When it comes to meeting the needs of some of the poorest residents in our region, many nonprofits handle the basics, taking care of important and immediate concerns – filling an empty belly or providing a coat for a bare back.  Some organizations go beyond those immediate needs, arming people with the tools that will allow them to feed and clothe themselves.  SOME is one of those organizations that manages to do both.

According to some.org, “So Others Might Eat is the only interfaith, community-based organization in the District of Columbia that offers a comprehensive, holistic approach to caring for the homeless and extremely poor citizens of our city.”

SOME’s work has spanned 40 years.  Last year alone they served nearly 400,000 meals and gave hundreds of people a place to stay.  And SOME’s assistance goes beyond food and shelter.  Through their Center for Employment Training (CET) they’ve provided thousands of hours of job training.

Many in The Women’s Foundation community heard one of SOME’s success stories at this year’s Community Briefing.  Christel Coleman spoke at the briefing about her training at CET and how she was able to turn that into a full-time job at SOME.

A family at SOME's 2009 Trot for Hunger

Residents in the DC area may already be aware of SOME through one of its biggest fundraisers, the Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger.  At last month’s annual 5K, SOME raised more than $200,000 and more than 4,500 people participated in the event.  And earlier this month, nearly 600 people attended SOME’s Dinner Gala and Silent Auction where William E. Conway, Jr., Founding Director and Managing Partner of The Carlyle Group, was given SOME’s Humanitarian Award.

The old saying “success breeds success” is true in the case of SOME, an organization whose accomplishments have led to the achievements of its clients.  That’s a working model we can all benefit from.

For more information, please go to www.some.org.