Text Box: Concern for those less fortunate was abundantly evident in the Glen Echo community over the holiday season and throughout the year. An e-mail sent to all those on the town’s listserv notified them that donations were again being collected for Martha’s Table and could be brought to the Pancake Breakfast. Canned food and winter clothing were deposited by residents on the upstairs hall table. After the breakfast, they were taken by Tim Maloy of Oxford Rd. to Martha’s Table along with all the leftover food. Tim has been a volunteer at Martha’s Table for over 12 years with their mobile soup kitchen known as McKenna’s Wagon. He helps out with driving and serving food on the streets about once a month. From this, he says, “I have gotten to know people on the streets and my way around Washington’s various shelters.” In addition, “I get a lot personally out of being able to help people directly. Those who line up for food on the street are genuinely in need, with a capital ‘N’. Homelessness is a complex problem of which helping to feed people is only a small part of solving a problem which requires job training, drug rehab and mental health help (sometimes) and assistance with finding and keeping housing.” He points out that Martha’s Table has a weekly food pantry, a children and teen program, and a thrift store, all of which need help. Martha’s Table is located at 2114 14th St. NW, www.martha’stable.org. Another dedicated volunteer, Gloria Levin of University Ave., sent the town listserv recipients notice that she would be taking a donation to the charity, A Wider Circle, and would be happy to take along donations from her neighbors of other items that are greatly needed in the area. In addition to linens and towels and kitchenware, A Wider Circle was anxiously seeking beds for families in which children were at risk of being removed from their homes if beds could not be Text Box: A CARING COMMUNITY Text Box: provided. The organization can be reached through www.awidercircle.org., 301-657-1010. She also informed residents that on Jan. 12 she would be delivering clothing items to Suited for Change. This nonprofit "provides professional clothing ... to low-income women who have completed job training ... and are seeking employment," she wrote. You can contact Gloria at GloriaLevin@verizon.net or 301-320-5068. On the Board of Directors of Suited for Change is Phyllis Fordham of Princeton Ave. She was elected to the Executive Committee of this charity, which provides professional skills training as well as professional clothing for low income and disadvantaged women in the Washington area. The organization serves approximately 1500 women a year, she said. The clothing is placed in a “boutique” and volunteers act as skilled personal assistants to the clients in order to give these women “a delightful shopping experience.” Suited for Change is now collecting auction items for its annual celebration, which will be held at the Decatur House on May 15, 2008. Tickets can be purchased on the website, www.suitedforchange.org, or directly from Phyllis at phyllisfordham@comcast.net. Quite a few town residents also give away items through The Freecycle Network, which seeks to promote waste reduction and help save landscapes from being taken over by landfills. This network exists all over the world, but the local group is freecycle-bcc-md@yahoogroups.com. When one offers an item to all those in the group, one’s email address appears along with a description of the give-away. It is easy to see how many of our neighbors are using this method of getting rid of unwanted items, and also picking up free offerings that someone else wants to get rid of. It’s a wonderful free exchange.