On November 16, the Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) held the 2025 Fall Donation Drive at Thomas S. Wootton High School. The drive collected items from community members, including clothing, shoes, toys, household items, furniture, school supplies, art materials, and laptops. These donations will support underserved families and students in the DMV area.
The CYOC 2025 Fall Donation Drive was a great success! This was the second time Ruichen and I hosted the event. We organized our first donation drive in the summer of 2025, and this time Kevin also joined us as part of the organizing team. Even though we already had experience, we still learned a lot and worked even better together.
By Ruichen Feng (operational director of CYOC Chamber Ensemble)
October 20, 2025 — Rockville, MD
Today was a truly memorable day for all of us in the Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) Chamber Ensemble. Since our official founding on September 1, 2025, we have been rehearsing regularly, and this was our first community performance. We were honored to visit the CCACC Academy (Chinese Culture and Community Service Center), where we shared our music with about 50 preschoolers and 60 day camp elementary students.
When I volunteered at the charity marathon, I thought it would just be another early morning event. I didn’t expect it to be such a fun and inspiring experience. I signed up to help out and earn some service hours, but I ended up learning how powerful teamwork, encouragement, and kindness can be. From setting up the inflatables and helping kids, I learned that helping others can be just as rewarding as running the race itself.
A charity marathon is more than a race; it’s a movement of compassion and unity. Each stride represents care, perseverance, and a desire to make the world better. Participants run not just for themselves, but for those who can’t. Behind the scenes, there are always people working hard to make the event possible. As a member of the CYOC, I volunteered to help set up at the charity marathon on October 4. It was an amazing experience filled with energy, teamwork, and joy. The event took place early in the morning, and volunteers like me helped set up water stations, hand out food, and organize activities for children. It felt wonderful to be part of something that brought people together for such a meaningful cause.
On October 4, 2025, I had an amazing opportunity to volunteer at the 4th Annual MoCo CARES Charity Race, an inspiring community event hosted by So What Else and Covenant Life School. The race brings together local families, businesses, and volunteers to support children and families in need across Montgomery County.
On the evening of September 10, 2025, the nonprofit organization So What Else (SWE) held its first-ever “Partner & Sponsor Appreciation Event” at Silo Falls in Brookeville, MD. Representatives from 25 nonprofit and philanthropic partner organizations, along with nearly 85 volunteers and supporters, gathered to celebrate past achievements, share experiences, and envision future community initiatives. The Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) attended as one of SWE’s 25 partner organizations.
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