Helen Keller is credited with saying, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”
In the past few months, there has been no shortage of suffering here in Alexandria. But we’ve also seen dozens of ways that individuals and businesses have given back that have helped the community overcome the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The ACT for Alexandria ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund has raised more than $1 million and has granted funds to more than 75 community organizations. These donations from individuals, associations and businesses directly supported nonprofit organizations that are helping provide food, medical care and other critical needs to Alexandria residents.
Here are more ways Alexandrians have given back to their community this spring:
We'll be updating this post throughout June, so check back often!
Guaranteed Rate
Guaranteed Rate employees here in Alexandria donated more than $5,000 to two local food banks to help feed hundreds of local families. Nationwide, the mortgage company raised more than $600,000 for food pantries and homeless shelters. Guaranteed Rate matched employee contributions dollar for dollar. The money provided more than 4.2 million meals to those struggling with food insecurity across the United States.
The Alexandria-based fashion company Crab & Cleek partnered with Jack Rogers fabrics to create and donate hundreds of masks for frontline medical workers at John Hopkins Medicine, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. In addition, since founder Shea Mullen grew up in a golfing family and many PGA Tour events have been canceled, the company is repurposing fabric from golf pin flags, banners and more into new products to sell. A percentage of proceeds will go back to the affected communities. Crab & Cleek is also working to support scholarships for golf caddies who are out of work.
The local home construction company Marks-Woods, along with The Patterson Group (TTR Sotheby's) and The Scout Guide, purchased gift cards from local businesses at full price and sold them for Mother's Day at a discount to encourage local families to support local small businesses. Each Small Business Bundle included more than $200 in products and services from several different local, small businesses.
Jewelry company KatherineHelena founded KH Giving and the program Mission Masks this spring. Mission Masks by KH Giving offered designer fabric cotton masks available for purchase and local contact-free delivery. A portion of the proceeds benefited United Community’s food pantry, which also provided cleaning supplies, cloth masks and other essentials to those most in need in our community. Proceeds were also used to employ and pay fair wages to Mission Masks makers and delivery staff. The remainder of the proceeds were used to purchased gift cards and merchandise from local small businesses and restaurants, which were given away in multiple raffles. Entry into the raffle was automatic with a purchase of a mask.
Alexandria Living Magazine is one of several local Mission Masks partners, along with Sonoma Cellar, Torpedo Factory artists and other local businesses and restaurants. (Purchase a mask using code ALMgiving for free delivery.)
