east washington life
Meet Your Neighbor Robin Myers: Community Activist
L
ooking to make a difference in her southeast community with people that are often disenfranchised, for 38 years Robin Myers has been feeding the needy, visiting the sick and shut-ins and simply “giving a damn” about some of the most vulnerable residents in the District. Myers is a reliable resource and caring neighbor, but most especially she is an undaunted community activist who performs acts of kindness without the thought of monetary reward. For the past 17 years, Myers has distributed turkeys and food baskets to dozens of people around Thanksgiving. She accomplishes this annual feat by pooling her money with Woodrow Sheffield, a close friend and fellow philanthropist who works for the local government. She receives additional donations from individuals and groups like the United Planning Organization (UPO). The plan this November is to increase her output and deliver
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E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m
by Anthony D. Diallo
holiday meals to 125 households. “It is a fulfillment I get out of helping people,” said Myers, 54, after being asked why she continues to commit to community outreach after so many years. “I grew up fortunate. I didn’t need anything. My mother and grandmother and uncle gave us everything. I enjoy helping me people reach another level in their lives. Some people in today’s generation do not have that southern grandmother that I had. I like trying to show them how to reach their full potential.”
Outreach
The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped her community outreach efforts, although it has made Myers even more concerned for her neighbors that are most at-risk. She takes the necessary precautions by wearing a face mask and gloves and maintaining social distancing, because she knows that her overall mission is too important for a 12 to 18-month hiatus until
