MK 2023 Fall Newsletter

FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.miriamskitchen.org

OUR LOCATION 2401 Virginia Avenue NW Washignton, DC 20037

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @miriamskitchen

FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER Free Breakfast Weekdays, 6:30-8:00am Free Dinner Weekdays, 4:45-5:45pm Free Social Services Weekdays, 6:30-9:45am, 2:30-5:45pm

VISIT US ONLINE

CONTACT US

www.miriamskitchen.org

Ph: 202-452-8926 Fax: 202-835-8376 info@miriamskitchen.org

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

@miriamskitchen

2401 Virginia Avenue NW Washignton, DC 20037

From meals to housing, Miriam’s Kitchen plays a critical role in ending veteran and chronic homelessness in DC.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF MIRIAM'S KITCHEN Over the years, Miriam's Kitchen (MK) has evolved from a soup kitchen into a leading voice in the fight to end chronic homelessness in DC. We have housed thousands of individuals experiencing homelessness, and we have secured historic investments by city government through our advocacy initiatives. As we reflect on our journey, we are grateful for the opportunity to deepen our response to the ongoing housing crisis in DC with the expansion of our vision of ending chronic homelessness, and by further advocating for those in need of housing and social service interventions.

Our vision for our guests goes beyond just providing shelter; it also includes ongoing advocacy of the principle that every individual deserves safe, affordable housing and the resources needed to maintain a dignified way of life. As we forge ahead, we are re-committing ourselves to both program and community engagement so that we may deepen our relationship with current and future MK guests, strategic partners, and individual supporters. Our expanded focus aims to end chronic homelessness while also dismantling barriers and inequalities.

Additionally, we will grow our advocacy for affordable housing options and support programs that provide a pathway to housing stability.

As we celebrate 40 years of MK, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire community that has supported us on this journey. Whether you are a kitchen volunteer, an anti-homelessness advocate, a generous donor, or all three – you have helped MK end homelessness for thousands of individuals in the District.

Because of your support, we have made tremendous progress towards ending chronic homelessness. I am confident that with your continued support, we will make exponential progress towards a future where everyone has access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing.

In Service,

Scott B. Schenkelberg

President & CEO

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MK FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER

MK ADVOCACY BY THE NUMBERS...

While Mayor Bowser’s proposed budget did not include funding to end chronic homelessness; through our advocacy, we added new funding for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for over 200 of our neighbors! In addition, we were able to reverse the Mayor’s proposed cuts to critical programs like eviction prevention. As the leaders of The Way Home Campaign – inclusive of over 100 organizations and 1,000 individuals – we mobilized our base to send thousands of emails to their Council Members, met with Council offices, coordinated testimony of guest leaders and partner organizations for multiple oversight hearings for DC government agencies, and organized an in-person event at the Wilson Building to urge the DC Council to fund our budget priorities.

These efforts paid off and our collective advocacy added over $55.5 million to DC’s budget to prevent and end chronic homelessness! Specifically, our advocacy resulted in: 230 additional units of PSH for single

adults and 80 families Reversal of Mayor Bowser’s 50% cut to homeless prevention Reversal of Mayor Bowser’s 80% cut to eviction prevention (ERAP) Restoration of Mayor Bowser’s cuts to the public restroom initiative

Our MK community joined The Way Home Campaign and other community partners in front of the Wilson Building this spring to urge the DC Council to take action to end chronic homelessness through the DC budget.

Encampments Our advocacy team played an important role in raising awareness about the McPherson Encampment eviction earlier this year. While we were unable to prevent the clearing from happening, we: Mobilized over 3,000 supporters of The Way Home Campaign to email the Council demanding that they stop the eviction Created and circulated a letter signed by 90 local and national organizations urging the Bowser and Biden administrations to re-think their strategy of evicting encampments Garnered significant media attention in the Washington Post, Street Sense, and other outlets

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MK FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER

STUDENT VOLUNTEER REFLECTIONS Throughout the school year, Miriam’s Kitchen partners with local universities so students can fulfill the community service portion of their courses. At the end of the year, the students reflected on their time at MK – and we were so moved by their responses. We’re so grateful for all their support, and we’re proud to be part of their growth and development.

"I've learned a lot about homelessness and the ways people experiencing homelessness live in DC. A lot of the people at MK have cell phones, which was surprising to me. A few of them have dogs that they would bring in and it lights up the whole room. People experiencing homelessness have created a community out of terrible and inhumane circumstances which I find to be resilient and beautiful.”

“Working at Miriam's Kitchen through engageDC has been the perfect opportunity to give back to a city I've gained so much from. I'm eternally grateful to get to know so many of our neighbors and establish genuine connections with the local community.”

“It was really interesting to see how Miriam's offers guests both physical and mental support while still respecting their innate dignity as individuals. The breakfast they served was one of the fanciest meals I've had!”

“I was able to connect with our guests and saw many guests that I know from previous shifts and from communicating outside around the DC area. I learned that our guests have much more in common with us than we would think, and that Miriam's Kitchen is truly a gem in DC.” “It made me realize the importance of engaging in active conversation with our guests and I enjoyed hearing what everyone had to say!”

“I learned there is a need for change in the system in regards to how the US deals with people experiencing homelessness.”

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MK FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER

JOIN US FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL RUN 4 MK 2023!

Date: November 11, 2023 Location: Fletcher’s Cove along the C&O Canal Lace up your running shoes and help us make a meaningful impact in the fight against chronic homelessness. Whether you're a seasoned runner, just starting your fitness journey, or supporting beyond running, this event is for you. With a scenic route along the C&O Canal and a supportive community cheering you on, you'll be motivated to go the distance. Sign up to participate and be part of this incredible event that brings together people to raise funds and awareness for those experiencing homelessness. Together we can make a difference, one step at a time!

FOR MORE INFO, SEE THE “GET INVOLVED” SECTION ON MIRIAMSKITCHEN.ORG

Guest Leaders and Advocacy Team Speak at National Conferences on Homelessness Members of the MK Advocacy team and three guest leaders presented at the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council’s Annual Conference in Baltimore and the CSH Summit in Philadelphia – all in the middle of budget season! It was an honor to present alongside guest leaders on two topics: • the importance of empowering guests in advocacy and decision-making; and (L-R) Jesse, Wesley, Lara and Tony pose at National Healthcare for the Homeless Conference in Baltimore

• building a campaign to leverage tax policy to fund housing to end homelessness.

Tony Burns (Right) presents during a conference session

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MK FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER

“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream…” MK hosts an Ice Cream Social for Our Guests!

During the heat of summertime, there’s nothing better than a good bowl of ice cream. That’s why in July, we held a special Ice Cream Social for MK Guests! Our sundae bar was filled with delicious ice cream flavors and toppings from chocolate syrup to sprinkles and everything in between. Being able to have this event before our dinner shift allowed for more community among our guests, outside of the normal hours of our breakfast and dinner services.

One guest, Greg, noted that it was a “good gathering…it’s good for people to get together and just have a positive thing for people.” He mentioned that this is just one of the many ways that MK goes the extra mile. “Here, you have different types of programs, and you find things you might not find in other places,” he said, gesturing to the ice cream social as one such thing.

His friend Reggie agreed, saying that “this place gives you hope for people; they need an outlet.” This ice cream social is one of the many ways we go the extra mile for our guests, and we can’t wait to make more dining room memories with special events like this one!

Thank you to the amazing volunteers who helped scoop and serve ice cream sundaes to MK guests – we had a great time!

Leaders In Action at Miriam’s Kitchen This summer, members of our Board and our Leadership Council once again volunteered in the dining room during a dinner shift! We are proud to have community leaders who are supportive and active in our mission to end chronic homelessness.

Members of the MK Board and Leadership Council served in the dining room over the summer.

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Are you interested in learning more about the Leadership Council? Please email Director of Corporate Partnerships Rachel Glassman at rachel.glassman@miriamskitchen.org.

MK FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER

Community Partnerships Support our Guests

Employees from VISA participate in one of the many packing projects completed this summer in support of Miriam’s Kitchen.

One of our favorite ways to connect with community partners is through our seasonal packing projects. Over the summer, we connected with several partners for our “Beat the Heat” campaign. Volunteers created packs designed to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness while learning more about our work to end chronic homelessness in DC. “Learning about how important socks are to individuals experiencing homelessness and how MK supplies them to help build trust really stuck with us. We’re so glad we were able to set up a packing project to not only learn more, but also support bringing people home. As the team says, it starts with socks!”

---- Gautam Rao, Product Manager, VISA

We are currently scheduling packing projects for the upcoming winter season!

Please contact Rachel Glassman at rachel.glassman@miriamskitchen.org for more information on how your company or organization can get involved.

UPCOMING EVENTS STATE OF MK (Wednesday, 10/4, 12-1pm; Virtual Event) Join President & CEO Scott Schenkelberg for the “State of MK” to learn more about our latest strategic plan, how we’re improving quality, reach, and impact to better serve our guests, and what we’re doing to help make DC the first major city to end chronic homelessness.

RUN 4 MK (Saturday, 11/11, 7:45-10am) Sign up to run a 5K, 10K, or 500m dash for the kids along the C&O Canal in Georgetown. There is also a “No Run” option to show your support from the sidelines! Whether or not you run, be a fundraiser for Miriam’s Kitchen and help fuel the critical work that supports your neighbors from meals to housing.

HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK (11/13-11/21) Please see our website for the latest details on events and actions during this important week of raising awareness about hunger and homelessness in our nation’s capital.

FOR MORE INFO, SEE THE “GET INVOLVED” SECTION ON MIRIAMSKITCHEN.ORG

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MK FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER

JOIN THE GROWING, CARING COMMUNITY SUPPORTING THEIR NEIGHBORS--FROM MEALS TO HOUSING. At Miriam’s Kitchen, we won’t stop until we create a more just, equitable community where every person has a safe, permanent place to call home. When you give to Miriam’s Kitchen, your donation helps achieve the following over the next year: Provide approximately 70,000 healthy, made-from-scratch meals to neighbors in need Help residents who have lived an average of 7.5 years on the streets improve their health, increase their income, and ultimately obtain their first home in years Fuel our homeless street outreach team, which covers 33 square miles of DC and provides critical services to people who are not connected from services Support 325 residents in moving and staying in housing (at least 9 out of 10 residents remain stably housed)

Please make donations payable to: Miriam's Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20037 Tax ID Number: 52-1331552

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WAYS TO GIVE 1 Join our monthly giving community: The MK

Club. The MK Club is essential to our work.

Monthly gifts fill in any funding gaps that may arise, help us pivot when the environment changes, and make long-term investments in our mission with confidence. Your $25 monthly contribution can provide things like gift cards for newly housed residents to purchase home essentials like pots and pans and toiletries.

a gift of appreciated stock. This 2 Donate option allows you to avoid capital gains tax. are 70 1/2 or over, you can make a gift 3 Iftoyou Miriam's Kitchen directly from your IRA –

satisfying part or all of your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year – with no tax due on the distribution.

your legacy. If you want to leave your 4 Create mark by creating a more equitable future

where every person has a safe place to call home, please consider:

If you have already included Miriam’s Kitchen in your plans, it would be our honor to personally thank you.

Naming Miriam's Kitchen as a beneficiary. We can be added to your retirement plan, donor advised fund, life insurance policy, bank account, IRA, etc.

For questions or additional information, please contact Catherine Francis at catherine.francis@miriamskitchen.org.

Making a gift to Miriam's Kitchen in your will or trust.

MK FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER