Shannon and I worked at the Capitol Hill Community Foundation table from noon to 2 today, and I'll fully admit I was amazed at how many people came by and donated money, signed up to volunteer, bought T-shirts, and asked for information about the fundraisers that will be going on this week. Probably the most touching donation, though, came from a seven year-old girl, Isabella, who walked up to the table with a brown paper bag and told us that she had decided to break open her piggy bank and donate everything inside to the merchants of the South Hall -- she literally wanted to give it directly to the merchants, so Shannon directed her to the Calomiris vegetable stand (right behind the CHCF table). She also gave them an incredibly sweet letter and drawing of her favorite things from the merchants, and we asked if we could put it online so people could see a great example of what the Market means to Capitol Hill.
Later tonight, I'll have a final tally for the amount raised at the table, but while we were there a pretty amazing amount of money made its way into the relief fund, and more importantly, the community made a clear statement about the importance the Market and its merchants have to Capitol Hill.