The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. – Mahatma Gandhi11/22/2022  Dear Friend, Addressing hunger among individuals and families—from the Royal Oak Bridge down to Tilghman Island—is made possible through the generous support of our donors, whose small and large acts of kindness help to transform the lives of the children and adults many of our programs serve. Through the continued support of our donors, the St. Michaels Community Center provides year-round community programs and activities, including providing up to 250 meals and pantry bags to individuals and families in need, three times a week. At the core of our work lightening the burden of hardship and hunger is the dedication of volunteers and drivers to help prepare and deliver meals and pantry items, especially for homebound individuals in need. Oftentimes, the connections our volunteers make are a lifeline to the individuals we serve. One of our volunteers regularly delivers meals to a 90-year-old woman that is blind and cannot cook for herself. Our client has no local family, so our volunteer stays a little while longer at each delivery to spend time and talk with her. “I asked God to send someone to see me,” commented our client about our volunteer, before continuing with a wry smile. “When I ‘saw’ you, I knew we would get along!” Our volunteer is very humble and wishes to remain anonymous from our readers. Our clients, however, know her from her work in our culinary program, where she also serves clients from the steam table, helps to prepare meals for deliveries, and even helps clean up to prepare for our next Community Café. She also helps at our community block parties and holiday meals. “Volunteering is simply good for the soul,” she says. “Our Community Center really contributes to enriching people’s lives, whether you give or receive—I think it is a win-win situation.” She said she decided to become a volunteer after hearing about SMCC’s dedication to assisting people in need. “So now that I’m retired and have the time, I decided to become a volunteer and see what was needed. When you donate to the St. Michaels Community Center, you are helping to improve lives, while sustaining the Community Center’s financial stability for a bright future. We simply can’t do this meaningful work without your help. You can support the strength of our community by making a charitable donation to the St. Michaels Community Center. You can mail your check or donate online at paypal.me/smccmd. Your donation will ensure Bay Hundred individuals and families have the resources and connections needed to address hunger and provide hope, especially to those who need our help the most. You can make that difference. With deepest gratitude,  Patrick Rofe
Executive Director P.S. Please consider making a gift of stocks or bonds and including the St. Michaels Community Center in your legacy planning. Your financial advisor can be of help. St. Michaels Community Center is a 501(c)(3) organization – donations to which are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting SMCC, PO Box 354, St. Michaels, MD 21663, or by calling 410-745-6073. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Contributions Act are available from the Office of the Secretary of State for the cost of copying and postage.
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St. Michaels Community Center Renovations Begin: SMCC taps Harper & Sons as General Contractor11/21/2022 After a highly-competitive process, the St. Michaels Community Center has selected Harper & Sons, of Easton, Md. as the general contractor for the renovation of the nonprofit’s WWII-era building at 103 Railroad Ave., with the project kicking off Mon., Nov. 21. “We are extremely pleased with how Harper & Sons has approached this project so far, and we can’t wait to get started on construction,” said SMCC Board of Directors President Langley Shook. “They have an impressive track record with successful commercial projects in St. Michaels and throughout the Eastern Shore,” adding “we have been very impressed with their work and what we have heard from their other clients.”  From left: Harper & Sons Vice President Benson Harper and St. Michaels Community Center Board of Directors President Langley Shook Harper & Sons, Inc. was founded in 1968 by Howard G. Harper in Easton, Md. after his work as a general manager for the ES Adkins Company Lumberyard in Easton. He started the business as a way for him and his sons to meet the construction needs of the rapidly developing Eastern Shore. Today, Harper & Sons is managed by the third generation of family members, with project experience that includes working with the Town of St. Michaels, Caroline County, Easton Utilities Commission, Choptank Community Health System, University of Maryland Medical System, Salisbury University, Compass Hospice, and more. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work on this meaningful project for St. Michaels and the entire Bay Hundred region,” says Harper & Sons Vice President Benson Harper. “We look forward to overseeing the project—as our top management does on all of our projects—to ensure a high level of responsibility and personal attention to critical details throughout the renovation process.”  The Community Center’s renovated building will be an adaptive redesign of its current structure, meaning some parts of the World War II-era building will remain. The architect for the project is McInturff Architects of Bethesda and Neavitt, Md. Founded in 1990, SMCC purchased its current building in 2015 and has since made do with the converted lumber storage warehouse’s crudely constructed interior that lacks windows, heat or air conditioning in most of the building. Disability access also has been a major issue. “Our building’s primary asset is its location in the commercial district, near the people we serve,” says St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “This long-awaited renovation will make the St. Michaels Community Center the only fully-equipped resource center for social services on the Bay Hundred peninsula,” he added.  The new building will include a modern, well-equipped commercial kitchen, where SMCC will 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. The new Community Center also will include a Technology Center where students can do their homework and space for after-school programs and community gatherings. Rofe says the Center is working with Chesapeake College and other partners to provide high-level instruction right in the middle of town. Support for the renovation is both broad and deep, reflecting the urgency of the need. Charitable contributions from individuals have been the largest source of funding, with more than $1M from the State of Maryland, and other government and foundation support. Shook says most of the necessary funding already has been raised, and there is a 100% donor match for additional tax-deductible gifts to the capital campaign before year-end, 2022. Architectural renderings of the new 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 excitement is really growing,” says Rofe, adding that “We’ve packed up our programs and administrative operations to prepare for the renovations, thanks in part to a number of volunteers who assisted with the efforts.” Christ Church, St. Michaels generously has donated office space in its Parish Hall, located at the intersection of Church Street and Willow Street. The Center’s food services and other programs will be moved throughout the renovation to 207 N. Talbot St., next door to The Wildset Hotel.
Both temporary locations are close to SMCC’s building, and there will be only minimal disruptions to client services during the building renovation. The Center anticipates operating from its two temporary locations until the end of next year when the renovation project is expected to be completed. The renovation will not impact SMCC’s Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Avenue, which will be open throughout the project. 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. Tax-deductible 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. #####
New, unwrapped toys are being sought to benefit Bay Hundred area children this holiday season, with drop-off locations including the St. Michaels Community Center, The LumberYard in St. Michaels, Perkins Family YMCA, and Fairbank Tackle. The toy drive is organized by St. Michaels Granite Lodge #177, with donated toys being accepted through Dec. 21. SMCC additionally is seeking donations of non-perishables, toiletries, and household goods, which can also be dropped off or shipped directly to SMCC at its temporary program location of 207 N. Talbot St., next to The Wildset Hotel, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donated toys and household goods with “for the holiday drive” noted can also be dropped off at Treasure Cove Thrift Shop at 200 Railroad Ave. Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Suggested Donations Suggested donations include toys suited for children of all ages; personal hygiene items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, and shampoo; family homecare items like detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products, and sponges; and food items like canned chicken, tuna, roast beef, ravioli, pasta, stew, peanut butter, rice, soup, crackers, pudding, and fruit cups. SMCC also provides emergency clothing and household goods through its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, which is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations to the Thrift Store of gently used clothing, toys, household goods, and furniture are gratefully accepted Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 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, with more at www.stmichaelscc.org. #####  The St. Michaels Community Center received news that SMCC Senior Programs and Office Aide Ange Oteri sadly passed away on November 1, 2022. Ange joined the St. Michaels Community Center in 2005 and most recently coordinated our senior program and luncheons every Wednesday. She also helped in our office when not taking care of our seniors.  She started at SMCC as an office volunteer for Treasure Cove Thrift Shop. At that time, the office and Thrift Shop were in one location across from Sam’s Restaurant. She later went on to coordinate the Community Center’s seniors’ program and volunteer program for the Thrift Shop. Prior to her time at SMCC, Ange worked as an administrative assistant for real estate and insurance companies while her children were growing up. Locals and visitors may also recall seeing Ange while working at Simpatico-Italy’s Finest for more than five years. Her grandchildren lovingly referred to her as “Ya Ya” or “Mom- Mom.” In a 2021 interview, Ange commented that her favorite activity was to connect with people, mostly through sitting, talking, and sharing a meal together at SMCC.  “Working with the seniors is rewarding because I feel like they enjoy coming here,” Ange said of her work at SMCC. “Some people live alone like I do, and for some, it’s the only place to have a conversation and be with other people. Ange said one of the most challenging aspects of her work at SMCC included helping seniors navigate through broader problems. “Some welcome the help, some don’t want help,” said Ange. “The key is to help seniors without them feeling like they are losing their independence. Maybe they’re like me and don’t always ask for help when help is needed.” When asked why she thought the St. Michaels Community Center's work is important, Ange replied, “The Community Center is for the community. It’s here for the kids to come after school as a safe place. The meals offer a place for our seniors to connect and have a place to feel a warm welcome and love. They enjoy our activities because it’s a place for everybody and a safety net for our community.” Ange lived in St. Michaels at the time of her passing and was born in Manhattan, New York before moving to Brooklyn and Long Island. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., living with her grandmother after her mother passed when Ange was 10 years old. She went straight to work right after graduating high school, and later became a wife and mother of three children. For hobbies, Ange said that knitting was her calming tool whenever she became upset. Ange’s volunteer service focused during her time living on Tilghman Island and includes Tilghman United Methodist Church, Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Company, and the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum. “Ange was one of the longest-serving volunteers and employees at SMCC,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe in a memo to staff and supporters. “Most recently she led the Senior Program and was actively involved in all SMCC events. She will be deeply missed at SMCC and in St. Michaels.” Ange Oteri is dearly missed.Please Note: You can find Ange's obituary and service arrangements at Frampton Funeral Home.
 The St. Michaels Community Center recently received grant funding in support of the nonprofit’s food distribution program, with Executive Chef Sean Raspberry shown here in SMCC’s current facilities. SMCC offers freshly cooked, nutritious meals and pantry bags each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, providing for up to 250 people for each meal. 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.”  Recent grant funding for SMCC’s food distribution program comes at a critical time in the nonprofit’s history as they move forward with plans for a renovated Community Center, with first floor plans shown here. The renovated Community Center includes a modern, well-equipped commercial kitchen, and a workforce training program, among other features. 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. (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  SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, left, with Responsible Fathers Initiative Lead Facilitator Corey W. Pack *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.  The St. Michaels Community Center is surveying the local community through July to help shape its future programs and services, with St. Michaels and Bay Hundred area residents encouraged to take the online survey at www.stmichaelscc.org. The nonprofit recently announced its first-ever capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building, shown here, with architectural renderings and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future 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.  The St. Michaels Community Center is kicking off its waterfront Summer Concert Series on June 16 with JCT 33 performing at Muskrat Park in St. Michaels. The free concerts continue each Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. through Sept. 1, with plenty of shade, treats for sale, and all performances listed at www.stmichaelscc.org. (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.”  SMCC’s Amy DeWitt, left, and Stephanie Pritchard, stop at Justine’s Ice Cream for a treat. 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!  Our Community Block Party is set for Saturday, June 25, with BBQ chicken and all the sides, music, games, and activities for the entire family. All are welcome.  (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.  The Mid-Shore Community Foundation recently provided $20k and an additional $15k in funding to the St. Michaels Community Center in support of its food distribution program and capital campaign to rebuild the Center. Pictured in the SMCC food pantry are from left, SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, SMCC Food Distribution Director and Youth Programs Coordinator Amy DeWitt, SMCC Volunteer Brian Griffiths, and Mid-Shore Community Foundation President Buck Duncan. The funds are being matched by other donors, 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.  U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, third from the left, meets St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe, right, while SMCC Advisory Board President Langley Shook, and his wife Karen look on. Sen. Cardin visited the St. Michaels Community Center on May 15 to see the Center’s current facilities and to go over plans for renovations. The World War II-era building was built as a lumber storage warehouse and has seen only minimal upgrades over its 80-year lifetime. It has no windows and most of the spaces have no insulation, no heat, and no air conditioning, among other issues. (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.”  From left: St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe, SMCC Advisory Board President Langley Shook, and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin at SMCC’s Community Café. Senator Cardin stopped by on May 15 for a tour of the facility and to discuss improvement plans with Community Center leadership. 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. |
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