COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Carderock Springs Elementary School Community Service Committee looks forward each year to undertaking a number of meaningful projects, as well as initiating dialogues for families, and amongst the kids and teachers in our classrooms and greater community. 

Projects include participation in an election related service project, an environmental clean up project, Hunger Helpers, weekly Food collections for Martha’s Table, Fundraising for the Children’s Cancer Clinic at NIH, pajama, diaper, grocery and warm clothing drives (benefiting Watkins Mill Elementary School), a holiday giving program that benefits A Wider Circle, a Halloween Costume Drive that benefits the National Center for Children and Families, and Treats for Troops. 

We also tend to the CSES garden and participate in the Colorcycle program. 

Looking for Community Service opportunities outside of what's been planned this year at CSES? Find a list of volunteer possibilities by age appropriateness so your children can be helpers HERE

Martha's Table Food Collection

Martha’s Table Food Collection begins Friday, SEPTEMBER 29th!

The Carderock Springs Elementary School community, with help from the PTA Community Service Committee and SGA, supports Martha’s Table and the hundreds of people it serves daily who are experiencing hunger or homelessness, by increasing access to healthy food. This is an easy & impactful way for kids to directly help their community on a regular basis.

What - – Martha’s Table has requested donations for McKenna’s Wagon, a mobile food truck that serves fresh food every night. Please consider donating meat & cheese sandwiches, trail mix or fresh fruit and your items will be delivered that night or the following night. Running out of time? That’s ok! Martha’s Table gratefully accepts pantry items too.

When & Where - Drop off baskets will be in each classroom. Collections are Fridays once a month.  

Mark your calendars with the 2023-24 dates: 9/29, 10/27, 11/17, 12/15, 1/26

How - See Martha’s Table Food Donation Guidelines here.  Please have your items in a grocery bag and place the bag in the bins. There is a need for meat and cheese sandwiches made with whole wheat bread and trail mix. Label sandwiches with ‘H/C’ for ham and cheese or ‘T/C’ for turkey and cheese. Note that Martha’s Table no longer accepts peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; they do accept sun butter and jelly sandwiches.

Drop-off volunteers needed – We are looking for volunteers to drive the collected food items to Martha’s Table. Volunteers are asked to come to school around 9:45am on collection days and drop off food items at the below address. Please bring boxes and/or large plastic bags to fill with items to leave behind at Martha’s Table, if you have any available. Sign-up here

Drop-off address: The Maycroft, 1474 Columbia Road NW Washington, DC 20009; drop-off food donations at the kitchen entrance in the alley off of 15th St NW (between Harvard and Columbia Rd). Please call Martha’s Table at 202-808-8044 with questions.

Foods Not Accepted: junk food (chips, soda, candy), sports drinks, miscellaneous condiments, and packaged desserts.

FDA Best Practices for Food Preparation during Covid-19: clean and disinfect surfaces, wash hands, wear mask.  For more, click here.

Questions? Reach out to PTA Martha's Table Coordinator via email