Easterns Blog

Teamwork truly does make the dream work. There is power in numbers and two women from different parts of the DC, Maryland, Virginia area are a testament to that. A Bethesda resident by the name of Niki Mock and a Washington D.C. named India Blocker-Ford are both on a mission to help the community. They decided to come together as Mock has worked with various organizations across Southeast D.C. Blocker-Ford grew up in Southeast herself so for her it’s personal. It?s always different when you can understand a struggle first hand. The Woodland area of Southeast D.C. has been severely impacted by crime, extreme violence, and poverty over the years.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone but those in need of assistance have been hit the hardest. Mock took matters into her own hands but asking her fellow Bethesda neighbors to donate items from their closets to help those in need. She also encouraged them to donate bikes and cash donations. The cash donations were used to purchase refurbished computers and everything was given to the people in the Woodland community. Many students need laptops for online learning since many schools will be resuming virtually to prevent the spread of the virus.

Blocker-Ford has been working with those in this particular community to try to make it a better place. They are an amazing group of people that are just in need of the proper help and resources which is why these donations were so important. Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group are partners on a segment called Pay It Forward where they help those who are making a difference in the community. Joel Bassam of Easterns was so touched by all that these two women are doing that he personally to Southeast D.C. to meet them both. Fox 5 DC cameras followed him as he surprised both ladies with a $2,000 donation to help them buy more bikes and laptops for the residents of the Woodland community. It is important that the residents have access to fitness, transportation, and technology as they strive to be the very best they can be.

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/qL3xOfhwYOM

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/pay-it-forward-community-comes-together-to-provide-clothing-for-those-in-need-amid-pandemic