Weekly Announcements, June 18, 2020

“Now to act with integrity, according to that strength of mind and body with which our creator hath endowed each of use, appears necessary for all.”   -John Woolman

Also on Sunday

Reading Early Quakers Together, June 21, 9:15-10:15am to discuss passages by Sarah Jones, Margaret Fell and Sarah Blackborow, pages 35 through 57 in Hidden in Plain Sight: Quaker Women’s Writings 1650-1700 Pendle Hill.  Available here [5].  Contact for Zoom info: Sabrina McCarthy, sabrina.mccarthy@verizon.net [6], cell 240.778.5234.

Friendly Bible Study, 12:00 noon via Zoom.  To join click here [7].  (Meeting ID: 202 577 8431).  To join by phone dial: 646-876-9923.  Enter 202-577-8431 for the Meeting ID.  Enter #  for the Participant ID.  Password: 254224#.  For more information contact David Etheridge, email: David.Etheridge22@gmail.com [8]

Upcoming

TONIGHT! - Thursday, June 18, 7:00 - 8:00 pm SURJ-Showing Up for Racial Justice is holding a webinar with tips for showing up for protests with Black Lives Matter and other Black/POC led groups.  To be discussed:  How non-Black people can center Black leadership at protests.  Ways to make sure #wekeepussafe in the streets. Basics of direct action.  SURJ DC [9] is a chapter of the national SURJ organization, which seeks to organize white people to dismantle white supremacy and support racial justice movements.  Register here [10].

TONIGHT! - FCNL's “Thursdays With Friends,” Advocating while Social Distancing, June 18, 4:00 p.m..  FCNL’s Diane Randall and Shoshana Abrams discuss advocacy during the coronavirus pandemic. How are FCNL advocates adjusting to the new realities in the field? What are some methods that advocates can employ to be heard and to build relationships during this tumultuous time? Register here [11].  Learn more [12] about these bi-weekly conversations.

FRIDAY - Faith Community Anti-Racism Vigils on 16th Street, 5 pm on “Juneteenth” and Fridays in June.  People gather along both sides of 16th Street NW, spaced safely apart, wearing masks, and many holding signs, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. This peaceful demonstration is organized by local churches, mosques, synagogues, and other faith communities to support Black Lives Matter and fundamental shifts in priorities affecting people of color.   Friends who feel so led are invited to join this Friday — and every Friday in June.  FMW has joined as a sponsoring institution. Bring a sign if you wish. There is parking on Jonquil Street and an S-4 bus stop at 16th & Kalmia.  Contact: Grant Thompson,  billstar@Starpower.net [13]

BYM End of Life Working Group On-line Forum, June 27, 10:00 - 12:00 noon.  The first of a series of conversations to explore issues, the needs, and the various responses of Quakers worldwide to this topic of living and dying well as Friends.  Please refer to our webpage for more information [14], to look over the queries, and send us your questions.  We encourage Friends facing personal situations regarding end of life issues to write to us anytime for individualized support.  We will do our best to listen with trained ears and support your discernment.  To register contact:  EndofLife@bym-rsf.org [15]

Discussion on Fostering Community at FMW, June 28, 9:15-10:15 a.m. - Please join us.  All are welcome! You needn't read Charles Vogl’s book, The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging (2016) to participate!  Contact for Zoom call-in information: Sabrina McCarthy, sabrina.mccarthy@verizon.net [6], cell 240.778.5234.

Spiritual Friendships Group check-in, June 28, noon to 1:00 p.m. Please join us.  For more information and Zoom info, contact Sabrina McCarthy, sabrina.mccarthy@verizon.net [6], cell 240.778.5234.

Spiritual Formation, Thursday, July 2, 6:30 p.m. and following 3 1st Thursdays of month.
For more information contact Ann Herzog, email: aherzog333@yahoo.com [16]

Next FMW Monthly Meeting for Worship with Concern for Business, Sunday, July 19, 12:15 p.m.  All are welcome at FMW’s once-a-month time for discussion, decision-making and planning.  For more information or if you have an item for the agenda contact FMW co-clerk Debby Churchman, email: DChurchm@yahoo.com [17]

Other Meetings & Worship Opportunities

YAF Zinner get together, Tuesdays, 6:30 - 8:00.  
Join via Zoom here [18]. For more information contact Joseph d’Antonio, 89dantonio@cua.edu [19]

Friendly Bible Study will be held online on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.  
Join via Zoom here [20].  For more information, contact Gene Throwe, gthrowe@gmail.com [21]

“Midweek Meeting for Worship, Tuesdays, 6 pm
Join via  Zoom here [7].  Meeting ID: 202 577 8431       Password:  254224
Other phones, dial 1-646-876-9923, when prompted enter Meeting ID:  202-577-8431.

“Meetings for Suffering” in this time of COVID 19
During the years of greatest persecution of Friends, in the second half of the 17th century, Friends would hold those in prison in the Light during special Meetings for Sufferings.  We are now faced with a pandemic that is causing profound suffering throughout the world and has touched each of us in our community in different ways. We will gather, virtually, on Fridays 12:00-12:30 p.m. in a worship sharing format that will allow those attending to share what is most heavy on their heart and receive the prayerful support of the community.  Please join us so we can share the burden. For more info, email clerk:  Bertrand Rossert, BertrandRossert@gmail.com [22]
Join via Zoom here [23].   Meeting ID: 239 417 702     Password: 673902
Or join by phone by calling: 301-715-8592   On prompt enter password: 673902#

Staying in Touch
To access the Member Directory from FMW’s website:  Log-in ID is FMW, the password is Discern. To join the FMW Listserv, or to be included in the FMW’s Online Directory, send an e-mail to: admin@quakersdc.org [24] 

FMW’s office is officially closed, but office staff are working from home, checking email and phone messages regularly.  If your call is not answered, leave a message so we can call you back and--better yet--send an email.  Office Phone: 202.483.3310.   Administrative Secretary email: admin@QuakersDC.org  
 

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE, DONATE, BE MUTUAL SUPPORT

Manna--working to end hunger in Mongomery County:  Manna’s mission is ending hunger for the estimated 63,000 people in Montgomery County who regularly experience hunger and food insecurity, through distribution, education and advocacy. COVID-19 (coronavirus) presents unique challenges.  Manna is adapting their distribution and delivery to accommodate Governor Hogan’s “stay at home” order.  Manna urgently needs money and volunteers.   You can make a donation toward Manna's response efforts here [25],  or volunteer your time [26], by joining the team of front-line humanitarians.

CAPITOL AREA FOOD BANK
Go to https://volunteer.capitalareafoodbank.org/calendar
Pack and sort donated food at Distribution Centers. 
Register Online for 3-hour shift
Check out Volunteer Opportunity Calendar
District of Columbia, 4900 Puerto Rico Ave., NE
“An added bonus - It’s a real workout!” says Elaine Wilson of her weekly shift at the Capital Area Food Bank.

ARLINGTON FOOD ASSISTANCE CENTER, 2708 S. Nelson St., Arlington
Go to https://afac.org/volunteer/current-volunteer-opportunities/
Pack and sort donated food at warehouse. Register Online.  Choose your am or pm shift

Martha’s Table--long supported by FMW members and attenders has special needs right now:  Volunteers are needed to help assemble food distributions for area shelters and nutrition programs. You can sign up at this link: https://marthastable.volunteerhub.com/ [27]       You can also find Martha’s Table’s See Volunteer Health policy here [28]

Martha’s Table also has a “Wish List [29]” of needed items on Amazon.    

Other Service Opportunities

This is a great compilation [30] from 730DC. It includes a virtual tip jar for service industry workers, mutual support groups, and lots of other good information. 

SupportDC [31] is a website to help you figure out how to use any disposable money you might have to help keep your favorite restaurants and businesses afloat. 

Here's a donor form [32] to donate PPE to health workers, and here's another way [33]to donate PPE. 

Hook Hall has been collecting supplies and coordinated a COVID-19 Worker Relief Fund [34] for service industry workers who've been laid off and are struggling. 

How to help in the D.C. region

Help your DC community by giving blood and other suggestions: 6 Ways You Can Help Your Community Fight the Impacts of Coronavirus

With mass layoffs due to business shut downs, some local governments halted evictions and public utility shut-offs. Still, coronavirus is expected to impact D.C.'s already vulnerable populations. Several nonprofits serving those communities are ramping up efforts to help.

So Others Might Eat: Provides meals for the homeless and has been distributing hand wipes and provided sanitizing stations throughout the community. The group is accepting donations for clients and residents who might become ill. A list of needed medicine, food and household items is available here [35]. Donations can be dropped off at 71 O Street NW from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends. Monetary donations are accepted online [36].

D.C. Central Kitchen: Offering takeaway meal sites at two D.C. public schools and among organizations trying to feed students who are not getting meals because schools are closed. Central Kitchen also is ramping up meal deliveries to shelters and deploying additional “mobile feeding” locations for those in need throughout the city. D.C. Central Kitchen accepts donations online [37].

N Street Village: Helps women overcome homelessness and addiction and offers showers, meals and places for clients to do laundry. N Street Village scaled back its hours because of coronavirus, but it is still open. N Street Village has a wish list [38]of cleaning supplies with drop-off information here [39]. Monetary donations are accepted here [40].

D.C. Safe: With people out of work and confined at home, an increase in domestic abuse is possible. This nonprofit offers 24/7 crisis intervention in the District and provides shelter space. Several options for donations are here [41].

The Children’s Inn at NIH: Provides free housing and support for children and adults participating in clinical research studies at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. To protect its residents, the nonprofit has suspended all volunteer activities, including meal preparation. The Children’s Inn is asking for donations to continue providing breakfast, lunch and dinner to its residents. You can make a donation to its Feeding Families Fund or provide nonperishable food supplies here [42].

GoFundMe shared a centralized hub for COVID-19 fundraisers [43], as well as a huge generalized fund [44]you can donate to if you want to have an impact nation-wide. 

For more information, email Friends Meeting of Washington’s office:  admin@QuakersDC.org [45].  Or you can leave a message on FMW’s office phone:  202-483-3310 which staff are checking regularly.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
Young Adult Friends - Anyone (aged 18-40) interested in learning about Young Adult Friends at FMW or who would like the join the YAF list-serve, please contact Amanda Nadeau , amanda.l.nadeau@gmail.com [46] or Joe D'Antonio, 89dantonio@cua.edu [19].

Personal Aid is looking for gift cards for grocery stores, Target, etc. These will be given to our vulnerable members and attenders as needed. Please contact Mary Melchior, email:  mulchness@gmail.com [47]

If you have maintenance or accessibility concerns, please contact Property Cttee co-clerks, Merry Pearlstein (202-244-8777 , merrypearlstein@gmail.com [48]) and Justin Kwong ((202) 215-3891 [49], justinkwong@gmail.com [50])

Want to plan a future event at FMW?  Contact Brian Lutenegger, Event Manager, eventspace@QuakersDC.org [51].