Editor's Note: Fenton Street Conversation and Batting for Charity

This past Saturday, July 9, I had a wonderful time talking to Patch readers who stopped by the Fenton Street Conversation to talk about improving Silver Spring Patch. We bounced around a few ideas and fine-tuned feature stories that will be great once they launch. I want to thank everyone for taking time out of their Saturday to chat with me about making the Silver Spring community better.

After I left the conversation table, I put on my sneakers and headed out to to help raise money for charity with A Wider Circle. This local nonprofit organization provides essentials to people in need of clothing, food, life skills, and much more.

For my , I decided to get on the field and help raise money by playing a game of softball. The challenge was against three teams: Bond Beebe, The McLean Group and So What Else. We helped to raise about $1,000 to go towards A Wider Circle's mission.

In an e-mail to Patch, Mark Bergel, executive director of A Wider Circle, wrote that about 70 volunteers also came out to help with its Essential Drive to collect "personal care items, healthy non-perishable food, and cleaning supplies at six different Giant Food Stores in the area."

This was definitely a great experience, and I thank Mark Bergel and the team for inviting me to volunteer. 

Interested in donating furniture to A Wider Circle because your leaving town or changing your living space? They will pick up! Just call 301-608-3504 or e-mail furnish@awidercircle.org.