Miriam's Kitchen serves a hot, nutritious breakfast with warmth and dignity to needy persons every weekday. The Kitchen serves approximately 200 persons with a staff of full- and part-time employees and over a thousand volunteers from throughout the greater Washington area and around the United States. The Kitchen also provides social services and legal counseling. Western Presbyterian Church was one of the founders of Miriam's Kitchen in 1983 and has housed the program since its beginning. Miriam's Kitchen also sponsors Miriam's Poets, writers who share their poems in readings in local high schools, universities, offices, and bookstores. In 2004, Miriam's opened Arnold House, a transitional housing program, for 4 men. Western volunteers help with breakfast at Miriam's on two mornings each month, and they also pick up food from the Food Bank and glean at the Foggy Bottom Farmers Market. (See Volunteering)
HIPS' mission is to assist female, male, and transgendered individuals engaging in sex work in Washington, DC in leading healthy lives. Utilizing a harm reduction model, HIPS' programs strive to address the impact that HIV/AIDS, STIs, discrimination, poverty, violence and drug use have on the lives of individuals engaging in sex work. HIPS was formed in 1993 by community and police representatives in response to the recognized need for specialized services for youth engaging in sex for gain in Washington, D.C. Western members have been active supporters of HIPS from its beginning, including regular service on the organization's board.
Calvary Women's Services is a nonprofit organization in Washington, DC, that provides housing and support services to homeless women. Calvary's mission is two-fold: To provide homeless women with a place to live and basic services and to help educate and empower women for independent living. Calvary operates a transitional housing program (Calvary Women's Shelter) with 25 beds, a transitional housing program (Pathways) for 10 women who have been chronically homeless, and a permanent housing program (Sister Circle) for 10 women. Western members and friends prepare and serve the evening meal at the Shelter one Saturday each month (see Volunteering) and in 2007 they painted the sleeping quarters and showers.
Capital Area Food Bank distributes food to over 700 charitable organizations in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Through organizations such as emergency food pantries, youth programs and emergency shelters, the Food Bank provides food for 1.6 million meals each month to the working poor, children, battered women, the elderly, homeless and the unemployed. Miriam’s Kitchen gets some of its food from the Food Bank, and Western members and friends help there one Saturday afternoon each month. (See Volunteering)
Central Union Mission is an interdenominational Christian rescue mission established in 1884. It provides shelter, food, clothing, and other programs and services for homeless persons and others who are hungry and poor in our nation's capital. A member of Western previously served on the Mission's board.
Whitman-Walker Clinic is a non-profit community-based health organization serving the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Established by and for the gay and lesbian community, the Clinic is comprised of diverse volunteers and staff who provide or facilitate the delivery of high quality, comprehensive, accessible health care and community services. Whitman-Walker Clinic is especially committed to ending the suffering of all those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Western members participate in the annual AIDS Walk to support Whitman-Walker.
Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian movement seeking justice for the world’s hungry people by lobbying our nation’s decision makers and by engaging in research and education on policies related to hunger and development. Through this organization, Western adds an advocacy dimension to our long-standing effort to feed the hungry in our own city.
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence emerged from the civil rights movement in the early 1970s. It pushes a progressive agenda to reduce firearm death and injury. CSGV was founded on the principle of collaboration, and thus it works closely with other organizations to achieve common goals. CSGV’s organizational structure is unique among national gun violence prevention organizations; it is comprised of 45 national organizations working to reduce gun violence. Coalition members include religious organizations, child welfare advocates, public health professionals, and social justice organizations.
DC Learns is a coalition of literacy groups in Washington. working together to raise public awareness of literacy issues, recruit volunteers, provide outreach to new learners, and provide the materials, research, training, and technical assistance needed to raise the quality of literacy services available to D.C. residents. Several Western members have been active volunteers with literacy organizations, and members participate in the Walk for Literacy each fall.
Mary House provides transitional housing services, shelter, and support programs to homeless and struggling families. Mary House works predominately with the low-income Latin American population of Washington, D.C., and recently expanded its services to resettling Bosnian and Kosovo refugee families. With twelve sites in Northeast Washington and Takoma Park, Maryland, Mary House can serve up to 30 families with housing and provides support services to an additional hundred families a month.
Our Place DC works to support women who are or have been in the criminal justice system by providing the resources they need to maintain connections with the community, resettle after incarceration, and reconcile with their families. Our Place helps women remain drugand alcohol-free, obtain decent housing and jobs, gain access to education, secure resources for their children, and maintain physical and emotional health.