The McConnell & Jones’ (MJ) Washington D.C. office team spent a portion of the holiday season donating a myriad of necessities and gifts to three different local organizations, A Wider Circle, an anti-poverty organization that serves low income families; My Sister’s Place, a domestic violence shelter; and Bridges to Independence, an organization that assists homeless families and families at risk of becoming homeless.
“The best part about the holidays is giving back to the less fortunate,” said Josephine Christian, office manager of MJ’s strategic partner, Walker & Company LLP. “There is no greater joy than providing others with love and acceptance.”
This is the second consecutive year that the Washington D.C. office collected and distributed donations in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas. However, this year proved to be much different and personal as MJ leadership and staff adopted a family of eight to support during the holiday season through A Wider Circle. With the family’s ages ranging from one to 56 years old, MJ provided a variety of items including clothes, gift cards, and toys. Several members of the MJ team even hand delivered the donations to the family’s home.
“We loaded up all of the gifts into separate gift bags and attached the name of each family member to each bag,” said auditor Doug Simon. “None of the presents were opened in front of us, but we could feel how appreciative they were. The matriarch of the family insisted she had to hug each and every one of us and soon the rest of the family followed.”
MJ has a commitment to the community and dedicates countless hours a year on community activities. As a firm, our team members have participated in charity walks, collected donations for cancer research, and helped children in need during the holiday season.
“The family had their 2017 Christmas wishes granted- thanks to the combined efforts of the MJ Washington D.C. office staff that spared a moment to shop for an item on the family’s wish list,” said auditor Carl Chenwi. “I had an amazing experience getting involved with this project and seeing firsthand what great impact the little gestures we make have in the lives of the less fortunate.”
For more information on MJ community service initiatives, please visit the “Commitment to the Community” page on the company website.
About A Wider Circle
A Wider Circle provides basic need items, workforce development, wraparound support, and neighborhood revitalization to the needy. In addition to providing help to individuals and families, more than 500 government social service and nonprofit agencies regularly contact A Wider Circle for help and support to serve their clients. For more information visit, www.awidercircle.org.
About My Sister’s Place
My Sister’s Place (MSP) offers a full continuum of care from immediate crisis on our hotline through transitional-to-permanent housing. They provide clinical counseling, case management, and comprehensive services to empower survivors to recover and thrive. Additionally, MSP provides training, case consultation, and advocacy to engage communities to prevent violence and abuse. For more information visit, www.mysistersplacedc.org.
About Bridges to Independence
Bridges to Independence (Bridges) leads individuals and families out of homelessness and into stable, independent futures. Bridges has been working with and for homeless families since 1985, and was founded as the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. For more information visit, www.bridges2.org