’s Play America/Pat Rumbaugh Playing with Corn Hole & playing Giant Uno
• Small Things Matter/Nina Laplante Christensen coloring pin-backed buttons
• Small Things Matter/Lana Anderson STM monster stuffies
• Girl Scout Troop 34054/Shannon Earle and Lee Anderegg Friendship bracelets
• Personal Care Foundation/Carol Freitas Encouragement cards
• Kindness corner at MBHS/Farzaneh Nabavian Rock painting and pebble painting 
• Kim Reyes Makeup Face painting
• Kindness Snack Station Olive Lounge (hummus, pita, falafel), Rachel Gold (cookies)
• STM Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS/Alexander Daum Rice and beans packing/distribution
• Crochet Club for Teens/Leila Willman & Gillian Willman Crochet bracelets and bookmarks
• ProjectKnitwell Teaching knitting
• Girl Scouts troop 31456 Dog pulls and animal shelter collection
• American Road Trip/Marcelle Fozzard color/collage a bird or a peace symbol
• Girl Scout Troop 34262 Boredom Buster Bags for Children’s National Hospital.

On site Collections at Piney Branch ES:

• Towels, sheets, dog toys for Montgomery County Humane Society
• Canned/nonperishable food for Small Things Matter (STM)
• Legos (pieces and sets) for families in need
• Socks (new/unused) for families in need
• Acrylic yarn 
• Toiletries (new/unused, travel and full-sizes) to benefit neighbors in need via  Personal Care Foundation, Tabletop, and Seven Oaks Evanswood Citizens Association 
• Diapers (open packs are fine) and any related supplies (baby food, formula, clothes, teething rings, bottles, etc) for families in need
• Clothing (new/preloved) for families in need

In store events:

• 2/7 Takoma Bev Co crafting event from 1pm-3pm.
• 2/7 Tabletoptoiletries collection for the Free Little Pantry located outside of the TP Presbyterian Church 
• 2/7 Old Takoma Ace Hardware free popcorn, hot chocolate, stickers and $5 off coupons.
• 1/31 TPSS Coop Feed a Neighbor Fund collection, Co-op Act of Kindness prompts, food drive for STM

A huge thank you to our community and all of our amazing partners for collecting and donating toys to ensure that the children we serve have a bright Christmas! Together 1,203 toys were shared. Thank you for your caring hearts!

Friends help us make the holidays brighter for those in need by dropping off a brand new toy at any of the local shops below.

Over 800 brand new and pre-loved winter coats were shared with those in need! Our thanks to our many partners including: Hindu Community of Greater Washington, The Senior Connection, Helping Hands Army, TPSS Co-op, Tabletopdc, Yoga Heights, The Takoma Park Seventh-day Adventist Church, Piney Branch ES PTA, Takoma Park ES, Adat Shalom Synagogue, STM Walter Johnson High School club, and STM Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School club! Thanks also to our amazing Teen Pantry teens: Ved, Kai, Jacinto, Zadin, Nayomi, Ashley, Evelyn, Kamila, Zoe, Corrina, Peter, Nathan, Jessie, Jamal, Simone, Jack, Alex for sorting the jackets and helping distribute them.

Happy Thanksgiving! Together we were able to share 2344 Thanksgiving baskets (483 turkeys, 1861 roaster chickens, fresh produce, sides, and homemade desserts by MCPS students) with families in Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Rockville! Our thanks to our community, Wegmans, KOL Foods, Team U Fit Forever, and Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church!

The holidays are just around the corner and Small Things Matter needs your help make the holidays a little nicer for Takoma Park and Silver Spring families. Sponsor a family and provide them with Thanksgiving whole roaster chicken ($10) or whole turkey ($20). Our goal is $10,000. STM will provide them with a bag of fresh veggies. Together we can show them that we care and support them especially in these scary times. Please signup here:

2025 STM Thanksgiving Drive – Google Sheets

Venmo: thesmallthingsmatter

Paypal: thesmallthingsmatter@yahoo.com

Check: Small Things Matter, 14516 Bauer Drive, Rockville, MD 20853

STM is a registered 501(3)c nonprofit and can provide you with a letter of acknowledgement for your donations. Please add your email address to the signup above if you would like a letter.

We will be collecting new and gently worn warm jackets, vests, hats, and gloves for KIDS and ADULTS at Takoma Park ES, Piney Branch ES, Tabletop, Takoma Academy, and the TPSS Coop starting this Monday October 27th through Monday, November 24th. 
Donated items will be distributed at the TPSS Co-op on Tuesday, December 2nd from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.

Thanks for your kindness and help!

545 covid & flu shots were administered by Giant Pharmacy! Our thanks to Giant Pharmacy/Rimple Gabri, Takoma Park Street Festival/Laura Barclay, and our amazing STM team Darren, Jennifer, Sergio, Elizabeth, Gina, Sara, Pablo, Jessica, Rashann, Beatrice, Amelie, Doris, and John for registering people!