Monthly Village News for March 2026!

From Frank...

For those of you that suffer through winter as I do, it seems like spring (and more light) will be in our near future!  This week, I was able to go for my first run outside which is always preferable to the dreaded treadmill. Being outdoors allows me to clear my mind and important thoughts and feelings always bubble up to my consciousness more easily.  On a stretch of the trail along Rock Creek between Pierce Mill and the national zoo, I was reminded of the wisdom by poet, author, and scholar, Maya Angelou, who said, “People will forget the things you do, and people will forget the things you say. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

For me, this rings very true.  I have so many fond memories of my mother and others of her generation who loved, mentored, or cared for me in one way or another. I know that my work at the Village is as much for the many people that made me feel warm and cared for when I was a child as it is for our members.  That is, an act of service or kindness today is in large measure because of how I felt as the recipient of kindness all those decades ago.

In volunteer trainings, I often hear prospective volunteers say that they want to give back in some way.  They tell stories  about that special grandparent or how  they miss their own parents. These experiences fuel them to want to help an older adult within their current neighborhood.  I’m privileged to witness such kindness for sure. Next week, on Wednesday, March 4 at 5pm, we’re hosting a gathering at Via Roma in Woodley Park specifically to thank our volunteers. So, if you’re a volunteer, I hope you’ll register and join us. 

As this is our monthly newsletter, it’s also chock full of events and the articles below provide details for each.  One program I want to highlight is, “Planning for the Ages” which we’re sponsoring with Seabury Resources for the Aging and the Cleveland Park Congregational UCC.  On Tuesday, March 3 at 1pm at the church (and also online via Zoom), Christine Bitzer and I will be presenting on how to effectively plan for the future, including which documents and tasks should be undertaken to ensure that you have a comprehensive plan to carry out your specific wishes.  You can register here.

I hope everyone has a terrific weekend and can enjoy the forecasted sunshine and warmer weather.  I invite you to join me in thinking about how others have touched your life and what you might do to pay that kindness forward to others.  I’d also love to hear your stories about how others made you feel and what that prompted you to do!

Read the entire Monthly March Newsletter right here.

Frank Finamore, Executive Director