Our thanks to the many teens and their families who came out to serve at our teen distribution (pantry foods/bras/clothing/meat) on Tuesday and our community distribution (fresh produce, cleaning/hygiene supplies/cereal/milk) on Friday during Spring Break. The teens packed both pantry foods and fresh produce and gave them away . We greatly enjoyed the energy that the teens brought with them and look forward to having them join us regularly at our community distributions during the summer.

Small Things Matter empowers youth to giving back to their community. Here are a few ways that your elementary school child(ren) can volunteer with STM to support our neighbors in need!

Virtual opportunities:
You can make these at home and then drop off anytime from 8am-10pm at the service desk at the TPSS Coop (201 Ethan Allen Ave, Takoma Park 20912)
–Handmade bookmarks: We give out handmade bookmarks at our book distributions and the children love receiving a bookmark that another child has made
–Diapers (yes even opened packs): Diapers are expensive and many of the families we serve have young children; sizes 5 and 6 are especially appreciated

–Baked goods: Cookies, brownies, banana breads- We love distributing these at our Teen pantry at the TPSS Coop. The next dates are Tuesday March 8 and 22. Please drop off by 4:30pm or drop off the day before.
–Brand new books: We love receiving books for our literacy program. Please consider using your birthday to collect books for us. We serve children from prek to 5th grades/ages 2-11.

In person opportunities:
–Packing produce for TPES/PBES monthly distribution at the TPSS Coop from 7:30am-10:30am. We are packing 200 bags of produce for each school so a few helping hands are welcome. Come out and pack for an hour before school! Friday March 25, April 22, and May 27
–Packing produce for the TP/SS Community at the TPSS Coop from 7:30am-9:30am. This opportunity is good for little ones (K-3rd graders) Friday April 15 (MCPS Spring Break)
–Packing produce and distribution for the TP/SS Community at the TP SDA Church from 9am-11am. This opportunity is good for older kids (4th grade+) Friday April 15 (MCPS Spring Break)
–Packing nonperishables at the Charity Corner at the TP Farmers Market from 10am-12noon. Bring a few nonperishable food items if you can or host a canned food drive in your neighborhood. Bags will be packed and then delivered to a low-income housing apartment in Takoma Park. Sunday May 1

Please note: For our in person events everyone must be vaxxed and boosted if 5 years old or older; please bring your vaccination card and wear a mask

Learn how our new van got his name plus more exciting happenings in our March Newsletter!

STM donates rescued produce to three Takoma Park Community Pantries.  Recently one of them was cited for a health code violation. MoCo County Executive Marc Elrich stepped in so that this valuable resource for those in need could continue. These type of pantries not only provide people with access to free food, but also protects their dignity by allowing them their anonymity. Read about it here!
Big shout out to our Trader Joe’s food rescue team (Matt, Thomas; Darren; Diane-Marie, Ian, Ian Arthur, Karen, Cammie, Christie, Em) who brings food to these community pantries on a regular basis.  Food from Imperfect Foods and Wegmans are also shared there on occassion.

STM serves food insecure families in Montgomery County and PG County. Families and individuals are given access to fresh produce, nonperishable foods, hot meals, toiletries, gift cards, and more. Our thanks to our amazing team and our wonderful partners at the Takoma Park Seventh Day Adventist, Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, TPSS Coop, Montgomery County, Manna, Imperfect Foods, Wegmans, Trader Joes, Lancaster Foods, middle school/high school students, and our community for all of their support. If you are in need of food assistance please contact us at thesmallthingsmatter@yahoo.com or call 202-669-8550.

Fairy doors were decorated and placed in our community to spread joy in honor of Tommy Raskin with love from Amelia, Annilyn, Ann Rose, Avigail, Bonnie, Catherine, Echo, Elaine, Elda, Emily, Hetal, Lauren, Linda, Margie, Maria, Megan, Monica, Robbin, Tristan, Lana, Clara, Roxanne and our families.

See how others came together for Tommy here.

#TodayforTommy #ActsofKindness

STM received a wonderful citation from the Maryland General Assembly for our work during the pandemic. It reads “Be it hereby known to all that sincerest congratulations are offered to Small Things Matter in recognition of their tireless and extraordinary work in feeding and care for the community during the pandemic”. Presented on behalf of the D20 Team – William Colonel Smith Jr, Jheanelle K. Wilkins, David Moon, and Lorig Charkoudian.

Please enjoy our video recap of 2021, a celebration of how our amazing community came together to help one another during another challenging year! Thank you to all of our wonderful friends, students, donors, businesses, nonprofits, churches, scout troops, leaders, and our dedicated team of volunteers for making what we do possible. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2022!

The holidays can be an especially stressful time of year, especially for families that are struggling to put food on the table. Each year we collect brand new toys to support their holiday celebration. Thanks to the amazing generosity of our community and many wonderful groups that host toys drive for us we were able to give out over 2000 toys and 600 gift cards to children ages 0-18 in Takoma Park and Silver Spring. Our thanks to Wegmans, TPSS Coop, Main Street Pearl, Ace Hardware, HS student Victoria Daza, Washington Episcopal Day School, Kehilat Pardes, Scout Troop 3921, Scout Troop 34039, Metropolitan Community Club of Montgomery County (MCC), Blessed Sacrament Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Grace Episcopal Day School, Nimble Finger Quilt Club, and St. George Greek Orthodox Church. The toys were shared at the apartments we serve (Cambridge & Winslow Apts, Edinburgh Apts, Essex House Apts Hampshire Tower Apts, Parkview Apts), as well as at Red Top Road, TPSS Coop, and Brookhaven Elementary School.

Our deepest thanks to all the students for their hard work and generous donations of Cups of Cheer for seniors! We distributed 5270 ceramic mugs filled with treats including tea, coffee, cocoa, and cookies (all prepackaged and individually wrapped) to seniors at Ashbury Methodist Village, Bedford Station Apt, Bonifant Apt, Cambridge & Winslow Apts, Edinburgh Apt, Essex House Apt, Heritage House Apt, Hampshire Tower Apt, Meals on Wheel Takoma Park, Parkview Apt, Randolph Village Apt, Spring Valley Apt, Sunrise of Rockville Apt, Victory Court Apt, Victory Forrest Apt, Victory Towers Apt, Thanks to MoCo middle school and high school students, Grace Episcopal Day School, St. Albans School, The Academy of the Holy Cross, Tilden Middle School, Scout Troop 2216, Scout Troop 33003, Scout Troop 33027, Scout Troop 42129, Quince Orchard High School, Rocky Hill Middle School, A special shoutout to the students at The Goddard of Olney for making beautiful wood coasters that were shared with the seniors at Meals on Wheels Takoma Park.