I used to think public health was boring. I moved to DC with dreams of an international development career, and I took a job at a global health association as an entry point, figuring I would shift to something more exciting.

But public health quickly stole my heart.

Turns out health is everywhere you look – it’s the air we breathe and the water we drink, it’s seatbelts and bike helmets, it’s the fresh produce available at the grocery store and the air-conditioned public library open on a hot day.

Unfortunately, not everyone gets the same opportunity to live a healthy life.

Systemic racism and other power structures limit access to key components of good health, such as nutritious food, quality education, affordable housing, and jobs with a decent wage.

Through my work at the global and then national level, I learned how important it is to address these injustices and consider not only physical health, but also the many economic and social conditions that affect our well-being.

At Mary’s Center, I’ve seen these principles put into practice with extraordinary results.

Mary’s Center is a nonprofit community health center offering comprehensive healthcare, social services, and education for people of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. Launched in a rowhouse basement in 1988, Mary’s Center now serves more than 60,000 people across 8 locations in DC and Maryland.

I started working at Mary’s Center on March 2 of this year. The first DC-area COVID-19 cases were confirmed three days later, and by mid-March, all non-essential staff started working from home.

Even working remotely, I have never witnessed the impact of my organization on a daily basis like I do at Mary’s Center.

COVID-19 has been especially devastating for many of the communities Mary’s Center serves, disproportionately affecting people of color, immigrants, undocumented workers – the people risking their lives every day at minimum wage jobs to try to keep a roof over their families' heads.

Mary’s Center has been a lifeline over these past several months, giving the same high-quality care to everyone who walks through our doors, regardless of ability to pay.

My incredible colleagues – our very own healthcare heroes – have tested and treated over 7,000 people with COVID-19 symptoms and provided crucial mental health support and social services to families struggling to pay bills and put food on the table.

We need Mary’s Center now more than ever, and you can help. Please, donate any amount you can to ensure Mary’s Center remains a beacon of hope in the community for years to come.

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PS – If I reach my $1,000 target, I will choose three lucky donors at random to receive a box of home-baked treats!