News

HARC’s Lighthouse After School Program is in need of Volunteers and Program Leads starting this fall. Do you have a talent you can share (reading, art, music, gardening, STEM, etc.), willingness to support students, and a desire to be the change in your community? If so, we would love your help! Requirements: Commitment to regular sessions (flexible scheduling and short-term commitments available) and a passion for working with children. Interested in making a difference? Contact Angela at (240) 347-0780 or yamashitaangela6@gmail.com. Flyer – please share! And an announcement in bulletins would be appreciated.

Save the Date! Annual Taste of the Town – September 29
Sunday, September 29, 5:00 – 8:00 pm
The Maryland Theatre
21 S. Potomac Street, Hagerstown

ON SALE NOW: Reach of Washington County presents the 19th Annual Taste of the Town on Sept 29! Taste of the Town is one of the largest and oldest tasting events in the area, showcasing the culinary talents of local chefs. Ticket proceeds go directly to Reach’s programs. To purchase tickets, visit mdtheatre.org/town or call the local Box Office at 301-790-2000.

Food insecurity and hunger have risen drastically in Washington County as a result of inflation, the high cost of housing, the loss of several pandemic funding programs, and other factors. We’re grateful for the many food programs that serve our community, helping families who are food insecure. Micah’s Backpack fills the gap when families don’t have access to these programs or it’s not enough – and the number of children who need Micah’s Backpack has grown tremendously, serving 1,246 children this past school year. Schools anticipate the number will continue to rise, and our current sponsoring churches & organizations are stretched thin. We need more sponsors! Could your church/house of worship/organization commit to partnering with a school to serve at least 5 children in the coming school year so that no child will go hungry? The Micah’s Backpack Steering Team will train you, HARC will support you with grant-funded food (about half to 2/3 of what you will need), and we have a community of support from 48 other sponsoring churches/orgs. For more information, please contact Kathy, 301-842-4272 or director@harccoalition.org. Thank you for considering this important program!!

On July 15 and 16 approximately 40 volunteers total hauled and packed more than 10,000 pounds of food into boxes for families for the Micah’s Backpack Rural Summer Food Outreach. The project was funded by the Community Foundation of Washington County, managed by WCPS Pupil Personnel Worker Michelle Talbert-Smith along with HARC and the Maryland Food Bank, Western Branch, and hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who provided the space and many of the volunteers.

One hundred and fifty families in rural areas of Washington County will be served by the food, which will be hand delivered by WCPS Pupil Personnel Workers starting this week. Families were chosen due to their food insecurity and difficulty accessing area food pantries and other WCPS summer food programs.  Each family will receive staples such as oil, cereal, pasta, spaghetti sauce rice, mac & cheese, canned tuna and chicken, soups, peanut butter and jelly, canned fruit, canned vegetables, and snacks.

Micah’s Backpack serves more than 1,200 children each weekend throughout the school year filling the gap when school is out.  The program does not operate over the summer and the Micah’s Backpack Steering Team was concerned about food insecurity over the summer for these families.  The WCPS Meal Machine operates in key locations in Hagerstown throughout the summer, but not in rural areas.  Another WCPS program is offering weekly food throughout the summer for families in rural areas, but families need transportation to those locations and have a limited window of time to pick up the food.  The Rural Summer Food Outreach will serve families who are not able to access these programs. We are grateful to the Community Foundation for their financial support which made this program possible!  And thanks so much to everyone who helped with this project! Prayers for the PPWs who are out in the heat delivering the food this week!

The Refugee Welcome Network (RWN) is excited to celebrate the success of several refugees lately that were helped by our team. Here is another note of thanks from a young woman in our community:

I am very grateful for your kind words and your support throughout my journey as a refugee in the U.S. You have been a great help and a source of inspiration for me and my family. Thank you for everything you have done for me. …I will always remember your generosity and compassion. I am proud of what I have achieved so far, and I am hopeful for the future. I will keep in touch with you and my ally, and I will update you on my progress. Thank you again for everything. You are amazing people and I am lucky to have you as friends.

Sincerely,
Z. A., Afghan refugee

Z.A. is working at Amazon, fully supporting herself, and learning how to drive. Congratulations to Z.A. on her achievements!

Are you interested in working with an individual or family to help them achieve independence?  If so, we would love your help!  You will be trained and paired with another ally in this important and rewarding work.  “I believe I get more out of this than they do,” said Ted Howe, RWN Ally.  “I have gained new friends.”

Other volunteer needs include: help with workforce development, fundraising, legal assistance (no experience needed), and procurement and moving of furniture and household furnishings.  Learn more about RWN and volunteering here.

Also needed:  a sofa and a washer & dryer.

Thursday, June 20 HARC’s Hike Planning Team held a check presentation for the God’s Grace Fund matching donation for the HARC Hike for Hunger and Hope. Thanks to a record year of fundraising and the generosity of the God’s Grace Fund, the matching gift was $36,000, bringing the total Hike proceeds to approximately $77,000.  Mike Johnston presented the check to the team and other HARC leaders at a celebration and debrief for the event.

“This is an incredible gift and will make a huge difference in the work we do,” said Kathy Powderly, Executive Director.  “We estimate the gift will provide 15,000 meals for children in our community through Micah’s Backpack, help 30 refugees with housing and other needs, and much more.

Thank you to Mike Johnston and the God’s Grace Fund for providing this generous match and the inspiration to fuel fundraising for the HARC Hike.  HARC is also grateful to the Hike Planning Team and Fundraising Team for their efforts to make this event the most successful ever and a great time for participants.

Pictured from left to right:
Rachel Nichols, HARC Board Member, Butch Eigenbrode of the Antietam Radio Association, HARC Hike founder Rev. Ed Poling, Mike Johnston, Bill Pike, Kathy Powderly, Beth Johnston, Deacon Sue Wert, Brenda Horsch, and Ed Maloy.  Hike Planning Team and Fundraising Team members not present: Kelly Conrad, Meg Ducey and Kathleen Wood.

The Refugee Welcome Network is honored to share these beautiful words from an Afghan refugee family:

With this text, I thank all of you for always helping us in difficult situations.

In this world full of sorrow,
Helping each other is the best human trait
lend a helping hand to the needy,
Shine your kindness and compassion in hearts.
With a warm smile and a helping hand,
Removing sadness from a sad face.
helping others
It also purifies the human soul.
in helping others,
The difference between the rich and the poor
race and nationality
Does not exist
Everyone according to their ability.
It can be helpful to others.
even a kind smile,
or an encouraging word,
It can heal the wounds of the soul.

We have felt your kindness and empathy with all our being and we have sown the seeds of love for this land in our hearts. We hope that these seeds of kindness will sprout with love so that one day we can repay it and become a source of service to this land. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Best regards

M & S, Afghan refugees

Learn more about the Refugee Welcome Network