Magazine Online    The Authority On African-American Conventions, Incentives, & Leisure Travel
Hospitality Heartline
Safeway and Events DC Partner to Provide Meal, Hope for 5,000 DC Residents on Wednesday, November 25th At The Walter E. Washington Convention Center


Health Expo and Job Fair Are Part of 16th Annual Community Event at Walter E. Washington Convention Center

For the 16th consecutive year, Safeway and Events DC set the stage for the Feast of Sharing at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Wednesday, Nov. 25, providing a festive holiday meal, along with a variety of services, for District residents in need.  This annual community event featured a health and wellness expo that included free flu shots and diabetes testing, and free clothing giveaway. 

Approximately 5,000 city residents were invited to attend the Safeway Feast of Sharing, which brought together a host of community partners and volunteers, including The Salvation Army, Unity Health Care, Events DC, SunTrust Bank, Centerplate/NBSE and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

"An event of this magnitude can only take place through the spirit of giving," said Craig Muckle, Safeway's manager, public affairs. "All the partners associated with this gathering are donating their time and services because everyone believes we are not only sharing a holiday meal, but also a message of hope to our neighbors in need.  As long as the need exists, we're pleased this has become a meaningful Thanksgiving tradition in Washington."

"We are once again honored to be able to host and support the 16th annual Safeway Feast of Sharing at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  As the official convention and sports authority, Events DC is not only committed to creating premier event experiences for residents and visitors alike, but also to serve the local Washington, DC community and create benefits for District residents to enjoy," said Gregory A. O'Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC.  "This annual event acts as prime example for us to showcase our ongoing dedication and efforts to reach residents across all wards of DC.  And we couldn't make this event happen without the support of the District, its local business community and the hundreds of volunteers." 

SunTrust Bank once again sponsored free shuttle buses that picked up and dropped off guests from several D.C. Safeway locations as well as senior centers around the city.

"Giving back to the communities we serve is a cornerstone of how SunTrust does business," said Dan O'Neill, chairman and CEO of SunTrust Greater Washington/Maryland. "Thanks to Safeway, our partners and volunteers, many families who might not otherwise have been able to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal will be able to do so. We're grateful for the opportunity to make this a special day for those in need."

The following are the partners that contributed to the event:

  • Safeway donated all the food, drinks, supplies and centerpieces;
  • Events DC was the host sponsor, providing the Walter E. Washington Convention Center facilities and event management and staffing capabilities;
  • Centerplate/NBSE, the convention center's exclusive caterer, prepared the meal;
  • The Salvation Army organized and coordinated the volunteer effort;
  • Unity Health Care coordinated the health and wellness expo;
  • SunTrust Bank sponsored volunteer aprons and t-shirts, shuttle bus service, staffed the clothing drive and provided more than 150 volunteers;
  • Securpros provided security services.
Safeway supports a broad range of charitable and community programs, annually donating and raising more than $250 million to important causes, such as cancer research, education, hunger relief and programs focused on assisting people with disabilities.
Advertisement