User:SilverSpringer/A Wider Circle

A Wider Circle is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing services to low-income families and individuals in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The organization is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. Named as “one of the region’s finest small charities” by the Catalogue for Philanthropy, A Wider Circle is notable for its grassroots approach to ending poverty through personal connections across socioeconomic class. As of April 2010, A Wider Circle has served over 50,000 children and adults.

Mission
The mission of A Wider Circle is to help children and adults lift themselves out of poverty. A Wider Circle has the singular goal of ending poverty, beginning with the DC area. A Wider Circle takes a grassroots approach to ending poverty through personal connections across socioeconomic class.

Programs
Called "an all-inclusive reservoir for those in need", A Wider Circle provides several types of assistance. The Neighbor to Neighbor program collects donated furniture and other household items from the Washington metropolitan area for redistribution to persons in need. Collection and distribution are provided free of charge to donors and clients, respectively. Although no person seeking help is turned away, many clients are Since 2002, over 2,764 homes have been furnished through this program.

A Wider Circle also offers prenatal care and parenting classes to low-income pregnant adolescents (both mothers and fathers) through its Well Mother, Well Baby program in local high schools. These classes highlight positive parenting techniques. In conjunction with the District of Columbia Housing Authority, the Public Housing Wellness program offers nutrition, stress management, anger management, exercise, and social activities classes at several public housing buildings in Washington, D.C.

At one of these public housing residences, Sibley Plaza, A Wider Circle is constructing a ‘sacred space’- a large, planned garden space fully accessible to persons with mobility impairments. The residents of Sibley Plaza will maintain this garden, providing ongoing involvement and exercise. Construction was begun November 16, 2010 and is expected to complete in the late spring of 2011.