Vera Bradley Fundraiser
On April 28-29, 2022, G.O.A.D. partnered with the Vera Bradley (VB) Store located in the Tanger Outlets (TO) Shopping Center in National Harbor, MD for a Pre-Mother’s Day Fundraiser. In addition to having members set up inside of the store, we were able to obtain space and set up outside on the grounds of the TO property.
This was G.O.A.D.’s first opportunity to hold an event since Pre-COVID. Many of our G.O.A.D. members were present to share information about G.O.A.D, greet VB store customers, and invite persons strolling the TO grounds to shop at VB to support our cause. There were also opportunities to speak with parents about our scholarship, college care packages, various outreach efforts, and distribute brochures and business cards. In addition, we distributed over 300 packages of LED lightbulbs and floodlights which were provided through our partnership with Megalight/PEPCO (Potomac Electric Company) on both days.
The results of the 2 half days spent at this event resulted in 10% of sales donated from VB which amounted to $497.51 plus additional donations of $25 from customers.
G.O.A.D. would like to thank Richard Cevallo, VB Store Manager; Carrie Egerton, TO Marketing Director; and everyone who came out to support G.O.A.D in this endeavor. It was an excellent opportunity for us to be in the community and share our G.O.A.D. mission, values, and goals.
Vera Bradley Photo - G.O.A.D. Members and Customers
Left to right, Kim Frazier, Outreach Chair and Lawan Robinson, Secretary and Scholarship Chair
Left to right, Kim Frazier, Outreach Chair and Lawan Robinson, Secretary and Scholarship Chair
Left to right, Kim Frazier, Outreach Chair and Lawan Robinson, Secretary and Scholarship Chair
Ms. Cherelle Silue, Program Coordinator, Glenarden Housing Authority
Left to right, Kim Frazier, Outreach Chair and Lawan Robinson, Secretary and Scholarship Chair
Left to right, Kim Frazier, Outreach Chair and Lawan Robinson, Secretary and Scholarship Chair
Toy Donations from Andre Witt
For the 2nd consecutive year Santa’s #1 helper, Andre Witt donated toys to G.O.A.D. to distribute for the Christmas holidays. Mr. Witt’s generosity contained 88 toys which were valued at $1266.18.
The age range for the toys is 3 months to adult. They were distributed to 3 families, Gloria Brice, Maria Granberry, and Sandra Norris and the Rainbow Community Development Center located in Silver Spring, Maryland.
G.O.A.D. Treasurer, Melanese Wynn coordinated this effort along with President, Pat Nabinett to ensure that the process of documenting and delivering the toys was completed before Christmas Eve.
We sincerely appreciate Mr. Witt’s commitment to working with G.O.A.D. to provide outreach efforts to families in the DMV areas.
You can help G.O.A.D. with future holiday toy distributions by identifying children/families in need of clothing, toys, and other essential items.
Please email us at info@givingothersadream.org to provide information for our outreach efforts and subscribe to our newsletter via our website, givingothersadream.org.
Toys 4 Tots Photo Gallery
Purse and Toiletry Drive
On Sunday, September 12th, President Pat Nabinett and Vice President Dyone Mitchell presented 174 new and gently used purses and over 300 unused toiletry and personal hygiene items to Deaconess Beverly Inman for their Purse and Toiletry Drive at Fort Foote Baptist Church in Ft. Washington, Maryland.
Items were donated by G.O.A.D. members along with their friends and family members and all proceeds went towards empowering women in the following 5 transitional housing and domestic violence shelters.
Shepherd’s Cove/United Communities
Carpenter’s Shelter
Harriett Tubman Women’s Shelter
Center for Abused Persons
Arc of Southern Maryland
Although the deadline for G.O.A.D.’s donation was September 11th, folks continued to donate items. We continued to collect the items for the church whose deadline was September 30th.
This drive was a huge success and G.O.A.D. would like to thank everyone who donated to this worthy cause initiated by Ft. Foote Baptist Church.
Back-To-School Bookbag and Coat Giveaway
On Saturday, September 4, 2021, G.O.A.D. members were on site at the Glenarden Housing Complex in Glenarden, Md. to host a Back-to-School Bookbag and Coat Giveaway for the children in the community. Pat Nabinett, Dyone Mitchell, Lawan Robinson, and Kim Frazier of G.O.A.D. were present for this on-site community activity. Both G.O.A.D. members and the Glenarden Housing Authority (GHA) staff took appropriate protection precautions due to COVID.
An estimated 50 children and their family members showed up for the event. It was so exciting to see the children select their backpacks and coats and then light up as they put them on, especially when they found the perfect fit. G.O.A.D. members clapped, took photos, and thanked the residents for stopping by for the drive.
The GHA manager, Ms. Cherelle Silue, along with Minister Nikki Pearson were there to host and sponsor the event and provided gift bags and refreshments to the residents and members. Ms. Alexis Solis, a candidate for Glenarden City Council, stopped by to talk with our members and to show support and appreciation for the community event. G.O.A.D. hopes to continue to partner with GHA in the future and to continue to reach and support communities like Glenarden as part of their mission and vocation.
Many thanks to Ms. Silue and Minister Pearson for making this event happen and for being such wonderful hosts.
Pictured above from left to right, Kim Frazier, Dyone Mitchell, and Roberta Coates along with the donated water bottles.
On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the Outreach Committee delivered 60 bras, 256 sanitary napkins, and various other toiletry items to the "I Support the Girls Organization" (SG) at their Distribution Center in Rockville Maryland. SG organization collects and distributes essential items, including bras, underwear, and menstrual products to meet the hygiene needs of women in the DMV experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, abuse, or distress.
This is the second year that G.O.A.D. has informally partnered with SG to meet each organization's similar missions. This year, the Outreach Committee purchased 95% of the $220 donated items. These items will potentially support 150 women facing these challenges across the DMV. At least 38% of all domestic violence victims become homeless at some point in their lives and that the COVID crisis has exacerbated the problems experienced by this group, you can understand why G.O.A.D. sees this as an important demographic to support, as part of its overall mission.
Pictured above at SG Distribution Center, is Christiana Littrell, SA Administrative Manager and Marketing Associate, and on the right, Kim Frazier, G.O.A.D.'s Outreach Chairwoman.