This week, my lifelong friend and JSM Board Director, Dr. Thomas Anzelmo, drove all the way to Washington from Fredericksburg, Virginia to help unload food at one of the pantries as part of our Summer in the City campaign. I always enjoy my visits with Tommy and appreciated his help.
After our work was done, we decided to get a bite to eat. There are no real restaurants in the neighborhood, so we stopped in at the café at Whole Foods. We both had salads and the bill came to over $20. That got me thinking about what I want to talk to you about today.
We could have had two complete meals for $5 at a fast food restaurant, but both us eat healthily and never visit those places. But what about the poor? They cannot afford $20 for a healthy lunch, so they are really forced to the fast food joints. That brings up another problem the poor face — health issues like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. So, I have asked Tommy to help educate all of us on this issue and you’ll be seeing something great from him soon. As a physician, Tommy knows a thing or two about this important subject.
I spend a lot of time in grocery stores shopping for our pantries. When I am doing my own shopping, I spend more time and money in the produce section than every other area combined. I just love that place! That’s why we are working hard to bring fresh produce to the families we serve. We often bring bananas, apples, oranges and pears. Sometimes collard greens and the packaged lettuce when it’s on sale. Soon, we’ll make our weekly trips to Southern Maryland for corn on the cob fresh from the farm. It’s important to us that we not only serve the poor, but that we serve them well. Of course, we can’t do this without you so I’m always thinking of you when I make these purchases.
On July 1st, the minimum wage in the District of Columbia increases to $12.50 an hour, making it one of the highest minimum wages in the country. We are moving towards $15 by 2020. This is very good news for the families we serve, but you still live in poverty at this rate. Working full time, 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, that comes to just $26,000 a year. I don’t really have to tell you that you cannot live on that in Washington, DC or very few other places, for that matter. Congress still hasn’t raised the federal minimum wage of $7.25 which began 8 years ago. For those business people who say small businesses cannot afford $15 an hour, then I say they can’t afford to be in business. Paying folks a fair and livable wage is the morally correct thing to do and something that is critical to curbing poverty in our nation.
You’ll note we changed this blog from “quarterly” to a dated message so that we’ll have the opportunity to update you as warranted. Another thing I would like to share is that our Summer in the City food drive is well underway. We’ve already collected and delivered 12,000 cans of food and we have a long way to go. Six of our Directors have helped so far and others will join the effort as the summer progresses. After we completely fill our four pantries, we will be sure to help others in need. It is really great to see so many people come together to help those in need. As I have told you before, we are the only organization that conducts a major food drive in the summer, so it’s particularly important that we meet with success. Our families are counting on us.
We have welcomed three new Directors to our Board. Christopher Zampogna is a prominent attorney in Washington, Peter Mirijanian owns a prestigious public affairs firm, and Peggy Marilley is the founder of Precision Meetings & Events in Old Town Alexandria. Their bios are here on the website. We are really thrilled that all three of them have joined us.
Speaking of Peggy Marilley, her firm will produce A CAPITAL EVENING IV at The Capital Hilton on November 10, 2017. She joins Sharon Briskman and David Piscola as co-chair of the Gala. As you know, this is our only fundraising event of the year and everything we raise will fund us in 2018. We do a really good job managing the event, producing a profit of 75%. We do this not only through expert management, but also the generosity of our corporate sponsors. This year, GREYSTONE will again be our Diamond Sponsor, MESH Charities has committed to a Platinum sponsorship, and several others are in the works! We truly appreciate their goodness and hope you will join us for the biggest and best gala yet! You can reserve now on this site; invitations will be mailed after Labor Day. If you’re not on the mailing list, drop us a note and we’ll add you.
We served almost 700 families last month. Seeing their gratefulness for all that you do for them is one of the greatest joys to me, and so I thank you once again.
