GIVE WARMTH DC: 5th Annual MLK Day of Service
About this Event
Five Years of Giving Warmth, Love & Dignity
Join Love Your Tribe on Saturday, January 16, 2027, as we celebrate the 5th Annual Give Warmth DC: MLK Day of Service!
For five years, Give Warmth DC has brought together volunteers, community partners, and supporters to serve our Washington, DC neighbors experiencing homelessness during one of the coldest times of the year.
Our mission is simple: to give warmth, love, and dignity through thoughtfully assembled care bags filled with essential items and personal touches that remind our unhoused neighbors that they are seen, valued, and not forgotten.
Last year, more than 50 volunteers came together to assemble approximately 300 Give Warmth bags and distribute over 3,000 essential items across Washington, DC.
As we celebrate five years of collective care and community service, we're looking forward to expanding our reach and deepening our impact. We invite you to be part of it!
💛 Ways to Participate
Volunteer — $50 Registration
Register to serve with us on Saturday, January 16! Your $50 registration contribution helps cover event costs, breakfast refreshments, and supplies for our Give Warmth bags.
Volunteers will work together to assemble care packages and distribute them in small groups along designated routes throughout Washington, DC.
Kids are welcome and may participate for free with a registered adult. All children must remain under adult supervision throughout the event.
🧤 Donate Essential Items
Can't volunteer? You can still help us spread warmth by donating new, unused items from our priority list.
Winter Essentials
- Warm socks (new, adult sizes)
- Knit hats and beanies
- Gloves
- Scarves
- Hand warmers
Personal Care & Hygiene
- Travel-size toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Travel-size deodorant
- Body wipes
- Lip balm
- Travel-size lotion
- Feminine hygiene products, including pads and tampons
Food & Hydration
- Individually packaged, shelf-stable snacks
- Bottled water
IMPORTANT: Please Donate Only the Items Listed Above.
To ensure we can efficiently assemble and distribute essential care packages, we are limiting donations to the specific items requested.
We are NOT accepting:
- Used clothing of any kind
- Jeans, denim jackets, or other denim items
- Coats, sweaters, hoodies, or shoes
- Blankets or bedding
- Household items or miscellaneous personal belongings
- Opened, used, or expired products
- Unrequested items outside our donation list
While we appreciate everyone's generosity, we do not have the capacity to sort, store, or redistribute clothing and other miscellaneous donations.
All donated items must be new, unused, and in their original packaging.
For the greatest impact, we encourage supporters to purchase items directly from our Walmart Wishlist, which helps us receive the supplies we need most.
💸 Other Ways to Give
CashApp: $loveyourtribe111
Zelle: [email protected]
Walmart Wishlist:
Donation Drop-Off: Accepted at designated Love Your Tribe events leading up to Give Warmth DC. Please contact us in advance to coordinate donations.
Monetary contributions help us purchase essential items in bulk, maximize resources, and ensure each care bag is thoughtfully prepared.
📍 MLK Day of Service Itinerary
Saturday, January 16, 2027
Location: Washington, DC (Venue details to be confirmed)
- 8:30 AM: Setup team arrives
- 9:00–10:00 AM: Coffee, light refreshments, and Give Warmth bag assembly
- 10:00–11:30 AM: Community distribution along designated routes
- 11:30 AM–12:30 PM: Return to event location
- 12:30–1:00 PM: Volunteer regroup, reflection, and debrief
- 1:00–3:00 PM: Optional volunteer brunch gathering (at each volunteer's expense; location to be confirmed)
Please plan to arrive on time and dress warmly for outdoor distribution. Additional volunteer instructions will be shared with registered participants before the event.
🤝 Become a Community Partner or Sponsor
As we celebrate five years of Give Warmth DC, we're inviting businesses, community organizations, alumni groups, schools, and individuals to help us grow our collective impact.
There are several ways to partner with us, including sponsoring care bags, organizing an essential-item collection, contributing financial or in-kind support, or bringing a group of volunteers.
Interested in partnering or sponsoring? Contact us at [email protected].
❤️ Our Mission: Love. Healing. Liberation.
Give Warmth DC is more than a day of service. It's an opportunity to build community, practice collective care, and honor the humanity of our neighbors.
By procuring winter essentials in bulk, coordinating targeted donations, and mobilizing volunteers, we strive to create a sustainable model of service that prioritizes dignity, compassion, and meaningful connection.
As we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we invite you to put love into action and help create a more compassionate and inclusive community.
Five years of giving warmth. Five years of showing up. And we're just getting started.
With love and gratitude,
Ambre Reed
Founder & CEO, Love Your Tribe
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 250.00
