From SMCC Exec. Dir. Trish Payne: Humanity at its Best in St. Michaels, Md.

(ST. MICHAELS, MD – April 15, 2020)  As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps around the globe, uncertainty and apprehension travels right along with it. But humanity, as it often does, rises to the challenge in so many ways big and small, as I have been lucky enough to witness in St. Michaels, Md. through my role as the St. Michaels Community Center’s Executive Director.
 
In addition to all the selfless health care workers, law enforcement agencies, grocery workers, food manufacturers, truck drivers, churches, social service groups, soup kitchens and more, there are also many unseen heroes among us. Neighbors, friends, and strangers are stepping up to support each other and the folks on the front lines helping to keep our communities safe, heal the sick and feed the hungry.
 
The St. Michaels Community Center is honored to be part of an amazing community of food support organizations operating under the Talbot County Emergency Services Task Force. We have been working hard to keep food on the tables and bags of groceries in the homes of those in need in the Bay Hundred area in partnership with other food banks, churches, and Meals on Wheels, and many local businesses and incredible volunteers pulling together.
 
One of the early tasks SMCC accepted was to make deliveries to anyone in need in the Bay Hundred area. Very quickly, we realized there were going to be a LOT of deliveries.
 
While “Old Blue”—SMCC’s trusty small school bus—has served us well transporting children to the Center’s after-school programs, transporting large pick-ups of cases of food bank orders three times a week was going to be pushing it.
 
Then, Mr. Scott Wagner of St. Michaels, Md. walked into SMCC while the staff was rushing to prepare one of the weekly meal and grocery shipments. I had never met Mr. Wagner.
 
He and I spoke for quite a while about the St. Michaels Community Center and the efforts our community and county were undergoing to fight this invisible invader. Within days, Scott and his wife Tracy stunned SMCC with a nearly new Ford Transit, 15-seat passenger/cargo van to help us fulfill our mission to serve.
 
This incredibly generous act of kindness—and all the other support SMCC and the other hardworking organizations and agencies are receiving—give us the inspiration and determination needed to keep going and helps us get through this the best way we can. Thank you!
 
 
–Trish Payne, Executive Director, St. Michaels Community Center