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April 30, 2012

It Takes One to Know One

David Boris, a delivery volunteer for more than 15 years, explains why he and his wife volunteer with Food & Friends and the reasons you should get involved.

David Boris and his wife have delivered
meals for more than 15 years.
Why You Should Volunteer 
Excerpt from: http://www.bebetterguys.com/2009/04/why-you-should-volunteer/

….Look, what I’m not going to do is preach at you. What I am gonna do is tell a story; I like to tell stories.
Most folks have a cause. My wife and mine became AIDS because when we were first dating, we lived in a section of D.C. that had a high gay concentration and through the dog park, we befriended various guys, some of whom were HIV positive. Back then, when you were positive, it was pretty clear it was going to become full-blown AIDS and you’d be checking out in a matter of a couple of years.
So we would write checks, do our requisite AIDSWalk. You know, the simple stuff. Then one year, we stepped it up – committed to the Philly to DC AIDS Ride. 250 miles, 2 and ½ days, you agree to raise $1,200 per rider. We raised the money, we did the ride. And something happened. We both agreed that we needed more, we needed to commit to something on a regular basis. We needed to be closer to the cause.
During the Holidays, we decided to volunteer at a kitchen in D.C. that prepares and delivers food to homebound folks with HIV and AIDS called Food & Friends. As Jews, see, we don’t have a lot to do on Christmas Day.  Go to the movies, eat some Chinese food, play with your Hanukkah toys and go to bed early. Instead, we got our bags of food to deliver, put them in our car and drove the route and I remember saying to my wife, "We will be back here next weekend.”
The Boris Family
And ever since that Christmas Day in 1997, we’ve been delivering meals in the same neighborhood every Saturday morning through bad weather, job changes, the birth of two kids, and basketball playoff tickets. Why? My personal philosophy is that it’s easy to write checks and do a fun run. But what most people in need really need is your time.  To know that they’ve not been cast aside, to know they still matter somewhere to somebody.
Any person would want the same courtesy from his or her fellow mankind if he or she ever became seriously ill and needed assistance. The fact is lots of people could just use a bit of your time to make it a good day for them. Know how long that food run takes? About 90 minutes door-to-door, and that’s when I hit all the lights wrong and I have extra drops to make and folks aren’t home and I have to stand outside their apartment building waiting for no-one to answer. 
Things are good for you, for the most part, right? Got a job, got some money, maybe got a car, a girl, decent place to live. Guess what? Lots of people don’t. And regardless of your political or moral affiliations, you can still help them out.
Start With Something You Like. Like to paint houses?  There are community groups that paint and fix up old folks’ homes.  Like cats?  How about volunteering at the pound?  Enjoy working with kids?  That’s why we have Big Brothers/Big Sisters.  Point is, you’ll never stay with a volunteer effort if you don’t really care that much about the cause.  There are so many causes that can use folks to man the phones, fix cars, spend time with those less fortunate that even you video gamers can find organizations that can put your passion to good use.

Don’t Over commit.  Like anything, make a commitment that you can achieve. For example, say you want to add more green space to your town or city. Plantings happen all day every weekend somewhere around most cities. But it wipes out the whole day. No problem. Commit to planting for two hours every Saturday instead of all-day two Saturdays a year. Find something you can reasonably do, not an overblown affair that leaves you bitter.
Start Now. It’s so easy to procrastinate and say, "Sure, I’ll help collect used clothes…next month.”  Nah. Check out a few of the sites we recommend and do it now.  If you wait, you’ll lose your momentum and momentum’s always hard to regain.  Just ask any athlete how tough it is to regain your form after you lose it.
Volunteering Loves Company. I mentioned that all the volunteer stuff I’ve done has been with my wife, both before and after we got married. Got a girl?  Great way to do show her you’re a quality guy. Or go with a buddy. Doing anything new totally by yourself is hard. Having a wingman or wing-gal not only keeps you committed, but it gives you someone that you can share your experiences with over beers after your effort.
Yes, You Can Meet Women Volunteering. More women volunteer than men, according to a University of Virginia study.  Well, that right there just increased your odds since you’ll be in the minority. If you do something you like and there’s a girl there, chances are you have some compatibility. Volunteering is a social thing, so add it to your repertoire of going out to clubs and parties to meet new women.
Damn, That Felt Great! There is no denying that everyone in my volunteer group feel the pride, the satisfaction, the sense of accomplishment and contribution that work doesn’t usually provide. It’s about the time you put in and the reward of that isn’t measurable in dollars. You volunteer to give of yourself to the greater good. Work may feel like pushing a boulder up Mt. Rainier every day in the office, but the hours and minutes you put in volunteering are greatly appreciated by many. It feels real, real good.
Where Do I Go? The clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities is VolunteerMatch, which has every conceivable opportunity you can think of. You can narrow it down to your zip code to find every combination of ways to matter to others. Volunteer.org is good for specifically environmental activities. And you can check out your local newspaper online because they all run articles on volunteering possibilities.
Me, I’ve decided Food & Friends isn’t quite enough. I’m already coaching a Special Olympics t-ball team and will get my dogs certified to visit war veterans at the VA hospital here in D.C. Once you start, it’s hard to quit. And that’s a good thing.
I lied, I did preach to you! But it wasn’t so bad, now was it? Hey! Knock it off with that eye-rolling!


April 27, 2012

Dining Out for Life: Thank You & Envelope Totals

Thank you to EVERYONE who made Dining Out for Life a success. Your support will make a direct impact in the lives of our neighbors in need and will help to deliver more than 1.2 million meals this year. Thank you, Thank you!

A few photos are up on Facebook and we'll be posting more next week. Please share yours.

BIG THANKS to the 120+ volunteers who donated their time to hang out in our restaurants thanking diners and raising funds.

If there was not a volunteer in your restaurant, or you didn't make a donation, you still can. Gifts of $40 or more will be matched by Walmart and, with each gift, you'll be entered to win a $1,000 US Airways Gift Card. Visit www.foodandfriends.org/dol to give.

As we count the funds raised through envelope contributions, we'll be posting the totals here. So, keep checking back to see how the restaurant you volunteered at, or dined at, did.

2012 Envelope Contribution Totals
  • 18th & U Duplex Diner -- $2,120
  • Annie's Paramount Steak House -- $4,493.18
  • Argia's -- $1,316.35
  • Aroma Indian in DC -- $48.00
  • Banana Cafe -- $405.00
  • Bangkok Garden Restaurant -- $123.00
  • BAR-CODE Restaurant -- $215.86
  • Beacon Bar & Grill -- $255.00
  • Black's Bar & Kitchen -- $500.00
  • BlackSalt Fishmarket & Restaurant -- $610.00
  • Buck's Fishing & Camping -- $769.00
  • Cafe Berlin -- $1,387.00
  • Cafe Bonaparte @ Lunch -- $20.00
  • Cafe La Ruche -- $970.00
  • Cafe Luna -- $204.07
  • Chadwick's Old Town -- $535.00
  • Clare and Don's Beach Shack @ Lunch -- $250.00
  • Clare and Don's Beach Shack @ Dinner -- $1,330.25
  • Commissary -- $453.00
  • Cubano's -- $898.00
  • DC Reynolds -- $440.00
  • Delhi Club @ Lunch -- $396.00
  • Delhi Club @ Dinner -- $807.00
  • Dino -- $944.00
  • Dupont Italian Kitchen -- $644.00
  • Ella's Wood Fired Pizza @ Lunch -- $624.00
  • Ella's Wood Fired Pizza @ Dinner -- $298.00
  • Firefly -- $20.00
  • Freddie's Beach Bar & Restaurant -- $2,582.00
  • Freddy's Lobster & Clams @ Lunch -- $11.00 
  • Freddy's Lobster & Clams @ Dinner -- $203.00 
  • Georgia Brown's -- $223.00
  • Grillfish @ Lunch -- $210.00
  • Grillfish @ Dinner -- $499.00
  • Guapo's Restaurant in Bethesda -- $738.00
  • Guapo's Restaurant in Shirlington -- $1,768.00
  • Hank's Oyster Bar in DC -- $1,285.00
  • Hank's Oyster Bar in Old Town -- $635.00
  • Il Pizzico -- $250.00
  • James Hoban's Irish Pub -- $644.00
  • JoJo Restaurant & Bar -- $242.00
  • La Fourchette -- $105.00
  • La Frontera Cantina -- $134.00
  • La Tomate -- $1,220.00
  • Laurel Station Bar & Grill @ Lunch -- $140.00
  • Laurel Station Bar & Grill @ Dinner -- $534.00
  • Le Chat Noir -- $35.00
  • Level One -- $1,405.00
  • Little Fountain Cafe -- $315.00
  • Logan Tavern @ Lunch -- $320.00
  • Logan Tavern @ Dinner -- $950.00
  • Mamma Lucia -- $25.00
  • Mark's Kitchen @ Lunch -- $74.00
  • Mark's Kitchen @ Dinner -- $290.00
  • Marvin -- $550.00
  • Mehak Indian Resturant -- $60.00
  • Mellow Mushroom -- $440.52
  • Mie N Yu -- $12.00
  • Mintwood Place -- $1,759.00
  • Mosaic Cuisine & Cafe -- $963.00
  • Nage -- $851.11
  • Neyla -- $330.00
  • Open Kitchen -- $545.00
  • Peacock Cafe -- $2,355.00
  • Pearl Drive Oyster Palace -- $645.00
  • Perry's -- $410.00
  • Pesce -- $580.00
  • Poste -- $140.00
  • Posto -- $6,883.00
  • Red Rocks Old Town -- $700.00
  • Ristorante Tosca -- $3,480.00
  • Sala Thai in Bethesda @ -- $195.00
  • Sala Thai in Betheda @ Dinner -- $44.00
  • Sala Thai in Petworth -- $165.00
  • Sala Thai on U Street -- $173.00
  • Scion Restaurant -- $185.00
  • Skewers -- $285.00
  • Tabaq Bistro -- $1,090.00
  • Tabard Inn @ Lunch -- $65.00
  • Tabard Inn @ Dinner -- $700.00
  • Thaiphoon Restaurant in DC -- $290.00
  • The Heights -- $1,056.00
  • The Old Siam -- $228.00
  • Tonic -- $814.00
  • Trattoria Alberto -- $768.00
  • Trattoria Sorrento -- $501.00
  • Veranda -- $460.00
  • Whole Foods Market (Foggy Bottom) -- $40.00
  • Whole Foods Market (P St.) -- $67.00
See you all next year on Thursday, April 25th!

 


April 26, 2012

DINE OUT TODAY IN 120+ RESTAURANTS IN THE DMV

More than 120 restaurants throughout DC, Virginia and Maryland will donate 25% -100% of their proceeds from lunch and/or dinner to Food & Friends. Just by sitting down in one of our restaurants, you'll be standing up for thousands of your neighbors facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses.

Here's how you can help:

1. Find a Restaurant and DINE OUT. View full listing.

2. Make a last-minute reservation on OpenTable.com
 

3. Donate! You'll be entered to win a $1,000 US Airways Gift Card


4. Spread the word. Encourage your friends on Facebook and Twitter to join you in Dining Out. #doldc
 


If you're in the Dupont Circle/Adam's Morgan area, keep an eye out for Queen Force One. They'll be stopping in to say hi throughout the night.  Here's the schedule: 

6:45pm -- Perry’s & Mintwood Place
7:10pm -- Mellow Mushroom & Little Fountain Café
7:30 pm -- La Tomate
8:00 pm -- Tabard Inn & Beacon Bar & Grill
8:30 pm -- Annie’s & Hank’s Oyster Bar
9:00 pm -- Skewer’s & Café Luna
9:30 pm -- Commissary & Logan Tavern
10:00 pm -- Posto & Pearl Dive Oyster Bar

Thank you for dining out to support Food & Friends today. You are truly making a difference.
www.foodandfriends.org/dol


April 25, 2012

Behind the Scenes: Volunteer ambassador works tirelessly to recruit Dining Out for Life participants.

This Thursday (April 26th), Diana Vera will serve as an Ambassador for Dining Out for Life. As an Ambassador, she is working to fill her restaurant and will greet diners at Laurel Station Bar & Grill in Maryland on the day of the event. Diana heard about the opportunity to volunteer during one of her shifts as a Saturday delivery driver. After going through some challenging life events, she wanted to find a way to give back to the community and show appreciation for the positive things in her life.

While ambassadors have certain expectations, Diana has gone above and beyond her duties to fill her restaurant and raise money for Food & Friends.

“There is a certain sense of fulfillment that comes with volunteering and I wanted to find a way to help those that could not help themselves,” says Diana. “I am a type A personality and I want my restaurant to raise as much awareness and money as possible.”

After spending many Sundays watching football at Laurel Station Bar & Grill, Diana convinced the owner to sign up for Dining Out for Life. Once confirmed, Diana went to work. She typed up a fundraising letter and sent it to her friends. Diana has also convinced three motorcycle clubs to participate, as well as a local comedian and possibly a local radio station.

“Nothing should be done unless it is done right,” comments Diana.

Diana continues reaching out to her personal contacts as well as strangers to bring in additional supporters to the event. Wherever she is, Diana carries along her Dining Out for Life brochures and is not shy asking people to participate.

“People need to step outside of their daily lives and see that there are people suffering around them,” says Diana. “Going out to dinner is the easiest way to make a contribution to Food & Friends while being able to spend a fun night out with friends and family.”

Thank you to the more than 120 volunteer ambassadors that are helping out with this year’s Dining Out for Life. The event would not be possible without your generosity and hard work.

To learn more about Dining Out for Life, visit http://www.foodandfriends.org/dol.


April 24, 2012

Happy Anniversary Volunteers!

Congratulations to the Food & Friends volunteers who have served for at least 5, 10, 15, or 20 years! The individuals listed below were honored at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on April 19, 2012.

20 Years with Food & Friends
Doris Bates
Karen Fitzgerald
Beverly Ringel
Harry Bridges
Anne Matson
Karen Stierman
Rev. Msgr. Ray East
William Paris
Bill Wooge

Lea Emerson






15 Years with Food & Friends
Javier Barker
Father Donald Heet
Lee Patton
Amy Boris
Michael Hendrickson
Larry Perry
David Boris
Bill Hillegeist
Carole Preston
Stacey Brahmey
Marvene Horwitz
Dan Rosman
Jennifer Canane
James Lehman
Elisa Rosman
Peter Clifford
Cesar Libanati
John Ruppert
Seton Cunneen
Nelly Libanati
Gary Samuels
Christopher Evans
Steve Lopez
Sid Shapiro
Christian Faulkner
Pete Lublin
Andrea Tucker
Mel Goldberg
Opal-Dawn Martin
Lori Welsh
Debby Greenstein
Paul Merrick
Gary Young






10 Years with Food & Friends
Anna Barnes
Maria Lacek
Martin Powell
David Belsky
Robert Langdon
J.D. Presley
Donald Benedict
D'Wanna Lee
Barbara Prince
Tom Biesiadny
Jean Lee
Margaret Roles
Carol Bresler
Joan Lee
Larry Rowe
Shelley Brosnan
Nan Lowe
Beverly Russell
Jacqueline Brown-Woody
Myrina McCullough
Tracy Schneider
John Burwell
Brian Miller
Paul Sicari
Dennis Giblin
Judy Miller
Pat Simpson
Joel Goldstein
Kenneth Miller
Kathy Smith
Bernard Greenhow
Sheela Nayak
Jeffrey Vail
Alan Gross
Victor Nevilles
Olga Velazquez
Diane Hutchins
Lee Nienaber
Carrie Wade
Donald Jones
Vincent Norelli
Ottis Watkins
Holly Ketchel
Laura Peebles
Andrew Zbikowski
Marianne Klink
David Peiffer







5 Years with Food & Friends
Lisa Antenucci-Sicari
Greg Holden
David Oblich
Rosa Azuine
Zakiyyah Holmes
Cindy O'Brien
Charlotte Bahin
James (Dick) Hospital
Chris Ogburn
Jay Ball
Tom Hull
Jason Peaco
Calvin Banks
Charles Huntley
Susan Pierce
Patricia Banks
Kamille Johnson
William Pratt
Meenie Bardonille
Felicia Jones
Constance Ragsdale
Laurie Bauer
Harvey Kabran
Brittany Reyes
Linda Baxter
Dan Kaufman
Carolyn Rogers
Beverly Billingsley
Lelia Kenley
Jane Rowe
Brandon Broderick
Rosalind Kennedy
Wanda Rudd
Louise Buchenhorst
Chaz Kerschner
Douglas Salter
Lea Carrington
Jane Kerschner
Brian Shannon
Dexter Cole
Arnold King III
Kristie Shields
Juanita Covington
Lisa Kinnard
Tom Shierling
Earl Davy
Kent Kunze
Morgan Slusher
AnnJanette Ellison
Joan Linderman
Tom Shierling
Molly Finnegan
Christopher Lintz
Morgan Slusher
Tim Fiocchi
Dana Lintz
Austin Smokowicz
Ryan Fitzgerald
Daniel Lintz
Rebecca Smokowicz
Elizabeth Friedman
Celia Maxwell
Michael Spekter
Marjie George
Donald McArthur
Bonita Spurgeon
Warren Gibson
Meg Meyer
Greig Stewart
Monique Gudger
Mabel Mitchell
Janet Studley
Marie Haile
Angie Moore
Charles Talley
Ben Harkins
Linda Morgan
Matilda 'MJ' Urquhart
John-Paul Hayworth
Deborah Myers
Claudette Washington
Wilhemina Heriot
Robert Neighbour
Adam Weers
Marlene Hoffman
Benjamin Nussdorf
Susan Zeleniak