The Council of the District of Columbia

The Office of Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Ward 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2011

Kiara Pesante, Director of Communications o: 202-724-8089 c: 202-701-9439

Councilmember Cheh to Join Alice Deal Students, D.C. Central Kitchen to Prepare Meals for Low-income District Residents, Seniors

Sandwich Marathon to produce thousands of turkey sandwiches for Washingtonians in need

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the spirit of service, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh will join students from Alice Deal Middle School and the D.C. Central Kitchen for their Sandwich Marathon today, December 8, 2011 from noon until 12:30 p.m. at Alice Deal Middle School (3815 Fort Drive, NW) in the computer lab room, C-104. The marathon is the latest in a series of service projects the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders have performed this holiday season. Each Deal homeroom has donated bottled water, granola bars, and other items to complete the brown bag meals.

“I’m so proud of the Deal students and their desire to give back to those less fortunate than they are,” said Councilmember Cheh. “The students are learning a valuable lesson about helping others through healthy food, and the D.C. Central Kitchen is the best partner to have in this effort.”

Alice Deal Middle School, located in Ward 3, combines a rigorous academic program with the nurturing environment of a neighborhood school. Deal’s campus boasts a recently completed $70 million renovation that has preserved the historic building and merged it with dynamic new spaces for instruction. At Deal, students participate in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program as well as music and visual arts. Deal also offers three foreign languages: Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese, as well as a variety of extracurricular activities.

Each day, D.C. Central Kitchen provides breakfast, outreach, and counseling services to chronically homeless people living on the streets. DCCK recycles 3,000 pounds of food daily, converting it into 4,500 meals their staff and volunteers distribute to 100 shelters, transitional homes, and rehabilitation clinics throughout the D.C. area to thousands of at-risk individuals. One of DCCK’s programs, “Healthy Corners,” was established by Councilmember Cheh’s FEED DC Act, and delivers fresh and affordable produce to corner stores in low-income neighborhoods. DCCK’s Culinary Job Training, which teaches once homeless and hungry adults food preparation skills for careers, is nationally recognized for its success.

For more information, visit www.marycheh.com, www.dcps.dc.gov, and www.dccentralkitchen.org.

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