Congratulations to our Class of 2022 Seniors: Lana Anderson, Ethan Shoham, Jacob Hutter, Sam Chen, Sam Bush, and many others who served with us virtually this year making food and donating gift cards, holiday toys, and more. Our deepest thanks for your hard work and service to those in need!
We wish you continued success and happiness!
This week we welcomed Seth Baker from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School to our team. He will be interning with STM for his Senior Service Project for the next 2 weeks! Seth is busy creating a database of our partner contacts and is helping distribute food to those in need.
Wonderful celebration of #GlobalYouthServiceDay #GYSD2022 with Youth Service America projects on 1) hunger awareness (fundraising-surpassing our goal with $417 in bake sales with a match from YSA and packing nonperishable foods for Hampshire Tower Apts sponsored by the Sodexo Foundation, Amerigroup, Bella Ballet Kentlands, Saydam Properties Group at Keller Williams Capital Properties, 2) pronoun usage (buttons and coloring pride flags sponsored by Hillshire Farm #AllowanceGrant and Girl Scout Troop 34039) and 3) spreading kindness (friendship bracelets sponsored by Hershey Foods, Hershey Foundation #HeartwarmingProject)! Our thanks to all the AMAZING youth volunteers, youth leaders Ocean, Sahana, Marion, Shreya, and Lana, elected officials Mayor Kate Stewart, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, and Delegate David Moon, and our community for coming out to support us!
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.
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.