A librarian at a Columbia Heights school is seeking donations to help buy books for her students amid budget cuts.
Jennie Tomlinson-Herr, the librarian at Chavez Prep Middle School (770 Kenyon St. NW), last week launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for the low-income school’s library, which received a 70 percent cut in funding. With about $7,000 less at her disposal, Tomlinson-Herr can’t get the books that she said her need and want.
“The library’s need for books is critical — I have a long, long list of titles that students have requested that I can’t afford to buy,” she said on the fundraising website. “It’s upsetting when I have to tell my students that the library can’t afford to purchase more books. I try to avoid this whenever possible by purchasing highly requested titles out of my own pocket, but the need is greater than what I can afford as an individual.”
Chavez Prep has more than 300 students between sixth and ninth grades. About a third of them check out books from the library every day.
Photo via Chavez Prep Middle School GoFundMe
Some local firefighters plan to bring a little Christmas spirit to the U Street corridor this evening, along with food and drink specials.
The DC Firefighters Burn Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping burn victims, has scheduled a “Christmas in July” toy drive on the second floor of the new Exiles Bar (1610 U St. NW) from 5 to 8 p.m. today, according to a Facebook event page.
The organization is looking for donations and toys for Children’s National Medical Center’s patients who are 16 years old or younger, foundation president Jason Woods said in an email. The group strives to “make their hospital stay a little more enjoyable,” he said.
If participants bring toys or donate $10, they will get $4 drink specials and $5 food specials.
“Why not come out and support a happy hour with a cause?” Woods said. “For only $10, you can enjoy a happy hour with friends . . . while helping children [who are] receiving treatment and care.”
Photo courtesy of Jason Woods
An arts nonprofit in Columbia Heights is asking its neighbors to help fund the repair or replacement of a broken air conditioner.
BloomBars (3222 11th St. NW) launched a GoFundMe page yesterday to help raise the $6,000 needed to buy a new air conditioner.
“Not to be to alarmist – global warming is real (to us rational sane folk) – but it is about to hit BloomBars especially hard,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Our A/C unit went caput this week.”
A heat wave is expected to hit the D.C. area later this week, according to the Washington Post, and the lack of air conditioning could force BloomBars to close its doors on especially hot days.
So far, supporters have raised nearly $1,000 to aid the nonprofit’s cause.
More information from the GoFundMe page:
It will again be possible to hoist a drink in memory of an American University graduate who died in a shooting in Shaw over the summer.
Shlonsky, 23, was walking near the Shaw-Howard University Metro station when he was hit by a bullet that police said was intended for someone else, according to The Washington Post. (more…)
After launching a fundraiser over the summer, a local nonprofit has met its goal and is now preparing to make improvements to a public space next spring.
The Shaw Dog Park Board of Directors announced via e-mail the organization has met the fundraising goal for its “Fix the Fence” campaign.
The campaign’s goal was to raise $3,000 to repair the fence that encloses the dog park at 1673 11th St. NW.
According to an update posted on its website, the organization’s project began over the summer and was halfway funded by late October. The rest was raised just before the new year.
The e-mail announcement explained the money will be used to make improvements to the fence that encloses the 15,000 square foot dog park, including fixing its gates and latches. It also set early spring as the time frame for when these repairs will begin because snow accumulation is likely to cause further damage to the fence and gates.
All the park’s operating costs — including spraying the gravel, planting new trees and installing tree boxes — are covered by fundraising efforts and donations from local dog owners and supporters.
Photo via Facebook/Shaw Dog Park
Beer drinkers can raise a glass of Ornette, Lookaftering or other Right Proper Brewing Co. offerings today in memory of an American University alumnus who died in a shooting in Shaw over the summer.
The brewery at 624 T St. NW plans to donate $1 for each house beer it sells tonight to a fund American established in the name of Matthew Shlonsky, after he was fatally shot near the Shaw-Howard University Metro station in August. Shlonsky, 23, was heading to Right Proper when he was hit by a bullet that police said was intended for someone else, according to The Washington Post.
Shlonsky’s friends are hoping the fund will pull in about $5,000 from the beer and a separate, sold-out fundraising event that the brewery also is hosting this evening. The fund is intended to help support research related to international affairs, the focus of Shlonsky’s studies at American. He graduated in 2014.
“It was clear from his short time as a professional, and his years as a student, that Matt would have gone on to make the world a better place,” American alumnus and Shlonsky friend Matthew Rosenberg said in a statement. “We hope this fund will help to fill the void he left behind.”
https://t.co/3Q2Hq97bxY pic.twitter.com/0TPn8bWB86
— Right Proper Brewing (@RightProperBeer) October 20, 2015
Right Proper is open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. today.
Photo via Right Proper Brewing Co.
Garrison Elementary School will hold an outdoor yoga class this Saturday to raise money for extracurricular field trips and arts events.
The yoga class will take place at the school (1200 S St. NW) from 9-10 a.m. The class is $20 and participants must register online by this Thursday to secure a spot. All those who reserve a spot will be entered to win five free classes from Shaw Yoga.
Attendants will also get free water and apple juice courtesy of Costco, granola courtesy of Michele’s Granola of Maryland, and lip balm from Fabulous Frannie.
Garrison’s Parent Teacher Organization hopes to use funds raised to support a Saturday art workshop that it plans to launch this school year in partnership with Wolf Trap.
Image courtesy of Garrison Elementary
Chipotle customers can support local libraries today by doing what they do best — sinking their teeth into big burritos.
The D.C. Public Library has partnered with Chipotle Mexican Grill for an all-day city-wide fundraiser.
Here’s how it works: Chipotle customers who wish to participate need only show the image at the top of this post on their smartphone or mention the fundraiser to a cashier.
Half of the cost of each purchase will be donated to the library.
Click here for a list of Chipotle locations in D.C.
Image via Chipotle and D.C. Public Library Foundation
A Shaw woman is raising money for a bike ride meant to bring awareness to environmental issues.
Lily Boyce, who lives near the southern boundary of Shaw, seeks to raise $2,800 for a 380-mile Climate Ride from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Boston in September.
Boyce, who works as a researcher at consumer rights non-profit Food and Water Watch in Dupont Circle, says she’s riding to help end fracking, bring awareness to GMO labeling and to make clean water sources available for all.
“We’re trying to use this ride to promote our campaign a little bit,” says Boyce.
Boyce says she’s also riding for bicycle advocacy in general.
“I lost someone very close to me last year through a bicycle crash in New York,” she says. “City urban infrastructure needs to be more open of bicycling as a way to get around.”
Boyce, who has already raised $372, has just two months to raise the $2,800. But she’s confident and excited that she’ll be able to bike during September’s ride.
“I’m so sick of this humidity,” Boyce says. “I’m a total cold weather girl. I’m all about the snow and mountain life. If I get to wear a jacket, I’m happy.”
Photo courtesy of Lily Boyce
News from DC’s Dupont, Logan and U Street neighborhoods.
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
A group of DC residents are showing support for victims, their families and the town residents affected by last Friday’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
This Friday, December 21, a group will meet at Science Club (1136 19th Street NW) to raise funds for the Newtown Memorial Fund, Newtown Youth and Family Services and the United Way of Western Connecticut to help support the children, parents and community of Newton.
A $10 donation will get you a complimentary beverage at the happy hour-style benefit that takes place from 5 to
7:30 pm. Additional donation options will be available at the door.
For more information, contact lara.lightbody[AT]gmail.com or efflynn[AT]gmail.com.
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Garrison Elementary School on S Street serves children pre-K through 5th Grade. (Luis Gomez Photos).
From Rachel Nania. Nania writes about everything from food, to health, fashion, art and District lifestyle. In her spare time, she enjoys studying yoga, biking across the city, walking her dog and writing on her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter@rnania.
Not cooking this Wednesday night? Revise your current takeout selection and opt for a pie at the HomeMade Pizza Company at 14th and Church Streets NW and turn pizza dough into dough for a local public school.
On May 16, between 1pm and 10pm, Garrison Elementary will receive a donation for all purchases made at the 14th Street location, including $5 for every pizza sold, $2 for every salad sold and $1 for every breadstick order.
Orders can be placed in advance online, by phone (202-588-0808) or in the store. If you order online, please email [email protected] to help show support for future partnerships between school communities and local businesses.
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