“If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path..”  — Buddhist Saying 

I am involved with many charities in the DC area, but one is very special to me. LOAVES & FISHES has been serving  weekend and holiday meals (most programs only serve on weekdays) to hungry and homeless people in DC  since 1968. 

WE NEED COATS!!!  The diners at Loaves & Fishes have become my friends and it is heartbreaking to see that basic needs – food, shelter, and warmth – are not available for so many.   Unfortunately, I have seen their needs increasing greatly due to the economy and the arrival of winter and the cold weather.   It is my goal to collect enough coats for anyone at Loaves & Fishes who needs one (about 300). 

We have made great progress (about 100 coats handed out in November!!), but we still need more coats.  If you are interested in donating gently used MENS coats (all sizes welcome, XL and XXL are especially needed), please contact me at erin@murphyandmeboutique.com or leave me a comment on this blog.  Forward this to your office mates, friends, and family too – you’d be surprised how many people are looking for a good reason to clean out the closet!

OTHER SPECIAL REQUESTS:  I am also going to keep a running tab on this page of other items I have been asked for. If you happen to have any of these things, they are special requests from people who truly need them: 

• JEANS – Size 38 (two pair)
• Winter BOOTS – Size 8 1/2W
• Winter HATS & GLOVES
• Baseball Caps
• Men’s SOCKS (preferably new)

Washington, DC remains the city with the highest rate of homelessness in the country. Want to learn about homelessness in DC? Check out these FACTS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS in our community.