Holiday Gift Drive for Domestic Violence Victims

The Town’s Community Relations Committee is again coordinating a Holiday Gift Drive to benefit Montgomery County families who are victims of domestic violence. The adult beneficiaries are clients of the Montgomery County Family Justice Center, and the children are clients of Chesapeake Counseling’s Safe Start program. One hundred percent of the donations are applied to direct service. There are no administrative costs. 

There are two donation options: 1) gift cards in denominations from $10 to $50 for stores such as Target, Marshalls, Kohl's, Ross, Safeway, and Giant (preferred) or 2) checks made out to MCFJC Foundation. Please reference TOCC holiday drive on your check. Donations can be delivered to the Town Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday or dropped off at 7624 Lynn Drive (basket in carport) or 7203 Ridgewood Avenue. (To receive an acknowledgment for tax purposes, be sure to include your name and e-mail address.)

This year the need to support families suffering from domestic violence is even more critical. As an aftereffect of the pandemic, caseloads at the Montgomery County Family Justice Center have increased substantially while the demand for mental health services has skyrocketed. Counseling services for children exposed to domestic violence is crucial as both an intervention for their trauma and for breaking the cycle of abuse.  

Annual donations from the Town of Chevy Chase have had a substantial impact on our County’s ability to offer direct services to clients. As in past years, we ask you to consider extending a helping hand to these needy families. Let’s set a record for the percentage of Town residents who contribute to this drive! Thanks in advance for your generosity.

Gift cards and checks for the Holiday Gift Drive will be collected through Friday, December 22 but will be accepted gratefully at any time of year. Checks received before December 8 will be deposited by December 22. Checks received from December 9 to 22 will be deposited by January 15. If you have questions, contact Cathy Wolf at cathrynwolf2@gmail.com.

LEGO Fair, November 12

Do you love LEGO? Do you like seeing what other people have created with LEGO? Join us for the inaugural TOCC LEGO fair at the Town Hall on Sunday, November 12 from 2 to 4 p.m.! Prizes will be awarded across three age groups (8 & under, 9-15, and 16 & over) in categories of best structure, vehicle, landscape (coloring), still scene, and most creative! You may submit a custom build for display or, for a larger build/multiple items, entrants may reserve half of a 6-foot table. To register by November 9, please email townoffice@townofchevychase.org with entrant’s name, age, address, and a brief description of the submission.  All ages welcome!  Sponsored by the Community Relations Committee. Questions, contact Howard Berkof at hberkof@yahoo.com.