JLW Volunteers Rise to the Occasion

Erika Burnett

The Junior League of Washington (JLW) strives to be a vibrant presence in the lives of the women and children in the Greater Metropolitan Area of the District of Columbia. Like many of the community partners that JLW aligns itself with, Calvary Women’s Services works with women in the Washington, DC region to provide them with support that allows them to make strides toward independence.

JLW volunteers primarily support the facility with educational efforts and meal services. During a time when many nonprofits saw a noticeable decrease in fundraising dollars and volunteer attention, JLW volunteers stepped up to provide nutrition and much needed levity during a stressful time. As Committee Chair Valerie Hernandez Wells notes,

“We have been serving two meals a month for Calvary both in and out of COVID times…Our goal with meal services is not only to deliver nutritious meals for the women of Calvary but also to delight them with fun and conversation. Furthermore, to support the educational programming, Calvary has received 85 books through JLW’s Resolution Read Program.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic created obstacles for the volunteers to plan activities that the women would enjoy in isolation, JLW volunteers were up to the task. Not only did they create individually portioned meals, but they hosted virtual events including pumpkin decorating and a bingo night to entertain and spark joy. However, it’s not just the community partners that enjoy the levity—volunteers also find their time at Calvary to be a rewarding experience. In fact, the Calvary Women’s Services placement boasts volunteers who have chosen it as a placement for the last six years.

One such volunteer is Anglee Agarwal, who transferred to JLW from the Junior League of Chicago in 2012. Since then, Agarwal connected with the mission of Calvary Women’s Services and “its ability to treat underserved women as individuals and successfully transition members back to independent living.” Agarwal has returned to the placement year after year.

Most notable, Agarwal muses, “[is that] JLW has adapted to the needs of Calvary over the years. JLW takes in feedback from our points of contact at Calvary to meet the changing needs of the women over time.” The feedback volunteers have received has changed the social activities at the facility from book clubs to movie nights to resume workshops to computer classes. JLW volunteers have adapted to suit the needs of the community and done so in ways that educate, build skills for their independent life, and create heartwarming memories. As Agarwal observes, “The pandemic has made it clearer to me how crucial JLW is in our community. The women at Calvary, through no fault of their own, have had their lives totally upended by this pandemic and if we can ease their burden even a little, our work is worth it.”

JLW volunteers bring creativity to every aspect of their work, even food prep!

JLW elves hard at work in late 2019.