Accomplishments for 2017

• Served more than individuals 1764 clients through our food pantry.
• Provided 19 weekend backpacks of food to youth ages 5-18 who receive free or reduced lunches.
• Provided 170 boxes to families for thanksgiving.
• Housed one (1) family in our transitional housing program.
• Provided technical assistance to more than 21 small businesses in Brightwood, primarily on Kennedy
• Street and Georgia Avenue. We hosted our 2nd annual Taste of Brightwood neighborhood event this year.
• Served 27 clients in our Immigration Clinic sponsored by Justice for our Neighbors
• Sponsored 13 networking events, webinars and workshops for small businesses in Brightwood
• Permitting has been completed 5 Storefront improvement project for businesses on the corner of Missouri Avenue, 3rd and Kennedy Streets.
• Secured the Upper Georgia Avenue & Kennedy Street Clean Team Grants from DSLBD to clean the Georgia Avenue commercial corridor from Quackenbos to Eastern Avenue. & Kennedy Street from 14th Street to North Capitol Street.
• Secured City funding for a mixed use building project known as the Beacon Center which will provide 99
• units of housing and commercial space around a new church structure for Emory Fellowship.
• Groundbreaking and construction begin in the fall of 2016.

Food Pantry

THE FOOD PANTRY is open every Tuesday from 12pm to 2pm and provides food to low income and homeless families. Food donations come from the Capitol Area Food Bank, members of the Emory Fellowship and private donors.  Thanksgiving we prepare more than 325 baskets for families in the Brightwood area and beyond.  In 2014 we served over 2,847 individuals in over 1601 families and plan to reach even more in 2015.

If you are in need of additional resources, here are links to some of the District of Columbia's great resource guides:

Weekend Back Pack Program

In April of 2013, EBOL began the Weekend Backpack program; working with the Capital area food bank in providing weekend food for low-income children ages 5 - 18 years old in the Brightwood community.  The backpacks contain 4-6 lbs. of shelf stable food which will include: two breakfast items, 2 kid friendly snacks, and a meal consisting of a protein, a grain, a vegetable, and a fruit.  Children pick up their bags every Friday afternoon.  In 2014 we provided over 314 backpacks of food to children who receives Free or reduced lunches

The Transitional Housing Program

is on outgrowth of one of the ministries of the Emory Fellowship.  In collaboration with the Capital Hill Congregational Based Shelter Program EBOL provides shelter to homeless families 10 months out of each year.

In 1994 families lived in the Board room of Emory and were hosted by church volunteers.  In the fall of 2000 families moved to the basement of the EBOL offices which was converted to an English style basement apartment.  EBOL purchased a three story home in 2008 which is solely dedicated to this program.  Since its start the program has provided transitional housing to more than 150 families.  One 10 year-old who moved several times in 2010, in September when he came to live with us said "Momma can we stay here.  It feels like home."  We currently have one family in our transitional Program.

Immigration Services

provided under the legal supervision of the United Methodist Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) Program is free to low income people in the Washington metropolitan area.

Clients come from many countries and cultures.  They have fled civil war, genocide and political oppression.

Many have survived horrific ordeals and others have escaped poverty and deportation.  Clinic attorneys have won very complex cases before the Immigration and Naturalization Service and have defended their clients against deportation. 2014 we served 56 clients sponsor by Justice for our Neighbors.

Facade Improvement and Small Business

In 2005 the EBOL received a grant from the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to provide technical assistance to small businesses in the Brightwood area of Ward 4.  The improvements strengthens existing businesses, and will provide jobs for residents in the Brightwood community.  The 6200 Block North of Georgia was completed in May 2010.  We will begin renovations on the 6100 block in our next phase.  Storefront improvement project has began on the corner of Missouri Ave, 3rd and Kennedy Street.

Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP)

EBOL provides a range of assistance to small business to help increase revenue and foot traffic to the Ward 4 Brightwood business corridor.  Technical Assistance was provided to 87 small businesses in Brightwood, primarily on Kennedy St. and Georgia Avenue 2014 we sponsored seven networking events, webinars and workshops Assistance includes,

• One-on-one client consultations to identify businesses strengths and opportunities, development and implementation of short and long range goals to improve business sales and profits.  Matching of client to expert.
• use of the Vibrant Street Tool Kit to provide vital statistics about the business corridor to help clients determine whether they should open a business in the area.
• Presentation of workshops, webinars and seminars to help business improve their social media skills, identify marketing strategies, financial and business planning.
• Marketing of the business corridor through individual ads, niche campaigns, neighborhood events, and distribution of business directories.
• Creation of free websites, training and the one year maintenance and service of site content.
• Online business directory that is updated monthly and has the capability for clients to maintain and update their individual data.
• Online calendar that includes community and ANC monthly meetings, upcoming training from organizations such as Senior core of Retired Executives (SCORE), Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Great Streets grant opportunities and other organizations