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.

Santa is coming to Main Street Takoma for a FREE Meet and Greet on Sunday, December 19 from 11-2pm in front of the Streetery in Main Street Takoma. We will be practicing social distancing so no one will be able to sit on Santa’s lap, but we will have a pickup truck for child(ren), individuals, and families to pose on next to Santa. Please bring your own cameras/cell phones. If anyone has large ornaments or a large teddy bear that we can use as photo props please let me know. Our thanks to Santa Karl Kosok, Emily Glazer, Sharon Broderick, and Laura Barclay.

1,205 wonderful Thanksgiving baskets were assembled and distributed this year to families at Essex House Apartments, Hampshire Tower Apartments, Park Richie Apartments, Mapleview Apartments, Edinburgh Apartments, Cambridge Apartments, Parkview Apartments, Eastern MS, Twinbrook ES, Weller Road ES, and families in Takoma Park/Silver Spring through our distribution at the TP SDA Church. Our thanks to our friends Carla Cash/Key to Karma Inc, Georgia Ferentinos, Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Washington DC, TPSS Coop, TP SDA Church, Safeway on Norbeck, and our team for tirelessly working to make sure our families had a lovely Thanksgiving.

STM collected over 500 gently used coats and distributed them at Takoma Park ES, Piney Branch ES, and the TPSS Coop. Our thanks to our partners TPSS Coop, Ace Hardware, Main Street Pearl, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, TPES, PBES, and everyone who donated items to help keep everyone warm this winter.

Our thanks to the The Baltimore Ravens, Maryland Governor’s Office on Service & Volunteerism, and M&T Bank for this kind recognition of our work through the Ravens Honor Rows Program. Thank you for the game tickets and tees as well. Our members had an amazing time.

Congressman Jamie Raskin presented Small Things Matter with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for our food work for families in need on October 16, 2021. It was a great honor and we look forward to continuing to helping our neighbors.

Our deepest thanks to everyone who helped make our 1st benefit concert fundraiser a success!

Thanks to our amazing partners: TPSS Coop & Main Street Pearl

Thanks to our amazing bands: Marsha and the Positrons, Flo Anito & Seth Kibel, and Groovalicious

Thanks to our amazing friends: Drumming Circle by Sharon Gervasoni

Thanks to our amazing food vendors: Corned Beef King and STM Grill/Shave Ice

Thanks to our amazing elected officals for coming out and spreading awareness about hunger in our community: Congressman Jamie Raskin, Delegate David Moon, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, Mayor Kate Stewart, TP City Councilperson Talisha Searcy, TP City Councilperson Peter Kovar

Thanks to our amazing donors and thanks to all of you for coming out and supporting our event! 100% of the funds will be used to support our neighbors in need. Thank you!!!

Small Things Matter is hosting an outdoor concert fundraiser on Saturday, October 16 at the Co-op from 12noon-5pm.  There will be live music by Groovalicious, Marsha and the Positrons, and Flo Anito and Seth Kibel, food, drinks (beer/wine/non-alcoholic beverages), and kids activities. All proceeds to benefit Small Things Matter Kokua Foods. Get your tickets here.

Food:

Dalia’s Falefels, Corned Beef King, hot dogs/hamburgers, lemonade, soda, beer by Main Street Pearl, wine by TPSS Coop, Hawaiian shave ice! Be there for the debut of the Jamin’ Jamie, a patriotic blend of red strawberry and blue raspberry syrups, garnished with an American flag.  

Music:

12noon-1pm Marsha and the Positrons

1pm Drum Circle led by Sharon Gervasoni

1:30-2:30pm Flo Anito & Seth Kibel

3:00pm-5:00pm Groovalicious

Activities:

All day Kids crafts

3pm Bag It: Food Packing Competition with Mayor Kate Stewart, Ward 6 TP Councilperson Talisha Searcy, Ward 1 TP Councilperson Peter Kovar, MoCo Councilperson Evan Glass, and Delegates Lorig Charkoudian and David Moon