Learn About Our Programs and Services ...
SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE HELPED FEED MORE THAN 60,000 FAMILIES IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
Brothers Kerry D. Wilson (left, of Friendship Charities) and Donovan Benton (Food4Thought) after recent COVID free food drive
Checking Up for Health
COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE: This component of Friendship Charities is designed to educate and provide effective strategies that can prevent health problems by members of the local community, particularly health disparities that most affect persons in the African American community.
What We Do: Good health is paramount to success. Without it, people, families and communities cannot reach their full potential. Health disparities are rampant throughout our society and African Americans have one of the worst health profiles in the country. Too often, African Americans die earlier and more often than other populations from cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes complications. Friendship Charities knows how important health education and health maintenance are to improving life expectancy for African Americans.
What We Do: Good health is paramount to success. Without it, people, families and communities cannot reach their full potential. Health disparities are rampant throughout our society and African Americans have one of the worst health profiles in the country. Too often, African Americans die earlier and more often than other populations from cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes complications. Friendship Charities knows how important health education and health maintenance are to improving life expectancy for African Americans.
A Project ENRICH Session
CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH PROGRAMS: Two separate projects form the core of Friendship Charities' youth outreach -- Project ENRICH and Que Kidz Dayz. Through Project ENRICH, Friendship Charities seeks to mentor young men and women from the 9th through 12th grades to prepare them for college. Que Kidz Dayz focuses on wholesome, educational and fun activities for youth from at-risk communities.
What We Do: Project ENRICH works this way: students from 9th through 12th grades are grouped according to class and attend monthly academic and personal enrichment sessions held at Bowie State University on Saturdays. Project ENRICH is the vehicle by which we connect with the youth to promote and provide opportunities that will help to prepare them to seek and obtain a college degree. The program builds upon the students' academic enrichment by providing: academic support workshops, academic and financial college planning seminars, college tours and career awareness opportunities. Our curriculum is designed to expose students to industry professionals, college professors, student advisers, and alumni of Project ENRICH that will aid them in meeting their educational and financial needs towards obtaining an undergraduate degree. Each year Project ENRICH in association with the Charles R. Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund (CDMSF) Program sponsors and awards more than $20,000 in scholarships to students entering and returning to college. The scholarship is open to all graduating high school seniors or continuing higher education students residing in or attending a high school in Prince George's County.
As for QUE Kidz Dayz, once a month on Saturdays, members of Friendship Charities direct the youth activities at the Kentland Community Center in Prince George's County. Parents and guardians drop the children off at the Kentland Community Center early in the morning and pick them up later that day. Sometimes the day includes a field trip. Other times, it involves something as simple as sitting in a circle and playing games that challenge the young mind and boost the children’s confidence. During the Christmas holidays, Friendship Charities helps the youth and their families celebrate the Holidays with a communitywide party.
What We Do: Project ENRICH works this way: students from 9th through 12th grades are grouped according to class and attend monthly academic and personal enrichment sessions held at Bowie State University on Saturdays. Project ENRICH is the vehicle by which we connect with the youth to promote and provide opportunities that will help to prepare them to seek and obtain a college degree. The program builds upon the students' academic enrichment by providing: academic support workshops, academic and financial college planning seminars, college tours and career awareness opportunities. Our curriculum is designed to expose students to industry professionals, college professors, student advisers, and alumni of Project ENRICH that will aid them in meeting their educational and financial needs towards obtaining an undergraduate degree. Each year Project ENRICH in association with the Charles R. Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund (CDMSF) Program sponsors and awards more than $20,000 in scholarships to students entering and returning to college. The scholarship is open to all graduating high school seniors or continuing higher education students residing in or attending a high school in Prince George's County.
As for QUE Kidz Dayz, once a month on Saturdays, members of Friendship Charities direct the youth activities at the Kentland Community Center in Prince George's County. Parents and guardians drop the children off at the Kentland Community Center early in the morning and pick them up later that day. Sometimes the day includes a field trip. Other times, it involves something as simple as sitting in a circle and playing games that challenge the young mind and boost the children’s confidence. During the Christmas holidays, Friendship Charities helps the youth and their families celebrate the Holidays with a communitywide party.
Seniors Banquet
SENIOR CITIZENS' INITIATIVES. Through this program, Friendship Charities aims to provide seniors with the opportunity to meet and interact with groups of younger adults other than family and relatives on a regular basis to discuss community, health, political and social issues that have an impact on their lives. Friendship Charities vies the program as a way to connect seniors to the larger community and to important services they may need.
What We Do: One of the most overlooked populations in our community is our seniors. In this day and time of rapid technological change and many social distractions, our seniors can find themselves lost in the shuffle. That is why every June Friendship Charities helps bring cheer to local seniors through its Annual Seniors Banquet held at the Gethsemane Methodist Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland. Other events include: a summertime senior picnic/fish fry, quarterly senior birthday bashes for residents in the Windsor Crossing complex in Suitland and a Thanksgiving holiday turkey dinner delivery for seniors in that same area. More than 1,000 turkeys and trimmings have been delivered since 2004. More than 50 persons are involved in the Foundation’s coordination of seniors programs across Prince George’s County throughout the year
What We Do: One of the most overlooked populations in our community is our seniors. In this day and time of rapid technological change and many social distractions, our seniors can find themselves lost in the shuffle. That is why every June Friendship Charities helps bring cheer to local seniors through its Annual Seniors Banquet held at the Gethsemane Methodist Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland. Other events include: a summertime senior picnic/fish fry, quarterly senior birthday bashes for residents in the Windsor Crossing complex in Suitland and a Thanksgiving holiday turkey dinner delivery for seniors in that same area. More than 1,000 turkeys and trimmings have been delivered since 2004. More than 50 persons are involved in the Foundation’s coordination of seniors programs across Prince George’s County throughout the year
Signing Up New Voters
VOTER REGISTRATION: The men of Friendship Charities, Inc. are committed to helping enable more citizens to exercise their right and their voice at the ballot box through an aggressive, informative and far-reaching non-partisan Voter Registration program. One of the most important ingredients in the building of viable communities is citizen participation. When residents are engaged in their community, they are fully invested. Citizens who are involved tend to care about their neighborhoods. The road to participation for most people begins with the electoral process.
What We Do: Working in concert with local organizations like the NAACP, Friendship Charities is an active participant in conducting the NAACP Voter Empowerment Program (VEP) of the NAACP Civic Engagement Initiative, Prince George’s County NAACP Branch. This program emphasizes voter registration, voter education and voter mobilization- participation (Get-Out-The-Vote [GOTV]). To help in accomplishing this initiative, Friendship Charities’ members assist in ongoing voter registration activities with local churches, community associations, civic/Masonic organizations, and fraternal/sorority organizations as well as at various community gathering spots like malls and shopping centers.
What We Do: Working in concert with local organizations like the NAACP, Friendship Charities is an active participant in conducting the NAACP Voter Empowerment Program (VEP) of the NAACP Civic Engagement Initiative, Prince George’s County NAACP Branch. This program emphasizes voter registration, voter education and voter mobilization- participation (Get-Out-The-Vote [GOTV]). To help in accomplishing this initiative, Friendship Charities’ members assist in ongoing voter registration activities with local churches, community associations, civic/Masonic organizations, and fraternal/sorority organizations as well as at various community gathering spots like malls and shopping centers.
Property Cleanup
CHRISTMAS IN APRIL: The purpose of this program is to help local communities survive and thrive through supporting strong neighborhoods anchored by quality housing and safe streets. This involves the men of Friendship Charities, Inc. providing hands-on rehabilitation and renovation services to needy families and seniors in our communities as participants in the Christmas In April program
What We Do: Every April, the men of Friendship Charities take to the outdoors and help a local community member rehabilitate their home. Making homes that are in need of repair more livable is the Foundation’s way of contributing to the local Christmas in April initiative in Prince George's County. From fixing plumbing to installing drywall to painting and paper hanging, the men of Friendship Charities put in a 12-hour day at a local residence with lots of blood and sweat followed by the tears of joy from homeowners who rejoice at having a new home once the work is finished. One of the most exciting aspects of the program is that the men of Friendship Charities can see the fruits of their labor at the end of the weekend.
What We Do: Every April, the men of Friendship Charities take to the outdoors and help a local community member rehabilitate their home. Making homes that are in need of repair more livable is the Foundation’s way of contributing to the local Christmas in April initiative in Prince George's County. From fixing plumbing to installing drywall to painting and paper hanging, the men of Friendship Charities put in a 12-hour day at a local residence with lots of blood and sweat followed by the tears of joy from homeowners who rejoice at having a new home once the work is finished. One of the most exciting aspects of the program is that the men of Friendship Charities can see the fruits of their labor at the end of the weekend.
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