This month, #GivingTuesday can really make a difference. This week: Mary's Center
/by Jillian Stringer
Is it just me or do the days of Tiger King quarantine seem like a century ago? At times I feel completely hopeless that the world is going up in flames between the political tension and the pandemic. After I ran out of hobbies to try to pick-up, I'm now channeling my time and energy to make a small impact of good on the world. With this in mind, Petworth News will be highlighting a local nonprofit or charity each Tuesday in November (until National #GivingTuesday on December 1st). Whether it's time, a donation or simply helping to get the word out about these organizations, we can make a difference together in our community.
Mary’s Center’s healthcare team works on the front lines every day in full personal protective equipment (PPE) to safely care for the community.
Over three decades ago, Maria Gomez opened Mary’s Center in a basement in Adams Morgan. Their mission was to provide prenatal care to Central American women fleeing from violence, poverty and war. However, they quickly realized that treating only a patient’s physical health was not sufficient. They expanded to beyond medical to dental and behavioral health services for all ages, as well as social services, family literacy and education programs to help put families on track for economic independence and stability. Mary’s Center serves everyone, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. They have now grown to employ over 700 people in their five health centers across the DMV (including their Petworth location on Georgia Avenue).
When COVID-19 cases started to grow in the United States this spring, Mary’s Center sprang into action. They understood that they could help reduce the burden on the hospital system by providing essential care to patients. Thus far, they have performed almost 8,000 COVID-19 assessments and more than 3,000 tests, and with the help of local government and generous individuals, they have distributed more than $2 million to 1,500 families in need.
Operating safely has come at a high cost for the non-profit. Since the start of the pandemic, they have spent an additional $3 million monthly to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), COVID-19 tests for the uninsured, cleaning supplies, and new laptops with extra bandwidth. They have also lost more than $1.2 million in monthly revenue stemming from canceled appointments and lack of fundraising events. They explored applying for the Paycheck Protection Program to help pay for staff salaries and benefits but were deemed ineligible because of the program’s 500-employee limit.
Mary’s Center is collaborating with local governments in DC and Maryland to provide free testing in the community.
Despite the hardships COVID-19 has caused, Mary’s Center is not slowing down on giving back to the community. They will host their annual holiday toy drive that provides over one thousand kids with toys for the holidays. Here are 3 ways to get involved:
Send a gift or two from their Amazon wish list to Stuff the Toy Chest.
Host a virtual toy drive: Share their Wishlist with family and friends.
Host a traditional toy drive: Volunteer your office, place of business, or neighborhood to host a traditional toy and gift drive this holiday season.
To schedule a drop-off donation, email Michelle Maxberry.
