First Helping

First Helping is our street-level outreach program that uses food as a tool to establish trust and build relationships with homeless and low-income individuals. Our goal is to empower people to begin addressing the complex issues at the heart of their personal challenges.

Our mobile outreach team provides breakfast every morning at locations throughout the District. Outreach workers and volunteers serve over 180 meals each day and speak with more than 250 people who are homeless in the city.

While serving breakfast, our outreach specialists use the opportunity to build rapport, assess client’s needs, and make referrals for services. What begins as a few simple conversations over breakfast can lead to people accessing ongoing support.

First Helping works with clients to access health care, insurance and other entitlements, employment, mental health support, addictions recovery, as well as affordable and supportive housing.

This program is a low barrier entry into our continuum of care that provides a comprehensive approach to fighting hunger and poverty. For our clients, it is the first step toward regaining control of their lives.

Did you know…?

• First Helping is part of our integrated social services program that also provides referrals and advocacy for students of our Culinary Job Training Program.
• First Helping partners with DC Food Finder, which provides an interactive map to help people find free and low-cost food resources in the District.
• Regular volunteer opportunities with First Helping are available weekday mornings (volunteers must be at least 18).

All volunteer opportunities with First Helping have been filled for summer 2010. Please contact vjackson@dccentralkitchen.org if you are interested in volunteering in the fall.