Welcome to our 8th annual Christmas Day of Service!
2022’s event was a huge success! Because of YOU — our dedicated volunteers, sponsors and donors — we were able to serve 1,000 hot and robust meals to the Washington, D.C. communities, up 250 from the year prior. It is a true blessing to be in service. We are excited that the world is open again, which allows us to serve openly and generously. We are also aware that COVID is still a very real thing and while we continue to be vigilant and careful with our efforts, our priority remains to serve the community and its people..
How We Started
My family and I started the tradition of cooking warm, home-cooked meals and distributing them to the homeless community and those in need in D.C. on Christmas Day years ago (first when I was a child and then in 2010, which led to today), in an effort to teach the kids in the family that Christmas is about celebrating the life of Christ and service; not about a wishlist and gifts.
In 2016, I rallied my parents, siblings and a few friends and we set out to the cold and empty streets on Christmas Day. We set up at Franklin Square Park and served 200 hot meals.
In 2018 I decided to expand our service to Columbia Heights and DuPont circle. We served 500 meals in 2018 and 2019. We also started handing out coats, hats, new socks, shoes and anything else, lightly worn, that our volunteers could gather.
And, as you can imagine, 2020 was an incredible challenge, but we didn’t allow the pandemic to stop us from serving. We still managed to get out and serve about 600 meals. That was our test. If we could do it with all the restrictions and concerns, we definitely could make it bigger with more impact.
Where We Are Today!
With new protocols in our pockets, 2021 was a success, though our work was much more laborious with a heftier serving pool. The crowd at McPherson Square (our backup location to our main hub at Franklin Square) was vibrant, robust and heartful by the time end of the day. We saw a bigger need last year. To address the ever-growing need to SEE our fellow community members, we are so very excited to continue growing and blessing our community with food, care and love on a day so many of us are privileged to enjoy at home with our loved ones.
This year, ‘Bren + Friends’ is increasing our meals served to 1,200, up 250 from last year!
That means we need your support even more!
This year will go much like year’s past: We’ll be set up and serving at three different parks in the city, feeding different sectors. Because we are still in a Pandemic, we need different resources and different strategies in place in order to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Our Goal
Our target goal this year is $6,500 and we need your help! Our volunteers do a lot of the physical labor on the day of, but we need to make all of cooking happen in an efficient and safe manner. Please consider making a donation in any amount you are able.
Please read below for information on each day we need assistance. If you are signing up as a volunteer, you will receive via email specific details on volunteering on the 23rd and on Christmas Day.
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up via this Google Doc.
Join Bren + Friends for an afternoon of service and merriment! Donate below.
IT’S 2023 AND WE’RE EXPANDING! OUR GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO SERVE 1,200 HOT MEALS AND PROVIDE WINTER WEAR!
PREP AND COOKING DAY
December 23, 2023
Memorial Baptist Church
3455 N. Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA 22207
3:30 pm – 8:30pm
Volunteers for this day are split into three groups in order to minimize shared time and space.
If you are fully vaccinated, you will not be required to wear mask, though we still encourage doing so. Gloves are required at all times and will be provided.
We will provide masks, gloves and sanitizer for all volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up via this Google Doc.
CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE –
December 25, 2023
- 11am: Volunteers (A group) arrive at Memorial Baptist church to assist with organizing.
- 11:30am: Drivers arrive at a Memorial Baptist church to load all drivers’ vehicles with food and respective park needs
- Noon: Volunteer drivers depart for their assigned location.
- 12:30pm: Park service volunteers and drivers arrive at their assigned location
- 12:30pm-1:00pm: Set up
- 1:00-4:00pm: Serve the people!
- 4:00-4:30pm: Break down and clean up
SERVICE LOCATIONS
- McPhereson Sq. Park (15th & K St. NW)
- Columbia Heights Civic Plaza (Park Rd. & Kenyon St.)
- The Big Chair (parking lot) Anacostia
1001 V St.SE
In accordance with Arlington County, VA, masks are not required but encouraged if you feel the need to wear one. Gloves are required at all times and will be provided.
We will provide masks, gloves and sanitizer for all volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up via this Google Doc.
Please add this page to your RSS feed for updated information.
Please consider making a donation in any amount you are able. If you do not have PayPal, but wish to use an app, you can submit your donation via CashApp: $honeybeehive or Venmo: @BrenHerrera.
On behalf of my family and friends, thank you! Please stay safe and healthy!
With love and in service,
Bren-
Thank you, media!
