HARC Executive Director

Saturday, May 31 around 115 people turned out for the Ed Poling Memorial HARC Hike for Hunger and Hope, undeterred by reports of muddy ground or possible rain.  Spirits were high as participants enjoyed a 4K, 10K or half marathon hike on the beautiful C&O Canal Towpath and the trails of Shepherd’s Spring Camp and Retreat Center followed by a delicious meal prepared by the 19th Hole/Harambee54, music, fellowship, prizes, and an on-screen tribute to Hike founder Ed Poling. We were especially honored by the presence of Ed’s sister, Beckie.

Between this event and the May 17 Challenge Hike, the event raised more than $80,000 for Micah’s Backpack, the Refugee Welcome Network and other programs of HARC!  This was in great part thanks to many participants seeking donations for their hike paired with a 2-1 fundraising match from the God’s Grace Fund.  The top fundraising individuals for this event were Christine Fink and Becky Fritts (Challenge Hike) and Mary & John Means (Canal Hike). Top fundraising teams were Hebron Mennonite for Ed Poling (Canal Hike) and Otterbein UMC (Challenge Hike).

We are incredibly grateful for everyone who made this event possible and successful, with special thanks to our amazing HARC Hike Team:  Kelly Conrad, Beth Johnston, Ed Maloy, Deacon Sue Wert, Bill Pike, Butch Eigenbrode, Ted & Elizabeth Howe, and Kathy Powderly.  We also could not do this without incredible sponsors, including God’s Grace Fund (lunch sponsor), Columbia Gas/NiSource, First Christian Church, and the Poole Law Group (see all sponsors listed here) or without our generous church and nonprofit vans & drivers – Girls Inc., Christ’s Reformed Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Valley Grace Brethren Church.

Check out select pictures from the May 31 hike below, with many more posted on our Facebook page!

The Refugee Welcome Network is currently working with 12 families including a new family with 3 children who arrived just over a week ago from Afghanistan (really!!).  We are blessed to have many generous volunteers and donors, but we need more help!  Interacting with Network members is fun, and we enjoy meeting new refugee friends.  Please consider joining us!

Allies to work with families are especially needed – walking side-by-side with a new friend isn’t always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding, and we’ll train and walk beside you.  There is also a special Ally “light” role to fill when more established families only need light support.  We also need volunteers to transport furniture, and if you have a truck or trailer, that would be a huge help.

If you are interested in joining the RWN Team, please contact refugeewelcome@harccoalition.org or 301-842-4272.  A financial gift is a HUGE help as well, and you can donate here (select Refugee Welcome Network).

Elizabeth Howe has joined HARC as Executive Assistant, starting in this role in January. Born in Kentucky, Elizabeth  grew up in Los Angeles and moved north of San Francisco to Napa Valley in her early teens. She met her husband, Ted, in college in northern California. He’s originally from Maryland, so the couple eventually moved back to Maryland after they got married.

Elizabeth home-schooled their three children for 13 years, then graduated in 2005 with a Master of Library Science degree, with a specialization in Archives from the University of Maryland. She became a Certified Archivist.

After earning her masters, Elizabeth worked at the Washington County Free Library for 17 years as an adult reference librarian, and as an archivist/reference librarian in the Western Maryland Room. Three years ago, she began working at Washington County Community Action Council to help implement a poverty alleviation program called Circles Washington County, Md., a chapter of Circles USA.

In early 2025, Elizabeth was hired as Executive Assistant to HARC’s Executive Director, Kathy Powderly. “I enjoy the flexibility of my work schedule,” Elizabeth says, “and I’ve met many interesting and successful leaders from the local faith community. I love working for an organization whose mission and values I wholeheartedly support.”

Husband Ted is a geriatrician and wound care specialist, and was the Medical Director of Williamsport Retirement Village for 35 years. He currently works part-time as a staff and wound care physician at the Maryland Correctional Institution – Hagerstown (MCI-H). Ted and Elizabeth’s three kids – son, Evan; daughter, Ansley; and son, Alban – are grown and have careers of their own.

“Hiking and mountain climbing are my favorite outdoor activities,” Elizabeth says. “I’ve summited 47 of 50 state highpoints, as well as the highest point in South Korea, and a couple of highest points in the Canadian Maritimes. Ted and I have completed the HARC Challenge Hike each of the past five years and hope to succeed again this year on May 17. What’s not to love about an organization whose largest fundraiser each year is hiking?”

Welcome, Elizabeth, we’re glad to have you!

Friday, April 18 – Good Friday – was a beautiful day, with warm temperatures and a sense of oneness as approximately 140 people gathered in City Park to commemorate the passion and death of Jesus with the Good Friday Unity Walk.

The walk began at the gazebo by the lake and took a path through the park stopping at a total of 7 stations.  At each station, leaders and members of local churches read scripture and enacted a dialogue, featuring two “reporters” sharing the news of what was happening to Jesus. All participants then joined in unison for a response and a verse of a song. Between the stops, someone from the crowd came forward to carry a large cross to the next stop.  At the sixth stop, the Impact Ministries Choir sang “Ride On King Jesus” and at the seventh and final stop the program ended with a moving solo of “The Lord’s Prayer” by Julien Patrick Tete Wabo.

This annual event, planned and sponsored by HARC members and friends, is an annual tradition started by the late Rev. Ed Poling (we believe it began in 2011). The first verse of Ed’s song “We Follow Jesus,” which was written for this event, was sung at each stop this year. We are incredibly grateful to Rev. Anna Ressler, who wrote the program, and to the planning team for all their hard work making this a meaningful event.  Thanks also go to the readers and musicians for sharing their talents and good spirits.

This event was live streamed to the HARC Facebook page (thanks to Rev. Kyle Powderly), where you can still view the video along with additional photos. The video can also be viewed on our YouTube page.  Some great photos of the event were also published in the Herald-Mail.

We are grateful for all those who make this event possible:

Author of the Meditations
Anna Ressler (Hebron Mennonite Church)

Participating Readers
Station 1: First Christian Church
Station 2: Ministero Latino Kadosh
Station 3: Presbyterian Church of Hagerstown
Station 4: Asbury United Methodist Church
Station 5: Robinwood Church
Station 6: Otterbein United Methodist Church
Station 7: Zion United Church of Christ

Actors
Main Reporter: Rev. Anna Ressler
Reporter 2: Zofia Lane
Disciple: Paul Norville
Voice of Women: Shalom Black Lane
Servant 1: Cindy Brown
Servant 2: Zofia Lane
Soldier: Richard Willson

Musicians
Phyllis Dodd & Rusty Curling (We Follow Jesus, written by Rev. Ed Poling)
Impact Ministries Choir (Ride on King Jesus – Stop 6)
Julien Patrick Tete Wabo (The Lord’s Prayer – Stop 7)
Troy Grandy & Rev. Les McIntosh (Call and response songs between stops)

Unity Walk Planning Team Members
Rev. Anna Ressler, Rev. Mary Norville, Rev. Gabe Dodd, Troy Gandy, Howard Wittington, Ashlee Harris, Kathy Powderly

Hello everyone,

These are difficult times. Many are feeling the effects on multiple levels of what is taking place right now in Washington D.C. Certainly, we as religious leaders and others who are committed to the well being of our community, are concerned about what lies ahead that will inevitably hurt people, many of whom are vulnerable legally, economically, professionally, and yes, emotionally.

But HARC is a strong organization with caring members that is directed, staffed, and supported by people who will be doing whatever we can to protect those whom we serve and to make sure that religious, ethical, and compassionate values prevail over greed, selfishness, and mean spiritedness.

In the words of the prophet Micah: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”.

If there are ways you think that HARC can be more supportive of those who are struggling right now in our community in the midst of what is happening, feel free to reach out to me and I will direct your request accordingly.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Mark Perman
HARC President

UPDATE 3/7/25 – email from the office of Delegate Todd B. Morgan:

The bill was supposed to be voted on Wednesday by committee but was not. It has been put on hold until next week.

The bill is a Department of Housing and Community Development bill. I recommend emailing and calling Secretary Jake Day’s office to let him know your concerns for the bill. The department can scale this back or make changes, but as of now they have been resistant. Delegate Todd Morgan has been trying to get it amended or stopped, but so far has not been successful.

Secretary Day –  jake.day@maryland.gov
301-429-7452

Please share the email and phone number to others who are opposed to the bill.

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The Homeless Coalition of Washington County and Reach have asked for the community’s help in stopping a Maryland state bill (cross-filed in House and Senate, so actually 2 bills).  The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has cross filed legislation to create a Homeless Shelter Licensing Program, using Maryland Law dictating shelter rules and policies. Our community needs your help to advocate to the Delegates and Senate to stop this legislation that would literally close 50-80 shelter beds in Washington County, and over 1,000+ shelter beds across the state! 

Here’s an updated request from Jeannie Asbury, Reach & Homeless Coalition, March 3, 2025:

• Chair Senator Brian Feldman brian.feldman@senate.state.md.us

• Vice-Chair Senator Cheryl Kagan Cheryl.Kagan@senate.state.md.us
• Senator Malcom Augustine: malcolm.augustine@senate.state.md.us
• Senator Dalya Attar: dalya.attar@senate.state.md.us
• Senator Benjamin Brooks: benjamin.brooks@senate.state.md.us
• Senator Mary Beth Carozza: marybeth.carozza@senate.state.md.us
• Senator Jason Gallion: jason.gallion@senate.state.md.us
• Senator Katie Fry Hester: katiefry.hester@senate.state.md.us
• Senator Bryan Simonaire: bryan.simonaire@senate.state.md.us
• Senator Mary Washington: mary.washington@senate.state.md.us
• Senator Ron Watson: ron.watson@senate.state.md.us

• Chair Delegate Marc Korman Marc.Korman@house.state.md.us
• Vice Chair Delegate Regina T. Boyce regina.boyce@house.state.md.us

• Delegate Jackie Addison: jackie.addison@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Nick Allen: nick.allen@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Terry Baker: terry.baker@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Dylan Behler: dylan.behler@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Barrie Ciliberti: barrie.ciliberti@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Debra Davis: debra.davis@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Linda Foley: linda.foley@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Michele Guyton: michele.guyton@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Anne Healey: anne.healey@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Marvin E. Holmes, Jr.: marvin.holmes@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Jay Jacobs jay.jacobs@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Mary Lehman: mary.lehman@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Jeffrie E. Long, Jr.: jeffrie.long@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Todd B. Morgan: todd.morgan@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Charles J. Otto: charles.otto@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Sheila S. Ruth:  sheila.ruth@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Vaughn M. Stewart III: vaughn.stewart@house.state.md.us
• Delegate Jennifer R. Terrasa: jen.terrasa@house.state.md.us

• If this is about safely, why are they attempting to eliminate shelter practices in place to protect these vulnerable individuals? Why are they attempting to force family shelters to allow individuals with active criminal charges (except those with sex offense, what about domestic violence, B&E drug dealing, etc.), actively using drugs or alcohol, or forcing men and women to share bathroom facilities? These bills would not allow them to operate with these crucial safety precautions in place that truly protect the vulnerable they serve.
• The Salvation Army requires identification due to the fact they serve women and children. This is to protect the children in case they are not with their legal guardians.
• St. Johns does a background to ensure that they are not placing anyone with an active or recent criminal charge. This is for the protection of the children, and other shelter residents as their shelter units are individual apartment units, without paid staff.
• The Salvation Army is for women and children only. This is due to the shared bathroom and shared room facilities of their shelter. It would not be appropriate or safe to have men in that facility. This bill states they cannot determine family status or composition.
• None of our shelters allow shelter residents to use drugs in the shelter. Would this bill force all of us to allow that behavior?
• The Rescue Mission/Hope Center believes they bring hope to people with a 7-minute service prior to meals and shelter. They feel any other services are secondary. They do not force joining their faith but provide 7-minute sermon. If this bill passes and they cannot do that part, they will not continue the shelter and instead focus on their faith-based services. All Rescue Missions across the state feel the same way.
• If this bill passes, The Salvation Army, St. Johns Family Shelter and the Mission will close. Those are the 50-80 shelter beds in Washington County alone, over a 1,000 across the state.
• The threat of a $10,000 fine will be concerning enough to deter the volunteer led, and faith-based shelters across the state. Again, if this is about safety, why not work directly with the municipalities of those concerning shelters?
• Accessibility- What about shelters that are not accessible due to age or layout of the buildings?
• Terminations- Phase 1 would force Reach and all shelters to continue to serve individuals who violate safety rules, which includes violence, threating behavior, using drugs in the shelter, etc. after 30 days? If this was the policy, we would lose MOST of our staff and volunteers. We cannot operate without either.

HARC grieves the loss of long-time member, volunteer and advocate Rev. Ed Poling, who passed away last week following a long journey with cancer. He is a loss to HARC and the community, but his spirit and impact will be felt indefinitely.

Ed was part of the team that started the Interfaith Coalition (now HARC Interfaith Team) in 2002, building relationships and understanding among faith groups.  Through this, he helped start the Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service which is held each year; this year Ed was the featured speaker.  Ed also started the Good Friday Cross Walk (now Unity Walk), bringing Christians of all denominations together for this holy day; he led the planning for this event for many years and continued to participate through 2024.

While he was a gentle and kind soul, Ed also had great energy and drive. With his love of running and hiking and devotion to HARC’s purpose and vision, Ed started the HARC Hike in 2012 when he hiked the 42 miles of

the Appalachian Trail in Maryland all in one day to raise funds for HARC. It was his leadership and logistical skills that helped us make this into a real fundraiser for HARC, Micah’s Backpack, and now the Refugee Welcome Network, growing each year and raising more than $240,000 over the last twelve years. Ed personally raised more than $45,000 with this hike, most of which was while leading the 20-mile Challenge Hike on the AT, while still coordinating the main hike on the C&O Canal Towpath.

Because of his great contributions to HARC and because HARC wouldn’t have the HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope without his gifts and dedication, we have decided to rename the event the Ed Poling Memorial Hike for Hunger & Hope in his honor.

Ed was an incredible blessing to HARC to the community, and to many of us personally. We will all miss him greatly, but we know that he is whole and at peace, living his next life with the Lord our God to the fullest.

A memorial service for Ed Poling will be held on February 1, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren. It will be preceded by a visitation at the church at 10:00. Following the service there will be a meal and a time for sharing memories.  Here is a link to his obituary.

Here is a Remembering Ed Poling tribute in pictures from HARC’s Annual Meeting January 14.  You can also view the recording of the 11/19/24 Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service to see Ed speak about gratitude amid his battle with cancer. We’re so grateful he was able to be part of this service.

“Khan works at FedEx, often 10 hour days, and does so joyfully, happy to be there” shared Jane Powell, Refugee Welcome Network (RWN) volunteer and “ally” for Khan and his family.  In October, his hard work was recognized by FedEx when he received a Certificate of Excellence. This was a great joy for both Khan and Jane!”

I’m soooo proud of him I don’t know what to do,” Jane exclaimed.  “Oddly, he says the same of me!!!”  Jane has also learned and grown in her work with Khan and other refugees, and has become a friend to him and others.

Not only does Khan work hard at FedEx, but he also works hard to commute home each day after his long shifts. At 10:00 pm, he takes the Hopewell Express to Hagerstown, then Lyft home, since he lives on the north east end of town.  He found this way himself to cut down on the cost of Lyft since the Hopewell Express is free.  The Lyft rides are also currently free, thanks to the Rides United program of the United Way of Washington County, MD; the codes have saved Khan and his family hundreds of dollars in transportation costs. RWN Transportation Team volunteers have been taking Khan to work in the mornings, and they have also been driving his adult son and daughter to work at Amazon. The ride support has not only saved the family money, but ensured they could get to work on time without long and complex commutes.

Khan and Farida and their four children arrived in the U.S. on January 31, 2024 and came to Hagerstown shortly after, where the RWN began working with them. They were fortunate to have won the “lottery” to escape from Afghanistan with permanent residency granted to them in the U.S.  Yet getting here cost them the life they had – including a store that they owned and savings – and they had to start all over in a new country with work permits, but no English language skills. Since then, Khan has taught himself a solid level of English – “so much so that we can hold a conversation without Google!!!” says Jane.

With support and friendship from our RWN members, a church who paid their rent for one month (thank you First Christian Church!), and with their strength and determination to thrive in their new home, Khan and Family are now working hard and contributing to the Washington County Community, both economically and personally, with their kind spirits and beautiful culture. HARC and RWN are proud of them and grateful to call them friends, along with many other refugee families and individuals we’ve worked with this year.

A final note – Khan loves watching WWE wrestling; if you do, too, let us know if you want to make a new friend!

The Refugee Welcome Network is blessed to have many generous volunteers and donors, but we always need more help.  Allies to work with families like Khan’s are especially needed – walking side-by-side with a new friend isn’t always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding and we’ll train and walk with you as you do so. We also need volunteers to haul furniture; if you have a truck, that’s hugely helpful.  As tax season approaches, volunteers willing to help families with taxes are also needed. There are many other volunteer roles that also help. Current household goods needs include: iron and ironing board, blender, vacuum cleaner, and 2 TV’s. If you can help with any of these, please contact refugeewelcome@harccoalition.org or 301-842-4272.  If you can’t help with those, a financial gift is a HUGE help as well – you can donate here.
 

It is with much gratitude and joy that HARC announces a new $50,000 grant for Micah’s Backpack from the Marion I. and Henry J. Knott Foundation.  “The Knott Foundation (TKF) is a Catholic family foundation committed to honoring our founders’ legacy of generosity to strengthen our community.”  Based in Baltimore, the foundation focused on strengthening communities in central and western Maryland, while honoring the Knott legacy of giving. Learn more on their website.

This is the first time HARC has received a grant from the Knott Foundation.  It comes at a time of great need as the number of children in our community in need of Micah’s Backpack has soared.  We are currently serving 1,236 children in 37 schools all over Washington County, and anticipate the number to exceed 1,300 by the end of the school year. The Micah’s Backpack Steering Team is overjoyed to have much-needed funds to support our many sponsoring churches and organizations in their work to provide weekly bags of food to children in our community.

Funds will be used to purchase food for the Micah’s Backpack program through our partner, the Maryland Food Bank, reducing the cost of food for sponsoring churches and organizations.

Children in our community are the true recipients of this important grant funding.  What students say they like about Micah’s Backpack (from spring 2024 surveys):

• Helps thru the weekend.
• It’s free
• What I like about is how it’s not judgmental to people who need food
• The way we get food when mom doesn’t have the money for food every week
• They add food to my house when times get hard. me and my brothers can always look in the bags when we don’t have food at home
• That they give you food on weekends so you don’t go hungry on weekends
• It comes with cereal and it is easy to make for my brother

Thank you to the Knott Foundation for this incredible gift!

Hebron Mennonite Church in Hagerstown will be offering a program of group spiritual direction starting in October. Through monthly small groups (4-6 persons), participants will gather to pray and share with one another where they sense the presence of God in their lives. The small group serves as a spiritual director/companion in listening and helping each person discern their spiritual path. These groups become sacred listening circles as they pray for one another.

Leadership for these sessions will be provided by Ed Poling, retired Church of the Brethren pastor and trained spiritual director, and Rebecca Rothenhoeffer, United Methodist layperson, personal coach and trained group spiritual direction facilitator. Sessions will be held at Hebron Mennonite Church on the first Tuesday of each month starting on October 1 and concluding in May. An additional session will be held on the fourth Tuesday of October. The regular meeting time is 3 hours from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  The first and last sessions will be six-hour retreats from 3:00-9:00 pm for orientation and evaluation. Each participant will be asked to read Howard Thurman’s book Deep is the Hunger: Meditations for Apostles of Sensitiveness.

There is no cost for the eight-month program. However, a love offering will be taken to help underwrite the cost of the use of the building. The church is located at 13315 Highlane Street, Hagerstown. For more information and a brochure, contact Ed Poling at 301-766-9005 or elpoling1@gmail.com.