By Leora Barkai, Justice and Legal Thought Scholars Student
A Wider Circle aims to bridge the gap between those who have resources and those who don't to help people not only get a home but also better their own lives. My work at A Wider Circle helps me to understand that all different kinds of people end up in situations where they need help.
Imagine yourself as a single woman with 5 children who's just escaped domestic violence and has a very low paying job. Imagine your landlord kicked you out of your home because you lost your job and you missed a rent payment. Imagine being homeless not just for a day, or a week but a year. When you finally get home, get a place to live you enter and it's empty. You may have a place to live but you don't have a home. That's where A Wider Circle comes in. Wider Circle is an amazing organization that helps people who don't have any furniture or household items in their homes to get those items for free. A Wider Circle works completely on donations of furniture from the surrounding communities and serves Washington DC many counties in Maryland as well as Virginia. Most other organizations only focus on getting people a place to live but A Wider Circle wants to help cultivate people's lives and make sure that they feel comfortable in their living situation. It's been shown that where you live can affect not only your health physically but also your mental well-being and that affects everything else in your life. A Wider Circle aims to bridge the gap between those who have resources and those who don't to help people not only get a home but also better their own lives. My work at A Wider Circle helps me to understand that all different kinds of people end up in situations where they need help. What's great about A Wider Circle is that we have a no-questions-asked policy which means that anyone who needs help no matter who they are or what race, religion,socioeconomic status or immigration status they have. A Wider Circle also prides itself on the importance of treating everyone with respect. We facilitate a kind environment in which all clients who come in should feel comfortable and safe. All In All The Wider Circle makes not only a large impact on those who come in as clients but also the hundreds of volunteers and staff members who work there every day.
This project stood out to me because of the thoughtfulness and care the organization has towards people who are going through very difficult times. I believe the no-questions-asked policy is wonderful for making clients feel safe and ensuring as many people as possible have a bed to sleep on or a couch to relax on. I was not aware that a lack of furniture was an issue facing homeless and poverty-stricken people, as they already deal with so many other issues. Does A Wider Circle have any plans to expand their services to other possibly missed factors of basic living?
I like how your internship taught you how to connect with people and allowed you to have this meaningful interpersonal experience. I like how your work was in service of others. I agree that this issue is so prevalent and needs to be worked on through orgs like this.
You’re project stood out to me because I find this type of work to be crucial. While I know those in need struggle for basic necessities, I never considered or thought about the challenges they might face with accessing good furniture. It’s really nice that this project and it’s importance stuck with you, and I like how that’s reflected in the poster. I wonder, though, while these projects are vital in helping bridge the gaps of inequality, what long lasting steps do you think need to be taken to make access available to those who need it. As from what it appears, these individuals would not receive the help they need if it were not for this work.
Your project stood out to me because it reminded me of a volunteer job I used to have in high school. I volunteered a thrift store associated with a domestic abuse center, and I also worked with women specifically who needed to start over and get new clothes or household items after escaping domestic violence. I think it is very interesting that this organization focuses on furniture - I never really though about the effect it could have on mental and physical wellbeing, and your project really highlighted that. In what ways have you witnessed the organization helping the community and what effect did those moments have on you and your future?
This project really stands out to me because of the phenomenal opportunity you had to concretely help people need. I learned from this poster, that access to quality furniture is an issue amongst many people in need. It is a problem that logically makes sense, but one that is not often discussed. I wonder how you think the sort of commodity poverty you dealt with at A Wider Circle interacts with the more health related aspects of poverty you plan to continue to work in?