Blog Archives
Coffee Day Pledge
Happy National Coffee Day!
For less than the price of one cup of coffee per month over the course of a school year, you can support kids in Trinidad with access to materials for after school programs, camps, sports equipment, and learning tools. Help keep our kids occupied after school in safe environments to learn and to play by contributing to the youth program fund.
Trinidad Neighborhood Association is holding its 8th annual fundraiser for youth programs this Thursday at Jimmy Valentine’s, 1103 Bladensburg Rd NE. For a suggested $20 donation at the door, you will receive 3 drink tickets complements of Jimmy Valentine’s, subs provided by Mother Rucker’s, Crunk Cakes, and music provided by DJ Tony T. Doors open at 6 pm and the event continues until 10 pm.
Want to skip the line at the door? Donations can be made in advance at Event Brite. You may also contribute (cash or credit card) at the door. Want to support the youth but are unable to attend on Thursday evening? You can use the Event Brite link to make a donation.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there.
Hunger Doesn’t Take a Summer Break – DC Free Summer Meals Program
Hunger Doesn’t Take a Summer Break
Kids and teens (18 and under) eat free through the DC Free Summer Meal Program. The program runs June through August with most sites opening June 22 and closing August 22. Meal times and dates vary by location. You can find sites by texting FOOD to 877877 or call 1-866-3-HUNGRY between 8 am and 8 pm Monday through Friday.
Program Details:
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), known in Washington, DC as the DC Free 
Summer Meals Program (FSMP), provides reimbursement for free nutritious meals and snacks served to children 18 and younger. These meals help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow throughout the summer months when they are out of school.
When school is out, the meals served as a part of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are not available, and due to families’ limited budgets, or other circumstances, children will often miss wholesome meals. The FSMP fills this gap and parents benefit from some help in stretching their food dollars and by knowing that their children are receiving healthy meals in a supportive environment.
The Free Summer Meals Program has served over 1 million meals to children and youth in the District of Columbia in the past three summers. Sponsoring organizations included:
- Public or private local education agencies;
- Entities of state, local, or municipal government;
- Residential camps; and
- Private non-profit organizations with 501 (c) (3) status.
See http://osse.dc.gov/service/dc-free-summer-meals-program for additional information.
Free Sports & Arts Camp at Pillar Church
Are you looking for something fun and productive for your kids to do once school is out? Pillar Church is hosting two FREE camps in East Capitol Hill this summer!
First, we are excited to provide a Sports Camp that will teach the fundamentals of baseball, basketball, and soccer to children between the ages of 8 and 14, for free!
Second, students between the ages of 6 and 12 can attend a Performing Arts Camp called ‘All the World’s a Stage’, geared towards helping children explore their performing arts talent. They will have an opportunity to participate in drama, music, or dance.
The cost for both camps is FREE, and you can sign your child/children up for both camps if you’d like, as long as they are of the eligible age. Read the rest of this entry
Free Herb Workshop at Arboretum Youth Garden this Saturday
Washington Youth Garden is hosting a free herb workshop at the Demo Garden in the US National Arboretum.
Local Herbalist, Holly Poole-Kavana of Little Red Bird Botanicals, will lead us in a mini herb walk and medicine making workshop! We’ll be harvesting elder flowers, peppermint, and yarrow to make a cold and flu remedy. Participants are asked to bring their own jars. Please RSVP.
Washington Youth Garden, US National Arboretum
Herb Making Workshop (free) with Holly Poole-Kavana
Saturday June 13th from 10:30am-12:30pm
Bring your own Jars
RSVP: nmercer@washingtonyouthgarden.org
Directions: http://www.washingtonyouthgarden.org/directions-and-hours/
Cool Off at the Joe Cole Spray Park
DPR kicks off summer this Saturday by opening all outdoor pools and spray parks, including the spray park at the Joe Cole Park. The water will be on from 10am to 7pm on weekends, then daily starting June 22nd.
Photo by Robert Mann-Thompson
Jimmy Valentine’s 6th Annual Fundraiser for Youth: Thursday, October 3
For the past 5 years, local business Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club has raised funds to support Webb-Wheatley’s after school programs. The funds raised have made it possible to engage our youth in positive and productive activities and projects, like a play adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, a Halloween party with MPD, the creation of a yearbook by and for the students, kites for “high-flying kite day,” fashion and talent shows with prizes, field trips, and a host of other art and craft supplies that create teaching and learning opportunities.
This year’s fundraiser will benefit youth activities throughout the community, and it is scheduled for Thursday, October 3, 6:00-9:00 pm at Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club, 1103 Bladensburg Rd. NE. Jimmy V’s will offer 3 free drink tickets to each person donating $20 or more.
We’ll be able to accept cash and checks (and, we hope, credit cards) at the door. Checks can be made payable to Trinidad Neighborhood Association, with “JVLHC Fundraiser 6” in the memo.
For those unable to attend, please consider donating via TNA’s dedicated PayPal link. For those who prefer to donate by credit card in advance of the fundraiser, you can donate via PayPal and bring your receipt to the door: 
TNA serves as the fiduciary agent for the fundraiser – by raising funds through TNA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Jimmy Valentine’s and TNA are able to buy and directly donate items as and when needed. This means 100% of the money raised benefits the kids in our neighborhood.
5th Annual Webb-Wheatley After School Fundraiser: September 20
Photo by Jaime S. Fearer
For the past 4 years, local business Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club has raised funds to support Webb-Wheatley’s after school programs. The after school programming serves over 200 students, grades K through 6, and is run by Catrice Simpson.
The funds raised make it possible to engage our youth in positive and productive activities and projects, like a play adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, a Halloween party with MPD, the creation of a yearbook by and for the students, kites for “high-flying kite day,” fashion and talent shows with prizes, field trips, and a host of other art and craft supplies that create teaching and learning opportunities for the kids in Ms. Simpson’s program.
This year’s fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, September 20, 6:00-9:00 pm at Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club, 1103 Bladensburg Rd. NE. Jimmy V’s will offer 3 free drink tickets to each person donating $20 or more.
For those unable to attend, please consider donating via TNA’s dedicated PayPal link. For those who prefer to donate by credit card in advance of the fundraiser, you can donate via PayPal and bring your receipt to the door:
(TNA serves as the fiduciary agent for the fundraiser – by raising funds through TNA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Jimmy Valentine’s and TNA are able to buy and directly donate items as and when needed by Ms. Simpson. This means 100% of the money raised goes to the after school programming.)
New group for Trinidad-area parents
Photo by Robert Mann-Thompson
A Trinidad parents’ group is now up and running on Google groups: Tots of Trinidad DC (“ToT” DC) – it’s meant to be a resource for parents and children in Trinidad and beyond, and all are invited and welcome to participate.
Here’s the group link: http://groups.google.com/group/tots-of-trinidad-dc
Here’s the email address: tots-of-trinidad-dc@googlegroups.com
You can join the group through the link above, or by sending an email to vrunoroberts@gmail.com
Trinidad Neighborhood Association 