The St. Michaels Community Center recently received grant funding in support of feeding people in need through the nonprofit’s food distribution program. The St. Michaels Community Center offers freshly cooked, nutritious meals and pantry bags each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, providing for up to 250 people for each meal. A $2,945 matching grant has been awarded by the Maryland Department of Human Services Statewide Nutrition Assistance Equipment Program (SNAEP) for the purchase of pantry and kitchen equipment for the St. Michaels Community Center. A $10,700 American Rescue Plan Act grant has also been awarded by Talbot County for the purchase of food and equipment supporting the St. Michaels Community Center’s food distribution program. The program provides meals and pantry items for people in need from throughout Talbot County’s Bay Hundred area, which spans from the Royal Oak bridge to Tilghman Island. Other recent grants and gifts in support of SMCC’s general operations and food distribution program have come from The Qlarant Foundation, the Maryland Food Bank, and the local Hell’s Crossing neighborhood group, among others. “This support comes at a critical time in our history as we move forward with plans to renovate our Community Center," says St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “These funds will help SMCC strengthen its food distribution program with the purchase of new kitchen and pantry equipment and will provide nutrition education to our neighbors. These funds will help SMCC provide assistance to our neighbors who need our support the most.” The Community Center announced its first-ever capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building earlier this year and is currently seeking donations to finish out the campaign. Groundbreaking plans are anticipated to be announced later this year. The renovated facility will include a modern, well-equipped commercial kitchen, where SMCC plans to train people for jobs in restaurants and hotels, and from which the Center can continue to serve and deliver prepared meals and tens of thousands of bags of groceries to those in need. Included in the plans are a Technology Center where students can do their homework and space for community gatherings, along with classrooms where Chesapeake College and others can provide high-level instruction right in the middle of town. Architectural renderings of the building and more about SMCC’s planned capital improvements, including updates and information about how to support the campaign are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round essential human services programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred’s communities. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org.
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(ST. MICHAELS, MD – Sept. 9, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center is hosting a Rock the Block Party on Sat., Sept. 17 from 3 to 6:00 p.m. The free event includes food and drinks, music, games, children’s activities, community resources, and more. The St. Michaels Community Center hosts block parties throughout the year to build a stronger relationship between neighbors and the community center. “We are grateful for the work we do in partnership with our donors and community supporters,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “These events bring people together to become more engaged in and connected to the community as a whole.” Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. More information is at stmichaelscc.org.
##### Photos/Cutlines: “SMCC_BlockParty1.jpg”, “SMCC_BlockParty2.jpg”, “SMCC_BlockParty3.jpg”, “SMCC_BlockParty4.jpg”, The St. Michaels Community Center hosting a Rock the Block Party on Sat., Sept. 17 from 3 to 6:00 p.m. The free event includes food and drinks, music, games, children’s activities, community resources, and more. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org. The St. Michaels Community Center is raffling off a Playseum basket that includes six (6) admission passes ($72 value) and $28 in Playseum Dollars for special crafts and other activities to use at the Playseum in Easton. The tickets can be used in any increments, with the basket also containing a small stuffed animal, candy, and an art item. The raffle winner's name will be drawn on Sept. 15, with the winner not needing to be present to win. Tickets can be purchased online for $5 each or 5 for $20 at www.stmichaelscc.org/raffle. All proceeds benefit the people served by the programs and activities of the St. Michaels Community Center. Be With Me: The Children’s Playseum in Easton opened in early 2022 and provides an experiential venue for parents, grandparents, and caretakers to enjoy quality time with their child or children. The location is a large, multi-roomed building on Ocean Gateway with plenty of parking for families and party guests. Entry to the toy store is free, with the rest of the Playseum’s 29-themed areas representing the city of Easton accessible with a $12 per person admission. Themed areas are limited to one family at a time, with sprawling spaces for plenty of room to meander while role-playing or engaging in places like the local grocery store, a taco hut, a doctor’s office, barbershop, farm room, and much more. Included in admission is a story time taking place every Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m., which is followed by a sensory engaging activity. The Playseum is open every day, with hours and more information at www.playseum.com/eastonplayseum. Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help provide essential human services, programs, and community activities and events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area. The nonprofit recently announced its first capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building, with architectural renderings and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. The St. Michaels Community Center is joining the St. Michaels Police Department and numerous community partners to host a National Night Out Big Block Party on Tues., Aug. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. The free event includes food and drinks, Nannie’s water ice, music, games, community resources, and a police display. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. The program provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances, with more at www.natw.org. “We are grateful for the work we do in partnership with the St. Michaels Police Department,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “Together we keep the pulse of the community so that we can help people find the resources they need and to strengthen our community as a whole.” “National Night Out hits at the core of our community policing approach,” said St. Michaels Police Chief Anthony Smith, who also serves on SMCC’s Advisory Board. “Partnering with the Community Center in this way helps bring people together, and the opportunity to meet the police officers who serve to protect our community.” Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. More information is at stmichaelscc.org.
(ST. MICHAELS, MD – July 19, 2022) The waterfront Foxy’s Harbor Grille in St. Michaels is going local for the beneficiary of this year’s “Halfway to Rincon” party, with proceeds benefiting the people served by the St. Michaels Community Center for the event being held on Mon., July 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. UPDATE: This is now an indoor event. Enjoy the beautiful harbor views in Foxy's cool A/C while we all beat the heat! The event features live music by Uncle Ward & Friends, Puerto Rican-themed food and libations, and specials on Presidente Cerveza, known as the Caribbean’s beer of choice. Guests are asked to bring a backpack or school supplies to benefit local children, with cash donations accepted and a 50/50 raffle as part of the fundraising fun. Foxy’s “Halfway to Rincon” party is an annual celebration started by a group of St. Michaels locals—including Foxy’s owner Terye Knopp—who spend their winters in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help provide essential human services, programs, and community activities and events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area.
The nonprofit recently announced its first capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building, with architectural renderings and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. National Fatherhood Initiative 24/7 Dad® program being used to connect fathers to their children *A new, winter 22/spring 23 session is now in the planning. Click here for more. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – July 7, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center is helping fathers get the skills they need to be involved in their children’s lives by sponsoring the National Fatherhood Initiative’s 24/7 Dad® program beginning this August. The free program is being facilitated by the Responsible Fathers Initiative, with limited participation and pre-registration needed. *A 13-session workshop begins at SMCC on August 16 and continues Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. through December 13, with a light meal provided for participants. The program will give dads the parenting, relationship, and communication skills they need to be involved, responsible, and committed fathers. “This program will help strengthen our local families and our entire community by helping our fathers be the best dads they can be,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “This also serves at the core of the Community Center’s mission in serving, empowering, and connecting people in our community.” Developed by fathering and parenting experts, 24/7 Dad® focuses on the characteristics that men need to be involved fathers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This community-based program helps men develop the attitudes, knowledge, and skills they need to get—and stay—involved with their children. 24/7 Dad® focuses on key fathering characteristics—like masculinity, discipline, and work/family balance—and helps men evaluate their own parenting skills, as well as their fathering role models. “Now more than ever the America family needs to be pulled back together and that cohesive and binding force is found in no other place but the commitments of a nurturing and responsible father,” said Responsible Fathers Initiative Lead Facilitator Corey W. Pack. “I am excited to work with SMCC in their efforts to strengthen families in the Bay Hundred area. “While no one program can solve all the shortfalls a family may be facing, combining the stabilizing and regenerating curriculum of NFI with the economic and social programs offered by SMCC, these families are off to a promising start to being restored and complete.” Pack founded the Responsible Fathers Initiative in 2020 after a career working with the State of Maryland and while serving as Talbot County Councilman. The Initiative provides communication and engagement skills and provides fathers with an understanding of the importance of their roles in the family while providing the skills and tools needed to empower fathers to be the best they can be. More is at www.responsiblefathersintiative.org. “NFI is excited about the St. Michaels Community Center’s efforts to help fathers build their skills through the 24/7 Dad® program,” said President of National Fatherhood Initiative President Christopher Brown. “Research shows that a major barrier to father involvement is a lack of skills in dads, many of whom grew up without fathers in their lives. At a time when 1 in 4 children live in father-absent homes, the Community Center should be applauded for its efforts to help dads get involved.” The National Fatherhood Initiative was founded in 1994 as a premier provider of fatherhood resources in the nation. The Initiative has trained more than 25,000 practitioners from more than 6,300 organizations through its national resource center FatherSOURCE™, in delivering meaningful programming to dads, with more at www.fatherhood.org. For more information or to enroll in the program, contact SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe at 410-745-6073 or at patrick@stmichaelscc.org. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – June 20, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center’s summer programs have returned with a free Community Block Party at SMCC on Saturday, June 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The free event includes food, drinks, music, and children’s and family activities. Summer camps for children begin on June 27 and provide age-appropriate activities for children entering K-5th grades. Camp themes include farm-to-food connections, letting your inner artist shine, get out and explore, and dance the night away, with more information and limited registration at www.stmichaelscc.org. SMCC’s senior programs are also taking place on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and feature activities including bingo, painting, lunch, and fellowship. All are invited. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. More information is at stmichaelscc.org. The St. Michaels Community Center is seeking input from residents from Royal Oak to Tilghman Island to help shape the future of the nonprofit’s programs and services, with the survey available online through July at www.stmichaelscc.org. “This feedback can go a long way in helping the St. Michaels Community Center expand our programs in the direction that best serves our community’s needs,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. A paper version of the survey is also available at SMCC and the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop. The Community Center announced in May its first-ever capital campaign to renew, rebuild, and revitalize its aged building in the Town’s Historic District. The renovation will allow the Community Center to double the number of children and adults served by the nonprofit’s programs and services. The nonprofit continues to provide groceries and meals to those in need during select hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays along with youth, senior, and adult programs throughout the year. Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center’s annual fund and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area. The nonprofit also recently announced its first-ever capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building, with more architectural renderings and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – June 11, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center’s free, waterfront Summer Concert Series is kicking off this Thurs, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. with local favorite JCT33 playing their ‘little bit country, little bit rock 'n roll.’ The series continues each Thursday at Muskrat Park in St. Michaels through Sept. 1, with all performances listed on the Community Center’s website. Muskrat Park features an expansive lawn overlooking St. Michaels Harbor and the Miles River and includes a covered gazebo for performances, with plenty of locally-owned restaurants and parking nearby. Guests may bring a blanket or their own seating, with limited picnic tables available. Bringing a takeout meal from one of the concert’s sponsors is encouraged, with alcohol prohibited. “The St. Michaels business community has really embraced our concert series with support this year,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “The support goes beyond the cost of the performances and is essential in keeping our daily operations going for the people we serve.” The free concert series is made possible through patron tips and generous local business sponsors acknowledged at each concert. Treats include snow cones, bottled water, and hand-scooped vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream provided by Justine’s Ice Cream Parlor. This year cash and credit card payments are being accepted for treat purchases, with all proceeds benefiting the individuals and families served by SMCC’s programs and activities. The nonprofit continues to provide groceries and meals to those in need during select hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays along with youth, senior, and adult programs throughout the year. Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center’s annual fund and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area. The nonprofit also recently announced its first-ever capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building, with more architectural renderings and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.
As the Executive Director of St. Michaels Community Center, I often hear stories from our volunteers about the need in our community and how your donations make a difference.
One of our volunteer food delivery drivers shared a story with me nearly a year ago that continues to resonate with me, and I want to share it with you now.
The elderly woman thought it was Friday, when St. Michaels Community Center delivers extra meals to clients so that they have enough meals for the weekend. She was also receiving chemotherapy treatments, which added to her anxiety. In the past she also shared that she was suffering from depression heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our volunteer said you could see the absolute fear in the client’s eyes until she was assured it was only Wednesday, and that more meals would be on their way on Friday. The client’s shoulders relaxed a bit, and she took in the pantry bag and meals with much relief, and a great big ‘thank you.’ I shared this story with my young nephew, and I asked him if he ever could imagine being worried about how he was going to feed himself over a weekend. His response has stuck with me ever since. After a long pause he said:
The St. Michaels Community Center is here to make sure no one from the Royal Oak bridge all the way down to Tilghman Island is ever “that” kind of hungry. But we can only do this important work with support from generous people like you.
Please consider supporting our essential work with your tax-deductible gift.And when you make your gift now through June 30, another generous donor will match your gift dollar for dollar. Every year St. Michaels Community Center helps our neighbors in our community and without donations from individuals like you, this work would not be possible. If you’re able, we’d love it if you could make a donation to help us empower, connect, and serve our community. Warmest regards,
Patrick Rofe
Executive Director P.S. Your support makes a big difference in someone’s life. Please make your donation before June 30 by using the button below. Thank you! We're Seeking Your Input 2022 Needs Assessment Survey The St. Michaels Community Center is very interested in hearing from you with this quick survey to help us assess the needs of our community. This will take less than 5 minutes of your time. Your feedback comes at a time when the St. Michaels Community Center is engaged in its first-ever capital campaign to support an adaptive renovation of our aged building. The planned renovations include a fully equipped modern commercial kitchen, well-equipped and lit classrooms, and a multipurpose room for community gatherings, with an anticipated 2022 groundbreaking. Your survey responses will help shape the future of SMCC's programs and services after we are in our new building. So your feedback is very important to us. If you would like to expand on your responses or offer additional ideas, please email Patrick Rofe at patrick@stmichaelscc.org. Thank you! (ST. MICHAELS, MD – May 26, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center recently received a large donation of Ritrovo pasta from Simpatico-Italy’s Finest in St. Michaels. Md. The donated pasta is being used in SMCC’s food distribution program and for meals served by its Community Café. The donation comes from Simpatico’s “Share the Love” promotion and includes two cases each of Bucatini, La Romagna, Umbricelli, Mancini Pastificio, and Agricolo pasta, and five pounds of Farabella organic gluten-free spaghetti. Simpatico’s “Share the Love” promotion began this past winter and will relaunch this fall with the specialty shop donating Ritrovo pasta as a “Buy One Give One” fundraiser for the nonprofit. Purchases can be made at the Railroad Ave. shop or online at www.simpaticostmichaels.com/pasta-risotto-grains. From left: Simpatico-Italy’s Finest Owner Bobbi Parlett, with her dog Bella Luce, St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe, and SMCC Executive Chef Sean Raspberry stand in front of Simpatico’s Italy’s Finest in St. Michaels with baskets of pasta donated to SMCC food distribution program and Community Café. Simpatico is continuing its “Buy One Give One” promotion on the purchase of Ritrovo pasta to benefit the people served by SMCC, with more at www.simpaticostmichaels.com. “This is an incredible program that is helping to fill our pantry shelves,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “SMCC provides as many as 250 pantry bags and 300 hot meals to our community every week, meaning this kind of community and business support can make a transformative difference in a person’s life.” The Community Center’s Food Support Program was named an emergency food hub for Talbot County’s Bay Hundred area by the Talbot County Emergency Task Force in 2019 and continues to provide shelf-stable pantry items and hot meals to anyone in need in St. Michaels and the outlying villages on the peninsula. SMCC’s food distribution program also includes a community food pantry; a weekend backpack program; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infants, and Children nutrition outreach and services; after-school and childcare meals and snacks; summer program participant meals; and more. The Community Center also participates in the Talbot County Hunger Coalition to help eliminate food insecurity for low-income individuals and families in Talbot County. “We love supporting the St. Michaels Community Center,” said Simpatico-Italy’s Finest owner Bobbi Parlett. “With our shop being across the street from the Center, we see the important work that is being accomplished every day, and we’re glad to help.” Simpatico, Italy's Finest offers our customers a wide range of personally selected wines, foods, cheeses, and other artisan products from Italy. Many products are only sold in Italy or through Simpatico.
SMCC’s Community Café and pantry are currently open three days a week to provide meals and groceries for anyone in need, with limited local delivery provided by a group of dedicated volunteers. The St. Michaels Community Center also hosts food drives and holiday meals for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, along with year-round engaging programs and activities for children and adults. Proceeds from the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop in St. Michaels, Md. also help the nonprofit provide year-round community programs and services that serve, empower, and connect people from throughout the Bay Hundred area, with more at www.stmichaelscc.org. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – May 23, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center recently received three grants from the Mid-Shore Community Foundation to expand the nonprofit’s food support program with $10k in funding and to help fund the Community Center’s recently announced capital campaign for an adaptive redesign of the Center’s building with an additional $25k in grants. The Community Center’s Food Support Program was named an emergency food hub for Talbot County’s Bay Hundred area by the Talbot County Emergency Task Force in 2019 and continues to provide shelf-stable pantry items and hot meals to anyone in need in St. Michaels and the outlying villages on the peninsula. “Every week, SMCC provides as many as 250 pantry bags and 300 hot meals to our community,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, the need in our community has remained high and this grant will help SMCC strengthen and expand the program to satisfy this need.” The St. Michaels Community Center announced its first-ever $4 million capital campaign earlier this month to support an adaptive renovation of its aged building in the Town’s Historic District. The planned renovations include a fully equipped modern commercial kitchen, well-equipped and lit classrooms, and a multipurpose room for community gatherings, with an anticipated 2022 groundbreaking. Rofe says the grant funding is being matched by other generous donors. SMCC’s food distribution program also includes a community food pantry; a weekend backpack program; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infants, and Children nutrition outreach and services; after-school and childcare meals and snacks; summer program participant meals; and more. The Community Center also participates in the Talbot County Hunger Coalition to help eliminate food insecurity for low-income individuals and families in Talbot County. “This is a great example of how our foundation connects private resources with public needs to enhance the quality of life for people of the Mid-Shore,” said Mid-Shore Community Foundation’s Chief Program Officer Robbin Hill. “Supporting the food support programs and future building improvements of the St. Michaels Community Center is an investment in helping to ensure no one goes hungry in our communities.” The Mid-Shore Community Foundation works with donors to establish funds for the region - funds that are distributed as grants and scholarships, provides training programs and endowment management services to area nonprofits, and supports start‐up charities and local charitable projects through fiscal sponsorship.
SMCC’s Community Café and pantry are currently open three days a week to provide meals and groceries for anyone in need, with limited local delivery provided by a group of dedicated volunteers. The St. Michaels Community Center also hosts food drives and holiday meals for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, along with year-round engaging programs and activities for children and adults. Proceeds from the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop in St. Michaels, Md. also help the nonprofit provide year-round community programs and services that serve, empower, and connect people from throughout the Bay Hundred area, with more at www.stmichaelscc.org. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – May 18, 2022) U.S. Senator Ben Cardin visited the St. Michaels Community Center on Sunday, May 15 for a tour of the facility and to discuss major renovation plans with Community Center leadership. The Community Center is seeking federal funding to support its renovation project. First elected to the Senate in 2006, Senator Cardin currently serves as Chair of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee and is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Finance, and Environment & Public Works committees. “The St. Michaels Community Center is doing important work addressing hunger in our communities,” said Sen. Cardin regarding SMCC’s food distribution program that serves people from Royal Oak to Tilghman Island, Md. “The Center’s plans for culinary job training also will fill an important need – helping to strengthen and maintain the strongest, most capable workforce for St. Michaels and the State of Maryland.” SMCC already has raised almost $3 million toward its $4.5 million goal to rebuild its aged building in the Town’s Historic District, including $1.225 million from the State of Maryland and almost $1.75 million from private donors and foundations. “We’re honored by Sen. Cardin’s interest in our plans,” said SMCC Advisory Board President Langley Shook. “State and federal support can go a long way to making the long-overdue renovation happen to let us serve more people when our new building is complete.” The new facility will include a modern, well-equipped commercial kitchen, where SMCC plans to train people for jobs in restaurants and hotels, and from which the Center can continue to serve and deliver prepared meals and tens of thousands of bags of groceries to those in need. A Technology Center where students can do their homework and space for community gatherings also are included in the plans, along with classrooms where Chesapeake College and others can provide high-level instruction right in the middle of town. Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s planned capital improvements, including information about how to support the campaign, can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. From left: SMCC Past Advisory Board President Karen Shook, SMCC Advisory Board President Langley Shook, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, and SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe go over renderings and floor plans for the new St. Michaels Community Center. The new Center is planned to open in 2023, with fundraising currently underway. See more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – May 11, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center is kicking off the first capital campaign in its 32-year history to renew, rebuild, and revitalize its aged building in the Town’s Historic District. The St. Michaels Community Center purchased its Railroad Avenue headquarters in 2015. The structure was constructed before World War II as a lumber storage warehouse. It’s had only minimal changes and upgrades since then. The nonprofit has made do with its crudely constructed interior, no windows, no heat or air conditioning in most of the building, and without handicapped accessibility, among other issues. “Our building’s primary asset is its location in the commercial district near the people we serve,” said St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “This long-awaited adaptive renovation will make the St. Michaels Community Center the only fully-equipped resource center for social services on the Bay Hundred peninsula.” The planned renovations will include a fully equipped modern commercial kitchen to expand food distribution and meal service to those in need, and training for jobs in restaurants and hotels. Bright, well-equipped classrooms and a multipurpose room for community gatherings are included in the plans, with the Community Center anticipating double the number of people making use of the Center compared to today’s participation levels, once the new building is fully operational. “This will give us a place to do our best work and have the greatest impact on the lives of the children and adults we serve,” said SMCC Advisory Board President Langley Shook. Shook says more than half of the necessary funding already has been raised, including $1.225 million from the State of Maryland. “The State’s support is a great vote of confidence for our first-ever capital campaign and an investment in securing a sustainable future for the Community Center’s essential work,” said Shook. “We serve at the heart of this community, and these improvements will give us a much better platform from which to serve our community.” “This funding will help us to have the improved facilities needed to support our food distribution program and a new culinary arts workforce training program, for example,” said Rofe. “This will benefit our participants and local restaurants in need of well-trained employees. Rofe says the Town’s Historic District Commission praised and unanimously approved the design of the renovated building, and an application for a building permit has been submitted to the Town. The nonprofit is now inviting the public to participate in fundraising for the new building, with naming opportunities and more in the works before an anticipated 2022 groundbreaking. “SMCC’s priority commitment is to the needs of the region’s population who lack the resources to lift themselves from poverty,” said Shook. “We will continue our long-time commitment to the food insecure and will add to that workforce development programming to enable adults’ transition to self-sufficiency.” Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s capital improvements, including information about how to support the campaign, can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – April 20, 2022) Members of the St. Michaels Food Pantry and Christ Church St. Michaels recently presented a $10,000 donation to the St. Michaels Community Center in support of its ongoing food distribution program. “This support does a great deal of good in helping our neighbors who are facing food insecurities,” said St. Michaels Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “We’re grateful our organizations connected last year and for the ongoing support.” The St. Michaels Food Pantry of Christ Church consolidated its operations with the St. Michaels Community Center last fall to centralize food distribution for St. Michaels and Bay Hundred area residents. “The St. Michaels Community Center is doing a great job meeting the needs of our community,” said Christ Church Food Pantry Board member Mary Ellen Olcese. “We feel fortunate to be able to continue our support in this way, so that no one faces hunger in our community.” Individuals can support St. Michaels Community Center’s operations by making a tax-deductible donation at www.stmichaelscc.org or by dropping off non-perishables at the St. Michaels Community Center, located at 103 Railroad Ave., in the historic district of St. Michaels. An outdoor pantry is additionally set up at the community center for anyone in need or wanting to donate non-perishable food items. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. More information is at stmichaelscc.org. More about Christ Church is at christstmichaels.org. From left: St. Michaels Community Center Food Distribution Director and Youth Programs Coordinator Amy DeWitt and Executive Director Patrick Rofe; with St. Michaels Food Pantry Board members Susan Armstrong, Mary Ellen Olcese, and Jeff Hart, who recently presented a $10,000 donation in support of SMCC’s food distribution program. Take-out meals and pantry bags are provided at SMCC to those in need during select hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with an outside non-perishables pantry and more at www.stmichaelscc.org. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – April 5, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center’s free, waterfront Summer Concert Series is returning on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. to Muskrat Park in St. Michaels beginning June 16 and continuing through Sept. 1.
The concert series starts with the sounds and melodies of local favorite JCT33 playing their ‘little bit country, little bit rock 'n roll.’ All 12 performances are listed on the St. Michaels Community Center’s website. Muskrat Park features an expansive lawn overlooking St. Michaels Harbor and the Miles River and includes a covered gazebo for performances, with plenty of locally-owned restaurants and parking nearby. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or their own seating, along with friends, family, neighbors, your leashed dog, or just yourself to enjoy the concerts. Picnics are encouraged, with alcohol prohibited. The free concert series is made possible through the generous sponsorship of local businesses acknowledged at each concert. Early, gold sponsors include Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Bridges Land Management, The Crab Claw Restaurant, Gina's Café, Guildford & Company, Hammy's Burgers & Shakes, Helene's of St. Michaels Salon & Spa, Lyon Rum // Windon Distilling, Old Town Candy Company, Ophiuroidea "The O", The Orthopedic Center at Easton, Patriot Cruises, Rebecca Thomas Events, Salty Tymes, Shore United Bank, Simpatico, Italy's Finest, St. Michaels Running Company, Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits, Tilghman Island Inn, Total Home Performance, Town & Country Wine, Liquor, Etc., and The Wildset Hotel. Treats including popcorn, water, and snow cones will be available for cash sale at the concerts, with proceeds benefiting the people served by SMCC. The nonprofit continues to provide groceries and meals to those in need during select hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays along with youth, senior, and adult programs throughout the year. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area. More information is at www.stmichaelscc.org. #####
“Sean’s experience, knowledge, and skills as an Executive Chef make him an outstanding choice to lead our programs,” said SMCC Advisory Board President Langley Shook. “Our Advisory Board is dedicated to growing our culinary programs to include cooking classes and workforce training, for example, and Chef Sean is the right person to lead us into the future. Shook says SMCC is planning a major renovation of its Railroad Avenue building to transform the old lumber warehouse into a modern, efficient facility that includes space for culinary training and programming.
The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. The Community Café menu and more information are at stmichaelscc.org. #### Dear Friend:
Music and Fun in Muskrat Park! The St. Michaels Community Center is inviting you to become a sponsor of our summer concert series and help St. Michaels Community Center raise needed funds to serve people in our community. St. Michael’s Community Center’s 12 summer concerts will kick off on Thursday, June 16 and continue every Thursday from 6:00pm – 7:30pm until September 1st. Our waterfront concert series in Muskrat Park features local artists from across the Eastern Shore and Bay Hundred Area and attract more than 2,400 concert-goers each year. When weather permits, these evenings are perfect opportunities for families and neighbors to enjoy picnic dinners and free music. Summer in St. Michaels means music and family fun in Muskrat Park, but we can only cover the costs of the series through sponsor support! Please see our sponsor benefit menu and choose a sponsor level that fits your budget. We’ll be sure to share our gratitude and more toward our sponsors while promoting the series. If you have any questions, please contact me at patrick@stmichaelscc.org or at 410-745-6073. In Gratitude, Patrick Rofe Executive Director P.S. Sponsors signing up by Friday, March 18 will be included in concert series news release, which will be sent to 50+ media sources for promotion. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – Feb. 15, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center is partnering with the Talbot County Health Department and Eastern Shore Mobile Care Collaborative (ESMCC) to provide St. Michaels and Bay Hundred residents access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for individuals with opioid use disorder. The Mobile Treatment Unit will be at the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop parking lot on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Talbot County Addictions Program Director Sarah Cloxton, MS, LCADC says persons wishing to receive treatment for opioid use disorder and entering the Mobile Treatment Unit program will meet with an addiction counselor, peer recovery specialist, and a University of Maryland physician specializing in addiction medicine. The program will support individuals throughout their treatment journey by combining access to medication, counseling, primary and supportive services that align with various stages of a person’s recovery once they are engaged. “Having this access to opioid treatment will help individuals win more battles over addiction,” said Cloxton. “We’re glad to partner with the Community Center so that our outreach can extend to people living from Royal Oak all the way down to Tilghman Island.” “We’re grateful to be able to help provide a space for the Mobile Treatment Unit,” says St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “This partnership helps forward our mission of serving, empowering, and connecting our community in meaningful ways." The ESMCC aims to increase access to care by providing Medication Assisted Treatment for individuals with Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) in underserved, rural communities to maximize access to life-saving treatment and develop a model of care that can be adopted by other underserved, rural areas with similar needs. ESMCC is supported by funding from The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA); University of Maryland School of Medicine, State of Maryland Department of Health and the Caroline County Health Department, with more at www.carolinehd.org. The Talbot County Addictions Program (TCAP) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for its clients and community by reducing problems associated with addiction-related and co-occurring disorders. The program provides care coordination services and peer recovery support to adults and their families who are experiencing problems with alcohol and/or other drugs. TCAP provides screenings and referrals for addiction services, as well as assistance with the Medicaid and Health Choice insurance application process for those who qualify, with more at www.talbothealth.org/addictions-program/. The St. Michaels Community Center promotes and provides quality activities and services contributing to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the community. SMCC is dedicated to filling the unmet needs of the Bay Hundred and St. Michaels communities by providing supervised program opportunities for the enrichment of children and teens; activities and services for adults and senior citizens; and affordable recreational, social, and educational activities to community residents of all ages, regardless of ethnicity, gender or economic status. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop in St. Michaels, Md. help the nonprofit provide year-round community programs and services that serve, empower, and connect people from throughout the Bay Hundred area, with more information at www.stmichaelscc.org. . Pictured in front of the Mobile Treatment Unit from left: TCAP State Care Coordinator Nianja Thomas, University of Maryland School of Medicine Dr. Eric Weintraub, MD, Mobile Treatment Unit Coordinator Carla Penny, AA, TCAP Peer Support Specialist James Carter, CPRS, Mobile Treatment Unit Counselor Kristina Pullen, BA, ADT, St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe, Peer Support Specialist and Mobile Treatment Unit Vehicle Operations Roger McKnight, University of Maryland School of Medicine Dr. Patrick Jung, MD, Caroline County Behavioral Health Clinical Supervisor Jessica Tuel, MSW, LCSW-C, Talbot County Addictions Program Director Sarah Cloxton, MS, LCADC, Talbot County Addictions Program Supervisor Reginald Johnson, MAC, CAC-AD, and SMCC Advisory Board Member and St. Michaels Police Chief Anthony Smith. |
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