From Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker

Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is continuing his Annual Holiday Giveaway this year with a Thanksgiving Grocery Bag Giveway on November 20, 2025.

Do you need groceries for Thanksgiving?

Reserve your grocery bag at ward5.us/thanksgiving2025 (only 1 per household).

Limited supplies.

Grocery bags will include:

• Green beans
• Cornbread mix
• Stuffing mix
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Gravy mix
• Corn

The giveaway will take place on November 20, 2025 at the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Ave NE). Time to be announced.

You must be a Ward 5 resident. Please bring a form of identification when you come to pick up your grocery bag.

Additional information will be sent ahead of November 20. For any questions or concerns, please call CM Parker’s office at 202-724-8028, or email ward5contact@dccouncil.gov.

From Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker

Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is continuing his Annual Holiday Giveaway this year with a Thanksgiving Grocery Bag Giveway on November 20, 2025.

Do you need groceries for Thanksgiving?

Reserve your grocery bag at ward5.us/thanksgiving2025 (only 1 per household).

Limited supplies.

Grocery bags will include:

• Green beans
• Cornbread mix
• Stuffing mix
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Gravy mix
• Corn

The giveaway will take place on November 20, 2025 at the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Ave NE). Time to be announced.

You must be a Ward 5 resident. Please bring a form of identification when you come to pick up your grocery bag.

Additional information will be sent ahead of November 20. For any questions or concerns, please call CM Parker’s office at 202-724-8028, or email ward5contact@dccouncil.gov.

The Ward 5 Leadership Council (W5LC) is hosting a community meeting with Councilmember Robert White.

Date: October 28, 2025

Time: 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

Location: Lamond-Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE)

W5LC Core Issues:

• Housing Hubs and Amenities for Senior Citizens on Large Tract Developents
• Social and uulti-Generation Housing
• Program Funding for the DC Youth Services Center
• Comprehensive Bicycle/Pedestrian and Vehicular Safety Commission
• Legislative boundaries for ANC Commissioners
• Ranked Choice Voting

The Ward 5 Leadership Council (W5LC) is hosting a community meeting with Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Date: October 16, 2025

Time: 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

Location: Lamond-Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE)

W5LC Core Issues:

• Erosion of Home Rule/DC Federal Government Overreach/National Guard Occupation
• 25/26 Budget Update/Child Tax Credits/Baby Bonds
• RFK Contracting and Employment
• Funding Programs at DC Youth Services Center
• Ranked Choice Voting

On September 20, 2025, from 12pm to 5pm, join Councilmember Zachary Parker for Ward 5 Day at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Avenue NE).

Enjoy food from Ward 5 restaurants, live music (EU & Sugar Bear!), go-karts and moon bounce for kids, hand dancing and spades tables, community resources, a youth entrepreneur fair, Walk Thru Ward 5 exhibit, a basketball tournament, and more!

Join CM Parker’s office for a week of pop-up activities leading up to the big day.

• Monday, September 15 @ 5:45 p.m.
  • Childrens’ Storytime Read-aloud with Councilmember Parker @ Woodridge Library (1801 Hamlin St NE)
• Tuesday, September 16 @ 10:00 a.m.
  • Kinship Care Alliance Rally @ Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW)
• Tuesday, September 16 @ 6:45 p.m.
  • Ward 5 Day @ Nats Park (all tickets claimed!)
• Wednesday, September 17 @ 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Yappy Hour (bring your pup!) @ Other Half in Ivy City (1401 Okie St NE)
• Thursday, September 18 @ 5:00 p.m.
  • Community Bike Ride – explore the new Metropolitan Branch Trail connections! Meet @ Takoma Park Metro, and ride to the metrobar happy hour. 
• Thursday, September 18 @ 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Happy Hour @ metrobar (640 Rhode Island Ave NE). Join for the bike ride first and ride to happy hour or just meet at metrobar! 
• Friday, September 19 @ 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
  • Free golf lessons @ Langston Golf Course with National Links Trust (2600 Benning Rd NE). Register at ward5.us/golf.

There are also promos that Ward 5 residents can take advantage of!

• $1 off any beverage at Spice Suite’s new tea/coffee shop! (2201 Channing St NE)
• BOGO on all range purchases @ Langston Golf Course. Must register at ward5.us/golfpromo

Join the Ward 5 Council Office constituent services team for office hours in the community.

Date: August 19, 2025, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm, Lamond-Riggs Library, 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE

Date: August 20, 2025, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm, Yu Ying PCS, 220 Taylor Street NE

Ward 5 Day is coming up on September 20, 2025. For the celebration, the Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is asking neighbors to contribute to an interactive exhibit called “Walk Thru Ward 5.”

From CM Parker’s newsletter:

New this year to our Ward 5 Day festivities will be an interactive exhibit we’re calling Walk Thru Ward 5. Community members will create presentations featuring the history and culture of Ward 5 neighborhoods, telling the stories that have shaped us. Each neighborhood is unique and has its own rich and deep history. This project will have participants work closely with their neighbors to learn and share their untold stories. Our main goal is to actively engage Ward 5 residents in different neighborhoods. Whether you’ve lived in Ward 5 for 20 years or 2, the goal is collaboration. Want to be a part of shaping the exhibits? Now is the time to sign up! Click here. 

Please take some time to complete Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker’s Ward 5 FY 2026 Budget Priorities Survey by February 24, 2025.

CM Parker’s office is also accepting letters from residents and organizations. Send those materials to Conor Shaw (cshaw@dccouncil.gov) by February 24, 2025. If you prefer to relay your concerns via phone, contact CM Parker’s office at 202-724-8028. 

Join Councilmember Parker on Tuesday evening, February 25, 2025, for a community budget forum. This is an opportunity to share your budget priorities with the office ahead of budget season. The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship Public Charter School’s Armstrong Campus (111 O St NW). RSVP through the Ward 5 Budget Forum Link.

This is the time to ask for what you want.

Join Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker on Tuesday evening, February 25, 2025, for a community budget forum. This is an opportunity to share your budget priorities with the office ahead of budget season. The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship Public Charter School’s Armstrong Campus (111 O St NW).

RSVP through the Ward 5 Budget Forum Link.

This is the time to ask for what you want.

The office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is hiring two constituent services coordinators. View the vacancy announcement.

Also, in his latest newsletter, Councilmember Parker announced a few new hires and personnel changes. Sign up to receive the newsletter at ward5.us/newsletter.

Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker has posted two job openings in his office.

Legislative Director

Committee Director

Due to a scheduling conflict, the Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker has to cancel the Ward 5 holiday party originally scheduled for December 19

For now, the Ward 5 Awards Nomination Form will stay open. Stay tuned for further details about an event in the new year.

Update 12/6/2024: The Ward 5 Holiday Party has been cancelled due to schedule conflict.

Ward 5 Holiday Party
December 19, 2024
6:00 pm-8:30 pm
Dock 5 at Union Market
1309 5th Street NE

Councilmember Zachary Parker will host the Ward 5 Holiday Party on December 19 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Dock 5 at Union Market. Bring an unwrapped, unopened toy to contribute to the holiday toy drive.

This year’s Ward 5 Awards Ceremony will also take place at the Ward 5 Holiday Party. Nominate a deserving neighbor by December 13: Ward 5 Awards 2024 Nomination Form.

On November 20, 2024, the Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker will be giving away free turkeys to Ward 5 residents for the holiday season at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center.

You must reserve your free turkey at ward5.us/turkey2024. Bring identification with proof of Ward 5 residency when you pick up your turkey.

There will also be first-come, first-serve turkey giveaway pop-ups in Brentwood, Carver Langston, and North Michigan Park. More details on the pop-ups will be provided later.

Don’t need a turkey but want to help spread holiday cheer? Sign up as a volunteer to help with turkey distribution on November 20!