HARC Executive Director

The Refugee Welcome Network (RWN) is currently working with six Afghan refugee families, most of which are seeking asylum due to fear for their lives in their home country.  Most were professionals in Afghanistan – medical professionals, seamstresses, a journalist – and one was involved in security with the national army.  They all faced many hardships coming to the United States, and had almost nothing left when they arrived.  Most are now in legal limbo, unable to support themselves or their children until they reach a certain point in their asylum case.

God has brought many people in the faith community and various organizations together to form a network to help.  Thank you to so many of you who have already donated goods and services, giving of your time, treasure and expertise!  The families still have many needs, but some current highlights are:

• Volunteers to provide transportation – contact Susan Strobl, 301-730-9654
• 4 car seats – contact Pam Bradford, pfbradford@myactv.net
• Financial assistance for housing, electric, water – donate through HARC and designate for refugees, or ask about needs for specific families
• Grocery gift cards
• Jobs – nothing is too small!

For more information, contact HARC at director@harccoalition.org or 301-842-4272.

What is the Season for Non-violence?  How do we practice non-violence and peacemaking?  How do we get these practices into the wider community?  At HARC’s December 13 meeting, Rev. Sandy Boyer, Coordinator of HARC’s Interfaith Team addressed these questions and more, sharing practical resources and diving into a little discussion and practice around this very relevant topic.

The program was recorded; you can watch it on our YouTube channel.

The official Season for Nonviolence begins by marking the anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30 and ends on the April 4 anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Between are 64 days of practice of the principles of Gandhi, King, and others to bring about peace and nonviolence in our world today.  HARC encourages congregations and organizations to actively participate in this designated season.  Find resources on our website HERE.

The February 8 HARC meeting was a celebration of our Interfaith Coalition’s 20th anniversary.  In this special celebration, we learned about the history of the Interfaith Coalition through the perspectives of Rev. Ed Poling, member and leader for many years; Paula Myers, Baha’i, who also has participated for 20 years; and Dr. Shahab Siddiqui, Muslim, another 20-year original member and leader; as well as hearing input from founders Rev. Don Stevenson and Ron Bowers. Participants engaged in small group discussions about the role of interfaith work today and how to move the Interfaith Coalition into the future for continued impact on our community.  Groups reported out highlights to help us move our work forward.

HARC and the Interfaith Coalition are ONE, and as such we are weaving our work back into one effort.  As we re-envision our interfaith work for the future we invite you to be a part of the planning of what we will become and the programs we offer.  If you’re interested in contributing to this work in some way, please sign up here.

Read Ed’s words and see photos here.

Watch a recording of the celebration meeting:

Faith Community Opportunities with Bester Community of Hope
Help Children and Families to Grow and Thrive!

 Bester Community of Hope is seeking volunteers and congregational sponsors for the following:

• Volunteers for the “Walking School Bus” (currently in progress) – once/week on Wednesday from 8-9 am, from 3 locations to Bester Elementary. Volunteers can help every Wednesday or do a rotation.
• Houses of worship/groups to sponsor “Better Together Activity Boxes,” placing activities for families in the boxes (which are like Blessing Boxes, but with activities). Sponsors are needed for the 4^th and 5^th
• Houses of worship/groups to do acts of service that improve the well-being of the Bester/south Hagerstown community. Can include things like fixing Little Free Libraries, setting up a basketball court, neighborhood clean-up projects, planting trees, etc. Any community could benefit from these acts of service!

As an initiative of San Mar Family and Community Services, Bester Community of Hope embodies the mission of “Cultivating Hope and Well-Being in Children, Families and Communities” within the South End of Hagerstown, MD.

To help with any of the above initiatives or to learn more, contact Joan Balbuena Hernández at jbalbuena@besterhope.org or 240-513-6370.

Saturday, September 11 was a glorious day for the HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope, with great weather, perfect conditions on the C&O Canal Towpath, and a good crowd nicely spaced among 6 different start times.  100 people came out to enjoy the day and a handful more did the Virtual Hike, raising funds and walking on their own time and location.  Thanks to participants, sponsors, and individuals who raised funds for the cause, more than $21,000 in proceeds are projected so far to support the ministry and programs of HARC, with a significant portion going to Micah’s Backpack.  This includes funds raised to date for the HARC Challenge Hike, a 20-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail that will take place Saturday, September 25.  13 participants are registered for this hike and many are still fundraising.

Thanks to everyone for coming out and helping to make this a fun event and successful fundraiser for HARC and Micah’s Backpack! Thanks especially to our amazing Hike Team (Rev. Ed Poling, Beth Johnston, Deacon Sue Wert, Ed Maloy, Butch Eigenbrode, Bill Pike, and Erin Brennan) and other volunteers who made it happen, and our generous sponsors (see below).  We are also grateful to churches who provided transportation for our hikers:  Christ’s Reformed Church, Celebration Ministries, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene, and Valley Grace Brethren.

Pictures from this year’s hike can be viewed on the HARC Hike Facebook page or in our Dropbox file.  Thanks to Chris Horsch for most of the pictures!

Thank you to this year’s HARC Hike sponsors:

MS Johnston & God’s Grace Fund sponsored  lunch, catered by Kreeative Kreations, a local, black and woman-owned business.

Antietam Radio Association
Brethren Mutual Insurance Company
Coldwell Banker Innovations
Hebron Mennonite Church
Hub Labels
Rotary Club of Hagerstown
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church
Trinity Lutheran Church

Allegany Dental Care
Bitner-Henry Insurance Agency
Weis Market

Link to the recording on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/o55zGotp6o8

In September Washington County “goes purple” to raise awareness of the opioid/addictions epidemic and foster action to support those in crisis and prevent others from this terrible disease. At our September 14 HARC meeting, we heard from:

Clarence Horst, Celebration Ministries and Celebrate Recovery

Laura Sheffield-Bishop, Social Work Supervisor, Washington County Health Department & Kelly Marquart, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Washington County Health Department

This program focused on how the faith community can support people who are in recovery or struggling with addiction. We also learned current Washington County data and some helpful tips for how to handle the challenges of those in or around our houses of worship who are struggling with addiction and homelessness.