WASHINGTON, D.C., November 29, 2022 – The Bahamas Embassy Consular Annex held a Thanksgiving donations drive leading up to a Thanksgiving luncheon held at its office at 600 New Hampshire Avenue N.W. on Tuesday, November 22.
Many donations of clothing and food were received from Bahamians in the diaspora, and in the true spirit of Thanksgiving, the Hon. Patrick Adderley, Bahamas Consul General to Washington, D.C., and staff members of the Consular Annex on Wednesday, November 23, presented the donated items to So Others May Eat (SOME), a nonprofit organization that provides services to assist those dealing with poverty and homelessness in Washington, D.C.
According to its website, SOME “provides affordable housing, job training, counseling and other healthcare services, and daily needs such as food and clothing to the poor and homeless. It spends the largest portion of its annual budget on affordable housing, with a majority of its residents recovering from addiction.
“Since 1970, SOME has been a care provider and a beacon of hope to residents in our nation’s capital. Our services are available to individuals, families, senior citizens, veterans and those affected by physical or mental illness. Every day, we are working to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through our comprehensive approach, which we call Whole Person Care.
“Many of our clients come to us with urgent needs—a meal, a shower, a toothbrush. After meeting their short-term needs and establishing trust, we focus on their long-term needs. We customize individual care pathways that meet their physical, emotional, social, financial, spiritual and behavioral needs holistically. Our team of social workers, clinicians, instructors and volunteers work together to put our clients on the path to success.”
The website adds: “In 1970, Father Horace McKenna, S.J. and an interfaith group of priests, ministers and volunteers started a lunch line on North Capitol and K street in Washington, DC. Each day, the neighborhood would gather to enjoy a free meal. Out of those early days of soup and sandwiches, SOME grew into what it is today—a valued community leader working to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through our comprehensive approach to care.”
