Mother Dears Community Center Inc

Fifty-four years ago in 1957, Annie Woodridge, (Mother Dear), moved to Washington, D.C. with five of her ten children. Through her efforts, a recreation center was
setup in the apartment building’s basement where she lived so children would have a safe place to play and congregate after school and on weekends.

Mother Dear had several special gifts other than a big heart, a big smile and motherly ways. She was a singer, a pianist and a baker. She taught piano and voice lessons free to children and planned various field trips for the neighborhood children. She baked the best homemade dinner rolls ever! When she baked, the neighborhood smelled like “Wonder Bread Bakery”. Children lined up to get a hot roll dripping with butter.

After becoming a minister, she had a God inspired vision to start a community center. Her calling was not only to minister spiritually to people, but to serve all people
especially the poor and deprived, the loss and down trodden and the brokenhearted. She helped thousands of people with little or no money. In 1977, Mother Dear’s Community Center, Inc., (MDCC), was incorporated. Although she was displaced and had to relocate several times, she did not grow weary or lose hope because she knew God had a building with her name on it. With a hand full of senior staff, she cooked lunch on a hot plate and fed over 100 people daily.

In 1986, at the end of a meeting she was attending on Capitol Hill, a gentleman watched curiously as dignitaries greeted Mother Dear. He was astounded and wanted to know who this “over weight African American Woman” was. George Kettle introduced himself and Mother Dear told him her story. They exchanged information and departed. Little did she know the miracle that awaited her! George was excited and knew he had to help her. Getting a few investors, George purchased a three story building with a commercial kitchen, at 467 Florida Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. He told Mother Dear she would never be put out again. Her dream and vision had come true. She now had a building with her name on it.

She moved into her facility the end of August in 1987. Unfortunately, she suffered a stroke and died three weeks later in September. The mantle was passed to her daughter
Iris in October who restructured programs and services, adding holiday meals to homebound seniors, youth jobs and a summer camp enrichment program for at risk
youth. Fifteen hundred hot lunches were served a month to a new environment of clientele. Iris called the Center’s new location “the “Wild - Wild - West” due to many abandon buildings, homelessness, increased crime: drugs, bullets
flying, breaks-in, etc. But, she joyfully greeted and served all who entered the center, with a smile, a song and a dance. People's lives were transformed: theyoung and old, the homeless, and ex-offender, the physical challenged etc., All who sought the center for service, had a place to rest their weary soul and were treated with love, dignity and respect. This, Iris did, while taking care of a daughter with Cerebral Palsy who, on occasions, served also. In 2002 Annie’s daughter Carolyn joined the staff of MDCC. With a staff of 5 and hundreds of volunteers, MDCC served food, clothes, holiday meals to homebound seniors and the homeless, emergency assistance and other social services to over 20,000 clients a year. Hundreds of at-risk youth have benefited from the summer camp program.

After 23 years of operating in Ward 1, MDCC has been displaced again and we are currently looking for a new building. Business continues from their home, but with limited services. As we continue to face dire economic uncertainty, hundreds of calls are received weekly for assistance. Like our mother, we will not grow weary or lose
hope, for we know God has another building with our name on it. We need your support to continue the work Mother Dear started 54 years ago. She was an ordinary woman whose purpose in life was to serve.  She touched the lives of thousands and lived her Motto: “Destiny makes us brothers. If you lift somebody up as you go up, we’ll all rise together”.

Why not donate today to keep Mother Dear’s Legacy and Dream Alive!

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