Our thanks to Jhenileen Libongco-Barbour Continuum Healthcare Network, Elizabeth Chung Asian American Center of Frederick, Maryland Department of Health for their kind recognition of our work in the community at the Honoring Women Gala tonight! We greatly enjoyed the inspirational speeches by Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, Councilmember Kate Stewart, Takoma Park Mayor Talisha Searcy, Delegate Harry Bhandari and the Govenor’s citation for Continuum presented by Christina Poy GOCI!
Mar, 2023
TP Community Blue Bins Pantry Upgraded
The Takoma Park Blue Bins Community Pantry hosted by SatJiwan SJ Ikle-Khalsa and Mimi Ikle-Khalsa were recently upgraded, funded by a county grant made to Small Things Matter! The upgrades included 2 new refrigerators, coolers, and a shed. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, Takoma Park Mayor Talisha Searcy, Jamie Iwugo/Grey Bins and Kirsten Slade/Black bins, STM members: Thomas Showalter and family Diane Marie, Ian, and Ian Arthur Gray were among those in attendance of this mini-reopening.
Mar, 2023
Donation of 56,117 Starbucks Stars for STM
Our deepest thanks to Starbucks employee Rob Grimes for his generous donation of 56,117 Stars worth over $1600 which he used to purchase 400 breakfast sandwiches for our families. Thanks also to District Manager Eric Yeboah, Store Manager Starbucks Westside Shady Grove Store #49693 Naz Movagher, Council Member Kate Stewart, and Hampshire Tower Apartment site coordinator Doris Duarte for coming out to celebrate his amazing donation! Read all about it here in The Patch: https://patch.com/maryland/silverspring/starbucks-employees-donation-helps-buy-400-sandwiches-charity
Mar, 2023
Takoma Park Farmers Market Donates Produce to STM
Our thanks to Takoma Park Farmers Market‘s Toigo Farms, Twin Spring Farm, and Cazuela Stone Heath Bskery for their generous donations of apples, cider, and baked goods for our families in need. Thanks also to our crew: Carla, Chris, Mary, Aurelie, and Hannah for collecting and delivering the food!
Feb, 2023
Kindness Day, a Success!
3,570 Acts of Kindness were made in Tommy’s honor on Saturday, January 28, 2023. We also raised $1340 from the auction and look forward to the dine out that Olive Lounge is hosting on February 20 with 10% of the proceeds going to Tommy Raskin Memorial Fund for People and Animals, and to the register round up that Old Takoma Ace Hardware/Silver Spring Ace Hardware will be doing soon for his foundation. Thank you everyone for coming out and making the day special, thank you to all of our wonderful partners, our amazing teen and adult volunteers, and to the Raskin family for joining us! Please remember to visit Tommy Raskin Memorial Fund for People and Animals https://tommyraskinfund.org/ to make a small donation and please share your acts of kindness!
Jan, 2023
Join Us for Kindness Day on Saturday, January 28
Please mark your calendars for Kindness Day in honor of Tommy Raskin on Saturday January 28, 2023 at Piney Branch ES from 10am-1pm. There will be various kindness activities benefitting local charities that support people as well as animals for you and your children to participate in, collections at PBES on the day of the event, local businesses offering in-store kindness events, and a raffle benefitting the Tommy Raskin Memorial Fund for Humans and Animals https://tommyraskinfund.org. Monetary donations can also be made to the foundation directly. If you do make a contribution for Kindness Day 2023 and would like your name(s) include on the card/booklet we are putting together for the Raskin family please let me know. More details on all the activities and in-store businesses will be posted here soon.
SSL hours will be awarded for MS/HS participating in the event. Volunteers needed from 9:30am-1:30pm.
Activities at Piney Branch ES from 10-1pm
Packing non-perishable food items in bags
Make and take microgreens
Kindness rocks
Bookmarks for kids
Toiletry/hygiene products collection (full sizes only)
Positive message cards
Making weighted hula-hoops, teaching how to hula-hoop
Safe Space Signs
Affirming buttons
Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
Notes of Kindness and Mealtime Inspiration Kits
Winter Clothing
Puzzle books for seniors
Socks for the homeless
Make-N-Take pinecone bird feeders
Community kindness book
Coloring books for sick children
Make Dog Tug Toys
100 Fresh produce boxes
Friendship bracelets
Book collection (grades 3-5, 5th), snack donations, spring volunteers for upcoming school events, and thank you teacher notes
Positive message cards
Legos for underserved children
Items you can donate at the Kindness Day Event
used/new towels for animal shelters
non-perishable foods
Toiletry/hygiene products (full sizes only)
Winter Clothing
Puzzle books for seniors
Socks for the homeless
Coloring books for sick children
Small drawings for the community kindness book
Book collection (books for grades 3rd-5th esp needed)
Gently used Legos
Businesses In-Store Kindness Events
K&B Bridal and Tux – Words of affirmation and encouragement jar
Tabletop – Snack table
TPSS Coop – Treat table
Old Takoma Ace Hardware/Ace Hardware Silver Spring – Register roundup for Tommy’s Pantry
Olive Lounge – February 13 Dineout to benefit Tommy Raskin Fund for People & Animals
Jan, 2023
MLK Event at Belmont ES
Our thanks to Belmont Elementary School’s Social Justice Alliance for inviting Lana to share our mission as part of their MLK celebration on Friday, January 13. Our thanks to Stefanie Pleasure and Pam Dorsey for organizing the event, to the PTA for sponsoring the event, and to the members of the Social Justice Alliance for running the packing rice/beans activity for our families in need. This inspirational evening was filled with many other wonderful activities: the Social Justice Alliance shared quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr.; Green Olney collected items for recycling and taught students how to make reusable bags and dog toys out of t-shirts; Girl Scout Troop 31058 hosted Valentine’s Day cards for seniors; and students put together a lovely “What is Your Dream for the World” inspirational wall filled with their hopes and dreams for the future.
STM’s Year in Review
We had a very successful 2022 and accomplished many wonderful things together. Our deepest thanks to our fantastic team of volunteers and partners who made everything possible.
Wishing everyone a great 2023 filled with happiness, joy, and love!
Dec, 2022
STM Holiday Toy Drive A Success
STM’s holiday distributions are complete! Together gave out over 1000 toys and giftcards to Takoma Park families at Edinburgh House, MHP 610-614, Sligo View, Hancock Gardens, Blair Park, Parkview Towers, 7610 Maple, Cambridge, Winslow House, Colonnade on the Creek, Hampshire Tower, and Essex House Apartments; Silver Spring families at Langley Gardens and Colesville Tower Apartments; families in Takoma Park and Silver Spring at our community distribution at the TPSS Coop; and families in Rockville. We also shared Cups of Cheer with seniors at Hampshire Village, Hampshire Tower, Essex House, and Maple View Apartments!
Our thanks to all of our wonderful partners and friends who donated, collected, sorted, and wrapped toys, donated winter coats, made Cups of Cheer for our seniors, and made cookies/cookie kits: Wegmans Germantown, Baitur Rehman Mosque, Silver Spring, GFWC Maryland Federation Metropolitan Community Club of Montgomery County, Margie Billian/Colour & Design, Main Street Pearl, Kui Chan, Kehilat Pardes – The Rock Creek Synagogue, Tabletopdc, Blake HS Key Club, Kimberly Allen, Old Takoma Ace Hardware, Silver Spring Ace Hardware, AlexElda Dhadasih, @m Grace Episcopal Day School, Helping Hands Army, The Senior Connection, Dipali Tare, Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, Little Flower School, True Respite Brewing Company, Tilden Middle School, Girl Scout Troops 2463, 6037, 33009, 33154, and 34054, TPSS Co-op, The Takoma Park Seventh-day Adventist Church, and our community!!!
Dec, 2022
Govenor’s Citation
Our team received a Govenor’s Citation for our food work in the community. Our thanks to Christina Poy, GOCI Director for presenting the award, to Governor Larry Hogan for this kind recognition of our work, and to all of our wonderful partners and our community for their support!