Rehoboth United Methodist Church in Williamsport has just wrapped up a fun and successful week of Vacation Bible School and would like to donate their Knights of North Castle curriculum, Sparky the Dragon puppet, decorations, and other supplies to an area church who could use it. Some items are too big to mail and would need to be picked up from the church. Please contact Stephanie Mohl by email (Stephanie_mohl@yahoo.com) or text (202-288-8580) if you’re interested. First come, first served.
Commercial Space Available
St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran
141 S Potomac St. Hagerstown Maryland
301-790-2510
Commercial space available conveniently located near the heart of Hagerstown, perfectly positioned near the burgeoning New Art & Entertainment District and the multi-purpose Hagerstown Sports and Events Facility. The property offers generous square footage, featuring open floor plans, a commercial kitchen, a dining area, and endless potential for beautiful offices. The space will allow you to tailor the layout to suit your business needs and has room for potential for growth.
Its close proximity to major highways and transportation hubs, including I-81 and I-70 ensures seamless connectivity and accessibility for your clients and customers. The surrounding area offers a vibrant and dynamic community, with a diverse range of businesses, restaurants, and shops within walking distance. Contact the church today to schedule a tour and discover the endless possibilities that await you at this prime location.
Your Books Wanted! – August 1 to September 14
New and gently used books for all ages, with a preference for ages birth to 11, are wanted for this year’s Community Book Drive. Books are collected throughout the community from August 1 to September 14 then counted and sorted on the United Way’s Day of Caring. Children’s books will be distributed to vulnerable children through the Community Book Warehouse, and other books will be used by the United Way’s Books United program. The Community Book Drive is a partnership of HARC, the United Way, The Judy Center, and several other community partners. Learn more. Collection Sites flyer Collecting Books flyer
Taste of the Town Tickets on Sale beginning today!
REACH Presents
Taste of the Town
Sunday, October 1, 2023
at 5:00 PM
Tickets are Available Online
Friday, July 21, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Tickets can be purchased online at TicketMaster.com, by phone at 301-790-2000, or in person at our Box Office.
Pre-sales may be limited to availability. For groups of 8 or more, contact the Box Office Directly by Phone at 301-790-2000 to purchase.
Direct link to event tickets
Will you help collect books for the Community Book Drive?
Houses of worship, businesses, organizations and individuals will collect books from August 1 – September 14 for people of all ages, with a primary focus on children ages birth to 11. Over the years we’ve collected and distributed more than 113,000 books in our community for children’s literacy efforts. Please join in this community-wide effort to improve literacy. If interested, please contact Terri at gwizzy2000@gmail.com as soon as possible so we can add you to the promotions. Learn more
Interfaith Roundtable: Supporting the Community
with Sommer Gilliam and Guiding Foster Children with Kathleen Prest and Jennifer Lewis and Rabbi Mark
Religion and faith isn’t the only thing discussed on The Interfaith Roundtable. This discussion is focused on community work and how the ideals of helping and aiding those around us coincides with faith or is an off-shoot of it.
Sommer Gilliam combined her love of community with her love of creating. The owner of Kreeative Kreations in Hagerstown, Maryland, Sommer creates not only beautiful hairstyles, but also soulful and delicious treats. As a director of The Washington County Black Professionals Network, Sommer lives a life of uplifting those around her, while also chasing her own dreams. She tells her story and why she does what she does.
In the second half, Rabbi Mark is joined by Kathleen Prest, a social worker who works to train foster families with San Mar Treatment Foster Care, as well as Jennifer Lewis, a fellow congregate and clinical social worker as well as the Director of Treatment Foster Care for San Mar Family and Community Services. These two ladies discuss the importance of stability and love for foster children, as well as detail the work they do in helping in transitions and guiding them in life.
Listen to the podcast. Listen to The Interfaith Roundtable Saturday mornings on 98.9 FM/AM 1490 WARK or catch the podcasts here.
Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Equity in Education Scholarship winners!
Recipients of the 2023-2024 Equity in Education Scholarship were honored June 8 at the WCPS Center for Education Services. The scholarship was created via private donors and grant funds through the Hagerstown Area Religious Council, Education Foundation of WCPS, and the Community Foundation of Washington County. Congratulations to this year’s honorees (shown with awards from left): Tiffany Shepherd, Kamilah Scott, Xenia Diaz, Gabrielle Desir-Pierre, and Cayla Mayo. We also celebrate Lyvon Campbell (pictured second from far left) and Delphine Kahl (not present), recipients of the 2022 scholarship who will be teaching full time at Washington County Public Schools this fall!
We are especially grateful to the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation and The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland for their generous grant awards that made this opportunity possible. Thanks also to Soroptomist International of Hagerstown, Funkhouser Foundation, and many generous individuals who financially supported the 2023-2024 scholarships.
You can read about the scholarship here
Seeking Volunteers and Funding for Resource Fair
A small group of concerned citizens have formed a small group to provide a Resource Fair for the local community to serve those in need (homeless, indigent, low income). We are hopeful that this might become an annual event, and will grow to include more participating agencies. However, we are off to a great start with about a dozen groups participating so far.
The event will be held at Zion UCC on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 12 noon to 4 pm. Some of the groups present will include CASA, Community Action Council, Children In Need, Medication First, and Change Health System, to name just a few. There will be resource information available as well, such as lists of clothing and food banks.
We would like to supply small tote bags to each person who attends as well as bottled water. There is no public funding available, so we are looking for donations from groups and/or individuals who might be able to contribute even a small amount to help purchase these items. Would it be possible for HARC to spread the word of our need? In addition, if anyone would like to volunteer on the day of the event (welcome attendees, hand out bags and bottled water, direct people to the various tables), we would welcome the help.
Checks can be made out to Zion Church and mailed to the church at 201 N. Potomac St Hagerstown, MD 21740. Anyone wishing to volunteer can contact me directly at my s.graff@myactv.net or by phone at 301-667-8685.
Salvation Army Jobs
The Salvation Army has several job openings for our Boys and Girls Club Red Shield program. Below are the links through Indeed to apply. Please contact Joel at 301-733-2440 extension 50416 with any questions.
(seasonal) Community Center Program Aide – Career Portal (dayforcehcm.com)
Community Center Program Aide (Hagerstown, MD) – Career Portal (dayforcehcm.com)
Please spread the word so they can have their summer program this year!
Thank you!
HARC received $30,000 Reparations Grant from Episcopal Diocese
A huge thank you to the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland for investing $30,000 of their Reparation Grant fund in two of HARC’s racial Justice initiatives – the Washington County Black Professionals Network and the Equity in Education Scholarship. We are extremely grateful for the Episcopal Diocese’ support of these efforts to foster diverse teachers and economic prosperity for African Americans in Washington County, MD. Photo: Father Todd Young and Tania Anderson represent HARC’s board and Racial Justice Team to accept the award.