John Wesley UMC connected with other United Methodist Churches to operate a cooling center every Saturday through the end of August! The John Wesley Cooling Center includes restrooms, cold drinks. phone charging stations, TV, games, tables and chairs. Please refer anyone needing to escape the heat to the drop-in centers on the street guide, the soup kitchens, and the Hope Center (Mission). In addition to these resources, the downtown library is open to everyone every day except for the Federal holidays. For your quick reference, attached you will find a flyer to share for the new cooling station, an updated list of all cooling/water stations, and the Homeless Street Guide that includes the drop-in centers and shelters
“This Is Not Politics, This Is Conscience” — A Conversation with Rabbi Ammos Chorny
In this powerful episode of Searching for Common Ground, Rabbi Mark Perman and his wife Elizabeth are joined by Rabbi Ammos Chorny for a deeply thought-provoking discussion about conscience, moral clarity, and the urgent responsibility to speak out in the face of injustice. Drawing from his published statement with the Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbi Chorny reflects on the troubling parallels between historical persecution and today’s treatment of immigrants and minorities in the U.S. .
School Supply Collection Drives
Two locations, two different collection drives – help one or both collect school supplies for distribution in August.
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints – collecting through August 10 – Contact Ashley 701-860-1301
Or at Otterbein UMC – collecting through August 17. Click on the image below for details. 
United Way Day of Caring Sign Up
United Way of Washington County is once again preparing for their largest annual, single-day community service effort on September 18, 2025 – the Day of Caring. Do you have a project that needs to be done? United Way aims to improve the safety, mobility, access, organization, cleanliness, maintenance, and beautification of both residential AND non-profit properties (including houses of worship) through the Day of Caring event. Please consider both volunteering AND submitting a project for YOUR house of worship/organization!
The deadline for access to the project request form on our website is Friday, August 1, 2025. You may access it NOW by going to: https://www.unitedwaywashcounty.org/form/day-of-caring-nonprofit-project-
Interested in giving back to the community or another non-profit organization? Please consider volunteering! It’s a great team building activity! If your house of worship/organization is interested in volunteering as a team, please designate one individual as your team leader and have them submit an application here: https://www.unitedwaywashcounty.org/form/webform-540
If you are short on time and need assistance in submitting your project, please do not hesitate to reach out to Kelli Tencer for assistance, Kelli@uwwcmd.org or 301.739.8200 x 104
Looking for Project to Serve Local Children
In connection with project, “God’s Work, Our Hands” Haven Lutheran Church is in search of a needed project that will serve local children. Looking for some type of collection of supplies, supply bags for donation purposes. Project to be completed on Sept 7, 2025. Questions, please contact at poconn50@hotmail.com.
Recording of ENOUGH presentation at June 10 HARC Meeting
At our June 10 meeting, HARC highlighted the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households (ENOUGH) initiative. This unique Maryland state grant-funded initiative is a collaborative effort to alleviate poverty for children and families in the south end of Hagerstown, led by San Mar/Bester Community of Hope. This initiative aims to strategically address generational poverty and promote a legacy of economic mobility through critical support and resources in the following areas:
- Housing & Spaces
- Mental Health & Substance Abuse
- Poverty & Concrete Resources
- Childcare & Workforce Development
HARC is grateful to be a partner in this initiative alongside the Asian American Center of Frederick (AACF). Speakers included:
- Jen Younker, Director, Bester Community of Hope
- Elizabeth Chung, Executive Director, Asian American Center of Frederick (AACF)
- Kathy Powderly, Executive Director, HARC (not recorded)
- Jane Powell, Bilingual Community Worker, AACF/HARC
- Julien Patrick Tete Wabo, Bilingual Community Worker, AACF/HARC
Watch the recording of this program.
