Community Service projects are being planned by the DPBC throughout the year to demonstrate Democrats’ commitment to improving the lives of our neighbors, a powerful argument against political attacks used in the recent elections. They are designed to help people around our community, but also to show that we are here and working to make a difference.

The next project will collect new and gently used clothes, nonperishable food, and small and travel-sized toiletries for people who need them. Depending on what we collect, our efforts will help the work of Hopeworks, A Light in the Night, and/or Locker 505.

We all have friends and family members who are feeling dragged down by current events; the forces of authoritarianism want us to feel isolated and hopeless. People often ask what we as a party are doing in response. The best answer is that we resist by connecting, reaching out, and showing up.

The Spring project asks wards to go door-to-door on a day they pick in April. I will write a script asking for clothes, food, and toothpaste, not votes. We’ll ask them to prepare donations for collection in late April or early May, perhaps at someone’s home or at a block party in a neighborhood park. We will also provide flyers with information about what is needed.

We are planning this as an easy, low-barrier way to connect with your neighbors over something we can all easily agree on, that many of our local community members are in need of our help. Experienced door-knockers will work in pairs, and for those who haven’t done it before, I’ll find great and friendly canvassing buddies.

This Spring project is particularly valuable if you were just elected as Ward or Precinct Chair. It’s a great way to get to know your members and become known by your neighbors. Also, if you’re not a party officer but want to help, we need you too. Even if you are in an active ward with a pretty full complement of officers, consider adopting a lonely precinct; we have lots of them.

Please join us this spring! To sign up, fill out this form. We will hold an online organizational meeting on Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m. I will email a link to the meeting the day before.

Thank you in advance for your help, both with this clothing drive and for all the ways you are showing up these days.