JRCLS Partners with Interfaith Works During 2026 Annual Conference

The recent J. Reuben Clark Law Society Annual Conference, held in Washington, D.C. (February 26–27, 2026), provided an opportunity for attendees to give back to the host city. Conference Chair, Zachary D. Smith, and his committee from the D.C./Mid-Atlantic Chapter partnered with a local charity, Interfaith Works, encouraging conference attendees in advance to donate new and gently used winter clothing. Small items—such as socks, hats, and gloves—could easily fit in luggage, signifying to attendees flying to the conference that small acts of service were achievable and needed. 

“Interfaith Works (IW) provides emergency shelter, supportive housing, essential needs, and employment programs to over 35,000 residents in Montgomery County, Maryland, every year,” says Board Chair Dr. Debra Monk. IW’s goal is to provide a pathway to stability. Monk explains that stability can mean many things: “a safe place to sleep, emergency funds to pay off a utility bill, or acquiring a new job.” 

During the conference, a drop-box near the registration table was overflowing with donations given by conference attendees. Additional opportunities were provided during the conference for attendees to donate funds rather than items using the organization’s online donation portal, or ship new items from IW’s wish list directly to the organization. 

This service  component of the Annual Conference aligns with the second tenet of the JRCLS vision statement: “We serve the vulnerable in our communities through pro bono legal service and humanitarian service.”

On behalf of Interfaith Works, Monk expressed gratitude to JRCLS members who generously donated clothing and financial support. These donations, along with the donations of others, made it possible within the last year for IW to provide 5,000 backpacks filled with supplies to school children and to house almost 1,000 people in emergency shelters. This assistance “meets people where they are,” yet also focuses on long-term outcomes. In 2025, IW’s vocational program aided over 200 clients with job placement, generating $1.87 million in wages, which positively impacts not just the earners but also their communities. 

With a 30-year tenure as teacher and administrator in Montgomery County and Frederick County public schools, Dr. Monk understands the far-reaching effects of small acts. Her human-based approach eventually resulted in a 70 percent increase in African-American and Hispanic students in Montgomery County Public Schools passing their High School Assessments. 

Dr. Monk believes that one bed, one meal, or one encouraging word makes a difference. She says, “I have learned that even the smallest bridge at the right time can mean everything.” 

This project captures the spirit of the Law Society’s work, echoing the sentiment shared by International Chair Angel Zimmerman in her message to conference attendees in the printed conference program: “‘We may not know what contribution our small thread makes to the great tapestry.’” (See Chieko N. Okazaki, “Cats Cradle of Kindness,” The Ensign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, May 1993, p. 84). 

We thank all of the conference attendees who donated to Interfaith Works, putting the Law Society’s mission statement into action for the benefit of those in need.