Sterling Marchand, Litigation Senior Associate in the Washington, D.C. office, and his family, started what they thought would be a small local community food drive as a way to help people particularly impacted by the pandemic.  

Since its inception in June, Be the Good Project (BTG) has grown tremendously. The organization has hit several milestones, including officially becoming a 501(c)(3) recognized non-profit with a mission of harnessing the generosity of the community to help people who are experiencing food insecurity. 

As part of this mission, BTG delivered their 25,000th sandwich to Martha’s Table, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C, in early November. BTG is on track to deliver at least 1,000 sandwiches each week through 2020 with the help of local volunteers, including D.C. partner Bridget Moore and D.C. special counsel Julie Rubenstein. From June through October, BTG also collected or purchased 7,000 lbs of non-perishable foods for local families in need of supplemental groceries in Northern Virginia.

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, Be the Good Project is ramping up efforts to help the local community. Thanks to more than 100 volunteers, BTG successfully donated 323 Thanksgiving Care Packages filled with non-perishable foods last week. These bags were accompanied by 1,000 lbs of fresh sweet potatoes purchased with a grant from the Mid-Atlantic Food Resilience and Access Coalition (MAFRAC). 

The Thanksgiving Care Packages — which clocked in at more than 6,400 lbs — were distributed in partnership with Fairfax County’s Community Schools, Mt. Vernon Woods Elementary School and Walt Whitman Middle School. Both of these schools have a tremendous challenge with food insecurity, with more than two thirds of the students eligible for free and reduced lunches. Each family also received a turkey or chicken and a fresh pie to accompany the BTG Thanksgiving Care Packages thanks to community partners.

Although something to celebrate, the work is not finished yet – BTG has already begun efforts to provide a similar type of care package for the end of the year. BTG expects to distribute more than 400 Winter Care Packages in December, containing non-perishable foods, fresh produce, and meat through partnerships and the support of more local sponsors, including Baker Botts. 

Be the Good Project’s inaugural Treasurer, Sterling Marchand, reports that BTG will not end these efforts at the end of the year. The organization will continue to find opportunities that make it safe and simple for local families, individuals, and organizations to help people who need food for as long as possible.

To learn more about recent activity or upcoming opportunities to become involved, please visit Be the Good’s website or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

If you’re interested in learning more about how this project originated, check out the original interview with Sterling, here.

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