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Service Unites Us by Jason Smith, Community Service Director

Tuesday, June 26, 2012 9:14 AM | Chris Robinson (Administrator)

Service Unites Us

Community service is a cornerstone of RPCV/W’s mission and a great way to meet other RPCVs. We make it a priority to invite the RPCVs of Washington to stay true to their volunteer roots. Over the last year, RPCV/W has worked with several new organizations including the Capital Area Food Bank, Food & Friends, Martha’s Table, A Wider Circle, Food for All DC, and our 2012-2013 Partnership for Peace winner: Language ETC. We took part in activities of all types including packing lunch bags, delivering groceries, teaching language courses, collecting toys, and working in a warehouse.

For the Wider Circle, our strong team of RPCVs helped move furniture from the warehouse into trucks, cars, and vans which delivered it to families in need. The extraordinary efficiency of the warehouse was astonishing. From the one warehouse in Silver Spring, the organization is able to furnish the homes of 1000 people each month, with the help of an impressive bank of volunteers. Thanks to all that helped that day and thanks to A Wider Circle for being a great example of local community service in action.

We are also proud to enter into a year-long partnership with Language ETC, an organization which provides low cost English language lessons to thousands of adult immigrants across the city. Language ETC runs on a dedicated team of volunteer language teachers, many of them fellow RPCVs. Through shared events and initiatives, we forge a strong bond with an organization that fully embodies the Third Goal of the Peace Corps. We continue to reach out to other community groups and organizations based in grassroots service and welcome all who share our vision to engage our members.

As is our mission, RPCV/W will continue to assist local organizations with projects that impact our neighborhoods. The frequency and scope of our activities will grow only with member participation. We thank all who have contributed their time and energy to improving the lives of others. The future looks bright as our organization grows, and we look forward to welcoming you and your friends at the next community service project.

Jason Smith
2011-2012 Community Service Director

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Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC

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