Francis on the Hill is dedicated to supporting children and families in Washington, DC with a special focus on the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Its projects help alleviate economic insecurity by providing fresh, wholesome groceries. Volunteers also work to enhance the beauty of public spaces in and around Meridian Hill Park.
In March 2022 we began assembling pallets of donated food, medical supplies, and other goods for shipment to Ukrainian refugees in Ukraine and Poland.
Francis on the Hill
Gifts from the Heart
Groceries
Families in Columbia Heights and nearby Washington, DC neighborhoods experience high levels of food insecurity. Latino and African American families are disproportionately impacted, especially those who can’t qualify for government support programs or whose pandemic-related benefits (food stamps, child tax credits) were reduced or ended.
When Covid-19 restrictions began in March 2020, Following Francis founder Dr. Carol Conner saw an opportunity to serve those whose lives had been especially personally touched by the pandemic. She asked volunteers to pursue donations of surplus perishable foods from suppliers, grocery stores, and other food purveyors in order to provide fresh, wholesome groceries quickly and reliably.
Francis on the Hill’s grocery project currently distributes grocery bags filled with fresh, nutritious food items to 400 families every week:
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public distributions at Meridian Hill Park (Tuesdays 2-3 PM)
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deliveries to families and individuals facing food insecurity at:
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Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC)
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The Terrell (Short-Term Family Housing site in Ward 1)
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We also deliver produce, household cleaning supplies, adult incontinence products, and other supplies to La Vida Senior Center.
Everything we provide is donated by local groceries, restaurants, and regional food distributors.
