We are delighted to announce that Many Hands’ Focus Area Committees have selected four outstanding organizations to receive this year’s grants.

AfriThrive, Inc. seeks to address food insecurity, economic instability, and health disparities affecting women, children, and families, particularly immigrants, refugees, and low-income households in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. With a particularly strong focus on African and Asian communities, AfriThrive’s programs prioritize foods that reflect the traditions and preferences of the communities served. Working closely with schools, local farmers, community-based organizations and local agencies, AfriThrive provides a weekly mobile pantry serving schools and neighborhoods, and school-based food access initiatives supporting students and their families. Their Cultural Farm grows African and Asian indigenous crops using sustainable practices and serves as both a production site and a community learning space. In response to rising food insecurity, inflation, and growing demand for culturally appropriate foods, AfriThrive has recently expanded mobile food distribution sites, increased the frequency and consistency of food deliveries, and strengthened school-based food access.

 

Community Lodgings supports Alexandria, Virginia’s families experiencing housing insecurity by giving them access to affordable housing, and by offering supportive services to enable the transition from homelessness and instability to independence and self-sufficiency. This support is provided primarily through three programs: 1) a Transitional Housing Program that is focused on helping families achieve permanent housing and employment stability through educational/vocational training, financial management, and physical and mental health programs; and 2) an Affordable Housing Program that provides housing at below-market rent, and services focused on enhancing children’s academic achievement and helping adults with leadership skills; and 3) a Youth Education Program that provides afterschool, summer programs, mentoring, and recreational activities to at-risk children together with supportive programs for their parents.

 

DC Greens advances health equity by addressing persistent food access and nutrition challenges in Washington, DC through three pillars: 1) an active community farm that supports seasonal crop productions and distributes produce at no cost to the community while providing classes, events, and volunteer opportunities to DC residents; 2) a food-is-medicine program that provides produce to DC Medicaid patients with diet-related chronic conditions through its partnerships with healthcare providers; in addition to receiving monthly prescriptions for fresh fruits and vegetables to use at local retailers, participants can engage in hands-on education, community food distributions, and wellness programming that reinforce healthy behaviors; and 3) creating paid roles for community members with lived experience to contribute meaningfully to program development, strategic planning, partnerships and outreach.

 

School Justice Project is the first special education legal services organization in the nation specifically dedicated to older, court-involved students with disabilities. This DC-based legal services and advocacy organization works with young people in DC’s juvenile legal system, more than 80% of whom have special education needs, both during incarceration and throughout reentry. School Justice Project works to improve access and outcomes for students by using special education law to: 1) increase access to a quality education; 2) reduce incarceration through individualized, less-restrictive alternatives to pretrial detention and jail terms; 3) improve reentry services, policies, and procedures; and 4) empower students to successfully transition to post-secondary education and employment. School Justice Project has represented thousands of students and secured systemic reforms benefiting thousands more, including major improvements to education services inside DC’s secure facilities, and new protections for students returning home after incarceration.

There’s still time to become a Many Hands member and support our grantees! To participate in voting for this year’s Impact Grant recipient, please ensure that we receive your membership check by Friday, May 8, or your online gift by Tuesday, May 12. We are also happy to accept your gift at the Annual Meeting. Click here to learn more about membership or email Lori Sostowski at membership@manyhandsdc.org.