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With the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, you can save on your bill and may be able to get high-speed internet for free. Qualification for the program can be based on income, or if you, or your child or dependent are enrolled in government programs like Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, or others. Learn more and apply online here. Need help with the application? Reach out to SMCC here. 
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 Performing artist EmiSunshine is traveling from Tennessee to perform at the waterfront Muskrat Park in St. Michaels, Maryland on August 24 as part of the St. Michaels Community Center’s Concerts in the Park series. The performance begins at 6:00 p.m. and marks EmiSunshine’s debut performance in Talbot County. EmiSunshine is a 19-year-old superstar of Americana music & plays ukulele. She has performed at the Grand Ole Opry a dozen times, has written more than 200 songs, and achieved top 20 status on American Idol. Emi has been attracting national attention since the age of nine, with appearances on “The Today Show,” NBC’s “Little Big Shots,” “Pickler & Ben,” the Grand Ole Opry, and elsewhere. In 2018, she was featured in the Grammy-nominated Elvis Presley documentary film “The King,” alongside Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Ashton Kutcher, Alec Baldwin, and other stars. Muskrat Park features an expansive lawn overlooking St. Michaels Harbor and the Miles River, with limited picnic tables and a covered gazebo for performances. 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. Treats and drinks will be available for cash purchase, with proceeds benefiting the children and adults served by the St. Michaels Community Center. Plenty of locally-owned restaurants, places to shop, and parking are also nearby. The free concert series is made possible through generous sponsorship support and ends on August 31, when Maryland’s hottest 80s new wave party band, Saved by Zero takes the gazebo stage with an irresistible force of high-energy entertainment sure to rock the park. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit ensure children and adults from the Newcomb Bridge to Tilghman Island have the resources they need. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org.  June 1, 2023 Update: Concerts will now being at 6p.m. This story has been updated.
The St. Michaels Community Center’s Concerts in the Park Series is returning to the waterfront Muskrat Park on Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning June 8 and continuing through Aug. 31. The sounds of summer begin with Rosewood performing on June 8. The Eastern Shore-based band features the dynamic and lush vocals of Sandy Ryder performing great standards from the ‘60s to today, including country, blues, and contemporary rock. All 13 performances are listed on the St. Michaels Community Center’s website, with earlier performances including JCT 33, Sarah Campbell, New & Used Bluegrass, Ampersand, Down the Road, and more. Muskrat Park features an expansive lawn overlooking St. Michaels Harbor and the Miles River, with limited picnic tables and a covered gazebo for performances. 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. Treats and drinks will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the children and adults served by the St. Michaels Community Center. Plenty of locally-owned restaurants and parking are also nearby. The free concert series is made possible through the generous sponsorship of local businesses acknowledged at each concert. Early concert series sponsors include Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar, The Blue Crab, Blue Heron Coffee, Bridges Land Management, Built on Love and Dreams, The Crab Claw Restaurant, Eastern Shore Ship | Print | Connect, Foxy’s Harbor Grille, The Galley Restaurant, Gina’s Café, Guilford & Company, The Harmon Family, Higgins & Spencer, Higgins Yacht Yard, Justine’s Ice Cream, Log Canoe Inn, Marasun Roofing, Mid-Atlantic Waste System, Ophiuroidea "The O", Pemberton Pharmacy & Gifts, The Preppy Redneck, Rebecca Thomas Events, Ruse, Shore Orthopedics, Shore United Bank, Simpatico, St. Michaels Running Company, Talbot Watermen Association, Tickler’s Crab Shack, Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits, Total Home Performance, Wades Point Inn on the Bay, and The Wildset Hotel. The St. Michaels Community Center is currently campaigning for donations supporting the renovations now underway of its building at 103 Railroad Ave., with expanded programs and services to include its new culinary arts and hospitality workforce training program. The renovations support SMCC’s mission to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities. Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s capital improvements are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit ensure children and adults from the Newcomb Bridge to Tilghman Island have the resources they need. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org. In 2023, the St. Michaels Community Garden celebrates its 11th year of providing community members with space to grow vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, and more for personal consumption or for donation, as chosen by the gardeners themselves. The garden includes 40, 4-foot by 14-foot beds rented on a yearly basis. Participants are limited to reserving one bed, with 7 beds available for new gardeners in 2023. Community garden beds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be reserved by emailing admin@stmichaelscc.org or using our online reservation form here. Through regularly scheduled work parties, the garden community shares responsibility for maintaining paths, communal spaces, and equipment, while individual members are responsible for planting, harvesting and upkeep of their raised beds. Water, hoses, and some gardening tools are provided, and some funds are available to help with the purchase of seeds or garden equipment for those who need support to do so. The St. Michaels Community Garden, located between Fremont and Conner Streets, began in 2012 on land leased through the Town of St. Michaels and with support of an Eagle Scout project. The St. Michaels Community Center serves as fiscal agent for the community garden, with the $5 per year, per bed rental fee and other donations helping to maintain the property year-round. 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 programs, services, and community events for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. More information is at www.stmichaelscc.org.
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. #####  (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.  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 – Nov. 26, 2021) The St. Michaels Community Center hosted its annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Wed., Nov. 25 at the parish hall of the Union United Methodist Church, where Community Center staff and volunteers packaged 173 meals along with numerous boxes of fresh produce and pantry items for delivery and pick up. The annual outreach event is part of fulfilling St. Michaels Community Center’s mission to serve, empower, and connect people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. The meal’s roasted turkey was generously provided by Ava’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar, with Awful Arthur’s of St. Michaels providing all the sides. Pantry items and fresh produce were provided through individual donations and the Maryland Food Bank. “We’re especially grateful for Ava’s and Awful Arthur’s for providing these meals,” said St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “And connecting our community to a hearty Thanksgiving meal, pantry items, and fresh produce is at the heart of the service work we provide, with special thanks to our donors and volunteers.” The St. Michaels Community Center is also hosting a Christmas toy and household item drive, with donated items dropped off no later than Dec. 20 at the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop at 200 Railroad Ave. Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; or at the St. Michaels Community Center at 103 Railroad Ave. on Mondays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.; Wednesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 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. Community Center staff and volunteers will also be preparing Christmas meals for those in need on Wed., Dec. 22. The pick-up and delivery meals are provided at no charge, with donations helping to offset costs. To reserve a meal or for more information, contact SMCC Food Distribution Director and Youth Programs Coordinator Amy Dewitt at amy@stmichaelscc.org or 410-745-6073. 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 stmichaelscc.org. The St. Michaels Community Center is seeking donations of new toys, non-perishables, toiletries, and household goods, which can be dropped off or shipped directly to SMCC to arrive no later than Dec. 20 at 103 Railroad Ave., St. Michaels, Md., 21663. Charitable donations can be dropped off at Treasure Cove Thrift Shop at 200 Railroad Ave. Monday, and Thursday through Saturday from 10am-2pm, or at SMCC Monday through Friday from 9am-3pm. 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 staff and volunteers will also be carrying on the tradition of St. Michaels Food Pantry by preparing Christmas meals for pick-up and delivery to those in need. The meals are provided at no charge, with SMCC donors and in-kind donations helping to offset costs through their support. Sign-up for your Christmas meal by emailing Amy Dewitt at amy@stmichaelscc.org or calling (410) 745-6073. The St. Michaels Community Center will host a community Christmas dinner on Wednesday, December 22 at the parish hall of Union United Methodist Church, when staff and volunteers will be preparing 150 meals, all offered at no charge, with donations accepted. Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar in St. Michaels are donating the hams and turkeys for the dinner, with Awful Arthur's in St. Michaels donating the side dishes and desserts. More than 100 family baskets will also be distributed at the dinner, all supported by generous donations from local organizations and individuals. SMCC also hosts community Thanksgiving and Easter dinners each year, as part of its mission to serve, empower, and connect the community. 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 10am-2pm. Donations to the Thrift Store of gently used clothing, toys, household goods, and furniture are gratefully accepted Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10am-1:30pm. 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 contribute to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of people from throughout the Bay Hundred area, with more at www.stmichaelscc.org. #####  (ST. MICHAELS, MD – Oct. 13, 2021) The St. Michaels Community Center is providing lunch and a series of programs for adults each Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Walk-in participants are welcome, with a $2 suggested donation to contribute to the cost of the lunch and activities. Adult participants are invited to come alone or bring a friend to enjoy a hot lunch and participate in programs that include bingo, arts, crafts, and brain games, with the schedule posted on the community center’s website. “St. Michaels is such a vibrant place for locals and guests alike,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to resume many of our normal programs beyond the food distribution services we provide.”  From left: St. Michaels Community Center’s Jeannie Butler with SMCC volunteer Johanna Saucier help serve a nutritious lunch as part of SMCC’s outreach. The St. Michaels Community Center recently resumed its children and adult programs after the COVID-19 pandemic surge. The nonprofit continues to provide groceries and meals to those in need during select hours on Mondays and Fridays as the County-designated Bay Hundred food distribution hub. The nonprofit St. Michaels Community Center provides 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 programs for the enrichment of children and teens; activities and services for adults and senior citizens; and affordable recreational, social, and educational activities to the entire 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 – August 9, 2021) St. Michaels and Bay Hundred businesses and residents are embracing the St. Michaels Community Center’s mission of serving, empowering, and connecting the community with a spike in recent support to help provide food to those in need. SMCC’s Food Distribution Director and Youth Programs Coordinator Amy DeWitt says the Community Center recently distributed new backpacks filled with school supplies to 50 local children in need. Tracey and Mark Miller of Reclaimed and Iron Will & Woodworks of St. Michaels led the charge in raising the funds for the school supplies, with their efforts matched by another generous, anonymous donor. “It’s a wonderful experience to work for a nonprofit that has so much support,” says DeWitt. “This support makes our entire community stronger by helping provide lifelines like this to people in need.” DeWitt says she was also recently surprised to learn another anonymous donor contributed $3,500 to the St. Michaels Community Center’s credit with Graul’s Market in St. Michaels while picking up ice for a recent fundraiser. The generous donation will be used to help provide the tens of thousands of bags of groceries and take-out meals SMCC continues to provide during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are extremely grateful for the help of this anonymous donor,” says DeWitt. “Graul’s Market is also a big supporter of our work and mission,” says DeWitt. “Graul’s supports our annual neighborhood block parties and holiday meals. This donation will really go a long way in addressing food insecurities in St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred areas.” DeWitt says Mike Lynch of Christ Church St. Michaels and members of the Claiborne Community Group and the Rotary Club of St Michaels have been making brownies and other treats for grocery and meal recipients. Lisa Foss and Bengt Goransson of Royal Oak, Md. have provided homemade, decorated cookies since the pandemic’s beginnings. The baked goods are provided as extra treats to go with each meal and a reminder to the recipients that their lives matter. The St. Michaels Community Center is part of a community of food support organizations operating under the Talbot County Emergency Services Task Force during the COVID-19 pandemic. SMCC’s 2021 Summer Concert Series is continuing through Sept. 9 at Muskrat Park each Thursday beginning at 6:00 p.m., with treats for sale and the music line-up at bitly.com/stmichaelsconcerts. The concert series is made possible through the generous sponsor support of Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Carpenter Street Saloon, Chesapeake Trading Co., The Crab Claw Restaurant, Foxy's Harbor Grille, Graul's Market, Guilford and Company, Hammy's Hideout, Higgins and Spencer, Inc., The Lumberyard Inc., Lyon Rum, The Preppy Redneck, Shore United Bank, St Michaels Inn, and Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits. SMCC’s Advisory Board recently announced Patrick Rofe will began as the nonprofit’s fourth Executive Director in mid-August. Rofe and his wife Simone are returning to the Eastern Shore from Olympia, Wash. SMCC’s Executive Director Emerita Trish Payne announced her retirement in late 2020, with Amy DeWitt appointed Interim Executive Director this summer. “Rofe’s leadership comes at a critical time in the history of SMCC,” said SMCC Advisory Board President Langley Shook. “We’re planning a major renovation of our building on Railroad Avenue, with our dream to transform our old lumber warehouse into a modern, efficient facility to better serve our community and to become a landmark that better harmonizes with the neighborhood and the historic Union United Methodist Church across the street.” The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with program and building improvement plans dependent on grants and private donations. 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. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – February 17, 2021) Have you caught the pandemic gardening bug? The St. Michaels Community Garden is kicking off its 9th season of providing community members with space to grow their own vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, and more for personal consumption or for donation, as chosen by the gardeners themselves. The garden, launched in 2012 with support from a local Eagle Scout, St. Michaels Rotary Club and others, includes 40, 4-foot by 14-foot beds, which are available for rent on a yearly basis. Gardeners work together to maintain the lawn and common path areas while individual gardeners are responsible for maintaining their own beds and nearby paths. The community garden, located between Fremont and Conner Streets, provides water, hoses, and gardening tools, with participants including St. Michaels in Bloom and Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers, among other groups and individuals. The St. Michaels Community Center serves as fiscal agent for the community garden, with the $5 per year/per bed rental fee and other donations helping to maintain the property year-round. The land is leased through the Town of St. Michaels. Beds are currently available for the coming season. For more information, call SMCC at 410-745-6073. Social distancing measures outlined by the State of Maryland and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be adhered to for the season. Participants are also encouraged to bring and use their own tools or sanitize shared tools before and after each use. St. Michaels Community Center continues to serve as the Bay Hundred’s food distribution site in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of its mission to serve, empower, and connect the community. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop in St. Michaels, Md. help the nonprofit provide year-round services for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. More information is at stmichaelscc.org.  From left: St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Trish Payne, with Allison (7), Cameron (9), Judith Cornette, and Megan (12) at SMCC as the family drops off their donated items for families in need this holiday season. SMCC is collecting toys, games, books, clothing items, and infant items up until December 18, with donations dropped off at Treasure Cove Thrift Shop or SMCC, and more at stmichaelscc.org.  Judith Cornette of St. Michaels, Md. and her grandchildren recently reached out to the St. Michaels Community Center with items gathered through their following a reverse advent calendar for food banks this holiday season. The children did all the shopping and decorating of the box, and the items will help bring a family hope and joy this season, with the calendar downloaded at bit.ly/reverseadventcal.
The St. Michaels Community Center is seeking donations of new toys, non-perishables, toiletries, and household goods, which can be dropped off or shipped directly to SMCC at 103 Railroad Ave., St. Michaels, Md., 21663.
Charitable donations can be dropped off at Treasure Cove Thrift Shop at 200 Railroad Ave. Mondays through Saturdays from 10 to 2 pm, or at SMCC on Mondays from 5-7 pm; Wednesdays from 3 to 5 pm; and Fridays from 11 to 3 pm. SMCC is collecting toys, games, books, clothing items and infant items up until December 18. Food items and household products can be dropped off anytime. 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 staff and volunteers will also be preparing Christmas meals for pick-up and delivery to those in need. The meals are provided at no charge, with SMCC donors and in-kind donations helping to offset costs through their support. SMCC usually hosts annual community dinners at Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. This year they have transitioned to take-out and delivery meals as part of the Community Center’s role as the Bay Hundred area’s food hub during the COVID pandemic. SMCC also provides emergency clothing and household goods through its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, which is open for shoppers with masks and social distancing Mon. through Sat., 10 to 2 pm. Donations to the Thrift Store of gently used clothing, toys, household goods, and furniture are gratefully accepted each of those days from 10 to 1:30 pm. 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 contribute to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of people from throughout the Bay Hundred area, with more at stmichaelscc.org. |
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