ACSGW Receives Thanksgiving Baskets to Fight Hunger in Community

Story by Ken Flemmer

Last Friday, the "Food 4 Families" campaign, hosted by NBC4 Washington and Telemundo 44 Washington, granted Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington (ACSGW) in Silver Spring, Md., 50 Thanksgiving turkeys, including sides. Allegheny East Conference's Metropolitan church in Hyattsville, Md., also received 50 baskets. These donations were facilitated by the Capital Area Food Bank. Additional support was provided by Montgomery County government and the City of Takoma Park.

Terry Seamens and Victor Kindo, ACSGW board members, joined Nancy Lamoreaux and Joyce Seamens, ACSGW interim co-director and pantry manager, respectively, as they accepted these generous gifts. 

This holiday, more than 1,000 families who were in need of meals previously submitted requests for a Thanksgiving basket. 

Joyce reports, “This is a full 30 percent increase from historical averages over the past six years."

Lamoreaux explains, “I have been co-director for a month and have been troubled with the weekly increase in neighbors seeking food assistance.”  

Ken Flemmer, interim co-director, adds, “The unneeded suspension of some basic services generated high levels of true stress for many across the region. The impasse seems to have concluded, but the damage inflicted on many neighbors is troubling and will linger way too long.”

At the "Food for Families" event, the John C. Flood team granted ACSGW $3,000 to assist a family who was in need of HVAC services (pictured).

ACSGW thanks all of its supporters, including members from the Sligo and Takoma Park churches Takoma Park, Md., as well as the Silver Spring Food Group for the generous Thanksgiving baskets during the food collection drives. 

ACSGW also offers a diaper program, supported by the Greater DC Diaper Bank, and a free “Thrift Store."