News Notes

Mid-Shore Pro Bono Awarded $183,688 Grant from the Maryland Opioid Operational Command Center

October 29, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Mid-Shore Pro Bono, a non-profit organization on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that provides free access to legal services to low income community members, today announced it has been awarded $183,668.00 for FY21, supported by the Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) competitive grant program. The OOCC is an agency of the state government. The views presented here are those of the grantee organization and not necessarily those of the OOCC, its Executive Director, or its staff. The competitive awards total from OOCC was approximately $5.6M for FY21.

According to the OOCC 2020 Second Quarter Report, there was a 9.4% increase in the number of opioid-related deaths in the first half of 2020 compared to the same time last year. This increase is believed to be related to community consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic including lack of personal support, treatment facility closures and a freeze on different related services. It is no coincidence that the two health threats are feeding each other.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono staff. L-R: Front Row: Ivette Furneisen, Dalia Miguel, Meredith Lathbury Girard, Esq. Back Row: Mandy Caulk, Juanita Sutton, Michele Devine, Kim Corley, Alicia Myers, Sandy Brown, Andie Ross, Esq., Derek Hills, Esq.

“The demand for our family law services has tripled since March 2020,” said Sandy Brown, executive director, Mid-Shore Pro Bono. “We are battling two extreme health crises that are impacting families and have legal remedies. We are grateful to our community partners who supported this application and to the OOCC for this funding that will expand the work we do throughout the Shore.”

The funding will support Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Child Advocacy and Kinship Care project that spans from Kent to Wicomico County. This project provides free legal representation to caregivers seeking third party custody of children who are victims of the opioid crisis, left without parents to care for them. The organization is looking to secure funding to grow support for these efforts in Somerset and Worcester County.

About the Opioid Operational Command Center

The Opioid Operational Command Center’s vision is that Maryland will be a healthier place where no one else falls victim to substance misuse, where anyone impacted by substance use disorder can access the health services they need, and where there is no more suffering from the misuse of substances. Under the guidance of the Inter-Agency Heroin and Opioid Coordinating Council, the OOCC leads Maryland’s opioid-related strategic planning and coordinates the efforts of approximately 20 state agencies, our community partners, and all 24 local jurisdictions throughout the state. If you know someone who is struggling with substance misuse, you can find help at BeforeItsTooLate.Maryland.gov.

About Mid-Shore Pro Bono

The goal of Mid-Shore Pro Bono is to strengthen the communities of Maryland’s Eastern Shore by ensuring equal access to civil justice through connecting low income individuals and families in need of civil legal help with volunteer attorneys and community resources. We believe all residents of the Eastern Shore, regardless of income or circumstance, should have equal access to civil justice. Based on this belief, we envision a community where all individuals should feel respected and empowered throughout the legal system. To learn more or to support our work please visit www.midshoreprobono.org.

Local Management Board Puts forth Community Plan to Reduce Child Poverty by Half

October 28, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Kent County’s Local Management Board (KCLMB), in conjunction with a diverse group of community leaders, developed a broadly owned roadmap to move towards a future where everyone in Kent County has equal access to resources and opportunity.

The primary focus of this roadmap is to increase the economic security and social mobility for the estimated 600 children and their families of Kent County who are most negatively impacted by poverty. These children represent 20% of children in Kent County, underscoring how attainable the goal is. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has exacerbated and increased the challenges for families experiencing poverty, making the roadmap even more urgent. The KCLMB is proposing that the community band together to slash child poverty in half; in other words, moving 300 children above the poverty threshold.

The community needs assessment and planning process collected information from state and local data, key informant interviews, youth focus groups, surveys, community forums, input from community leaders, partner organizations and other stakeholders. This information led the KCLMB to focus directly on leveraging the resources of multi-sector partners and community members to address child poverty in Kent County.

“The incredible input and desire to help from our partners and community members is amazing. Reducing childhood poverty can only be successful through a full community effort and we are thrilled to have the outpouring of support to develop and carry out this community plan,” said Rosemary Ramsey Granillo, Executive Director of the KCLMB.

Harnessing the collective assets of Kent County’s community leaders, stakeholders, and changemakers will ultimately lead toward the positive change of economic security and mobility that will help decrease poverty for Kent County’s most vulnerable families and children. Currently the KCLMB is engaged in three simultaneous strategies to help lower child poverty rates, which are detailed in the Plan’s action items. The first is to increase public understanding and awareness of poverty, thereby exposing the structural forces that incubate poverty, this will drive change in policy and programming. The second is to build Kent County’s ability to meet basic needs in food, housing, and transportation. Addressing these preconditions to economic mobility is a primary concern given the County’s lack of robust housing and transportation options. The third is to expand the local Systems of Care, led by KCLMB staff Doncella Wilson, for families to find and access the resources they need across multiple systems.

Acting with urgency, the KCLMB has recently added capacity and hired a Housing and Transportation Coordinator as a result of this planning process. Dawson Hunter will be leading a basic needs workgroup to further these goals.

“I am fortunate to join a highly driven and passionate set of colleagues to help improve the livelihoods of Kent County citizens,” said Dawson Hunter, Housing and Transportation Coordinator.

Please see the Kent County Local Management Board’s Community Plan for Children, Youth, & Families here.

Stories of the Chesapeake to Provide Small Grants for Heritage Projects

October 28, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area is pleased to be able to provide small grants up to $5000 for heritage projects within the portions of Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties in the heritage area. Recent grants include oral histories, walking tour brochures, interpretative panels, and publication of research.

Eligible activities must address or complete a priority activity identified in and consistent with the goals, objectives, strategies, and actions outlined in the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area Management Plan, which can be found at www.storiesofthechesapeake.org.

Eligible projects include planning; design; the development and presentation of interpretive exhibits, interpretive signage, materials, or other relevant products which promote, interpret and preserve the resources found in the heritage area; and new or pilot programs that encourage revitalization of and reinvestment in heritage area resources such as seminars, conferences, performances, reenactments, commemorations, and festivals.

Capital projects (i.e., “bricks and mortar” renovations, new construction, or purchase of property) are not eligible for a small grant.

Organizations must provide a dollar for dollar match of which at least 40% must be cash; no more than 60% may be in-kind and verify that the project may be completed by September 1, 2021.

Applications must be postmarked or submitted electronically by November 2, 2020.

The application and instructions may be found on the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area website: www.storiesofthechesapeake.org

Please feel free to call – 410-778-1460 or email info@storiesofthechesapeake.org with any questions.

Promoting Child Protection During COVID-19

October 24, 2020 by YMCA of the Chesapeake Leave a Comment

The YMCA of the Chesapeake is participating in the Five Days of Action, October 26-30, 2020. The Five Days of Action is a week designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.

The YMCA of the Chesapeake encourages adults and organizations in the community to play a vital role in making the Eastern Shore a safer place for children, especially during this ever-changing environment. As our communities continue to press pause and participate in social distancing, we know that protecting kids looks different this year. Not only is our community dealing with a pandemic that is separating kids in need from the safe adults in their lives, but there are spikes in domestic violence, cries for social justice for Black lives, and more concerns about the mental health of youth and adults.

Five Days of Action will help communities and parents/caregivers take it One Day at a Time and will offer tips, tools, activities, and resources that are relevant to the current environment.

When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention. Together, we can bring awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our communities and have important conversations around how we can all work together to prevent it from happening.

“Protecting children from sexual abuse must be the number one goal of every person who cares about the health and well-being of kids,” said Jennifer Gill, YMCA of the Chesapeake Vice President of Member Experience. “Together, we can stand up to demand that children are protected and encourage adults to make it happen in our community. It takes all of us.”

The YMCA of the Chesapeake, with support from the YMCA Guardians for Child Protection, YMCA of the USA, Darkness to Light, the Redwoods Group Foundation, and Praesidium have made materials available to help adults learn more about preventing child sexual abuse.

For more information about preventing child sexual abuse visit www.fivedaysofaction.org.

Materials are derived from YMCA of the USA’s “Know. See. Respond.” copyrighted in 2020.

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE STATISTICS – PROVIDED BY DARKNESS TO LIGHT

One in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18^th
90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser.
Approximately 30% of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members.
60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone.
False reports are rare. Research shows that only 4 to 8% of child sexual abuse reports are fabricated.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU BELIEVE A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED – PROVIDED BY DARKNESS TO LIGHT

You do not need to have proof that abuse is occurring to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion means that you have witnessed maltreatment or boundary violations, either in the child or adult, or both. Or, you have received a disclosure from a child about abuse, neglect, or boundary violations towards them.
Child sexual abuse reports should be made to the police and/or state child protective services.
Contact the Darkness to Light Helpline at 866-FOR-LIGHT or text LIGHT to 741741 to have questions answered by trained counselors at no charge.

About the YMCA of the Chesapeake
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits and the largest Human Service organization on the Eastern Shore; strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the Shore, Ys engage 40,000 members and their families, regardless of age, income or background, to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the Shore’s health and wellbeing, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. The YMCA of the Chesapeake operates facilities in Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Talbot, Queen Anne’s and Wicomico Counties in Maryland and on Chincoteague Island in Virginia. Last year, the YMCA of the Chesapeake provided over $1,750,000 in assistance to over 16,000 community members, turning no one away due to inability to pay. Additionally, the Y spent $200,000 on outreach efforts and programming in the communities it serves.

About Darkness to Light

Darkness to Light is a nonprofit organization with the mission to empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse through awareness, education, and stigma reduction. Darkness to Light’s flagship program, Stewards of Children®, is an evidence-informed, award-winning training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. More than 1.9 million adults have been trained using Darkness to Light trainings. For more information, visit www.D2L.org.

About Redwoods Group Foundation

The Redwoods Group Foundation supports programs that can change the world and helps them reach more people than ever before, through funding and backbone support. We currently focus on child sexual abuse prevention, drowning prevention, and growing the field of social entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.redwoodsgroup.com/about-us/redwoods-group-foundation.

About Praesidium

Praesidium specializes in preventing sexual abuse in organizations that serve youth and vulnerable adults. Over a period in excess of 25 years, the company has reviewed over 4,000 cases of abuse within organizations to determine the root causes of sexual abuse within organizational settings. Praesidium employs more than 40 staff, including licensed social workers, lawyers, psychologists, health care researchers, and other experts. The company has served over 5,000 clients with a broad range of products and services to aid organizations in preventing abuse, including online and instructor‐led trainings; organizational risk assessments; model policies and incident investigations. Having trained more than one million people online and hundreds of thousands in person, Praesidium is the largest and most comprehensive sexual abuse risk management firm globally.

FarmersWagon.org to Deliver Thanksgiving Turkeys to Households Facing Hardship

October 22, 2020 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

FarmersWagon.org, the local online farmers’ market and food non-profit, announced a new partnership with local poultry startup, Melitota Turkeys. Along with their customers, Melitota Turkeys and FarmersWagon.org will provide small to medium-size turkeys to food-insecure households this Thanksgiving. In addition to the partnership, Melitota Turkeys also join other local food producers in offering its product on FarmersWagon.org.

“We had a lot of customers ask about donating a turkey this year, but we weren’t sure how to get the donated turkeys to the families that need them,” said Caroline Debnam, Director of Business Operations at Melitota Turkeys. “I reached out to Kristen Nickerson at Langenfelder Pork© and she pointed me in the direction of FarmersWagon.org.” The partnership will offer a Buy One, Give One promotion on Melitota Turkeys’ website (melitotaturkeys.com), and FarmersWagon.org’s online farmers’ market (farmerswagon.org) allowing customers to provide a turkey in addition to purchasing their own. For anyone who has already purchased their Thanksgiving centerpiece, or interested in donating a turkey to a local family in need, Melitota Turkeys and FarmersWagon.org are offering a Give a Turkey option.

“I’ve been following Melitota Turkeys’ story since their first post in the Chestertown Life Facebook Group this Summer,” tells Lyle Pinder, Executive Director of FarmersWagon.org. “It’s an honor to be a part of the latest chapter of a story that goes back five generations. After working with Caroline and seeing the Debnam family’s willingness to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors facing hunger and hardship this Thanksgiving, it’s a reminder of what a community really can be and why FarmersWagon.org was started earlier this year.” In addition to offering individuals, families, and other organizations the opportunity to provide a turkey to a household facing hardship this Thanksgiving, Melitota Turkeys will also donate a portion of its proceeds to FarmersWagon.org’s Care Package Fund which provides equitable recurring benefits to food-insecure households in Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot County.

To participate in the Buy One, Give One promotion, or the Give a Turkey option, visit the Melitota Turkeys website or FarmersWagon.org by Sunday, November 8. Turkeys purchased for your household can be picked up from the farm or delivered. All donated turkeys will be delivered by FarmersWagon.org. To refer a household who is in need or to apply for a donated turkey, please contact support@farmerswagon.org or call (443)333-9336.

About FarmersWagon.org
FarmersWagon.org is a non-profit organization that addresses food insecurity in Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot County. With its work, FarmersWagon.org aspires to ensure every household has sustainable access and sufficient resources to meet the food needs of its members with fresh and nutritious options. The organization’s mission is funded by retail sales of locally-sourced protein, produce, and artisan foods through its online farmers’ market. FarmersWagon.org commits 70% of its NET Revenue to provide equitable recurring benefits, also known as the “Care Package Program,” to food-insecure households.

About Melitota Turkeys
Melitota Turkeys of Pond View Farm launched in June of 2020 by filling its iconic white dairy barn with hens after finding a void along the east coast in fresh market turkeys. Pond View Farm is a fifth-generation family-owned and operated farm located near Chestertown, Maryland. The Debnam’s farm corn, wheat, and soybeans throughout Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Cecil Counties.

What Is Food Insecurity?
The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. According to recent research, based on USDA guidelines, there are currently more than 30,000 households in FarmersWagon.org’s service area that live with hunger or food insecurity on a daily basis.

Maryland State Board of Elections Issues Statement on Ballot Drop Boxes

October 21, 2020 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Linda Lamone issued the following statement today regarding ballot drop boxes:

“Maryland voters should be aware that, once open, all authorized ballot drop boxes in the state will remain open until November 3 at 8 p.m. Each drop box is equipped with a lock that holds the ballot deposit slot open at all times. It has come to our attention that some voters, upon seeing locks on ballot boxes, have assumed the boxes are closed. This is not the case. Ballots should be inserted in the slot located above the lock as indicated by red arrows. We encourage all eligible voters who would like to utilize ballot drop boxes to review the list of drop box locations and opening dates online.”

The following image depicts a lock holding the ballot deposit slot open and the proper way to insert a ballot into the drop box.

A complete list of drop box locations and opening dates is available at:

https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/PG20_Drop%20Box%20Locations.pdf

Each Maryland jurisdiction has at least two ballot drop box locations available to voters. The state’s most populous counties and the City of Baltimore will have additional ballot drop boxes to accommodate the greater number of eligible voters residing in those jurisdictions. Voters can submit their completed mail-in ballots in any drop box located in their jurisdiction of residence. The completed ballots should be sealed in the return envelope that accompanies the ballot in the mail.

In all, 284 ballot drop boxes will be available at 283 locations around the state. Two ballot drop boxes are available at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Individual ballot box locations were proposed by the local boards of election across the state.

“Using authorized ballot drop boxes is a safe and easy way to exercise your right to vote during the pandemic,” Lamone said. “Drop boxes are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring voters can cast their ballots whenever it is convenient and also avoid crowds and lines.”

Each ballot drop box is under 24/7 security and surveillance to protect against tampering or vandalism. Ballots are collected daily by sworn election officials and taken directly to authorized canvassing locations to maintain a chain of custody and ensure proper processing.

Spunkwear Donates a Portion of Mask Sales to Haven Ministries

October 20, 2020 by Amy Blades Steward Leave a Comment

Spunkwear, a local apparel company based on Kent Island, had to pivot its business last spring with the arrival of COVID-19. Sheilah Ruppert, the founder of Spunkwear, got creative and designed a new line of facemasks that are lightweight, offering breathability and comfort, but which are also fun and stylish.

“When we turned our attention to making masks, I decided that we’d donate a portion of sales to Haven Ministries. I’ve always been impressed with the uplifting work they do and the dignified manner in which they serve our community” states Ruppert.

Over the summer, the sales of Spunkwear’s masks for men, women, and children, as well as neck gaiters, took off. The company gained recognition regionally and nationally and was even featured on the television show, “The View,” this past July. To date, Spunkwear has donated $18,490 to Haven Ministries.

L-R: Krista Pettit, Executive Director of Haven Ministries, receiving a check from Sheilah Ruppert owner of Spunkwear, a local apparel company based on Kent Island.

Since March, Haven Ministries has seen an increased need for its programs and services throughout Queen Anne’s County. The Shelter has remained open throughout 2020 serving 52 people, including 12 children. Over 3500 people in Queen Anne’s County have received 81,516 pounds of food and Haven Ministries has provided over $23,000 of financial assistance to its neighbors. As the winter months near, the organization is hoping that other local businesses will step up as business partners as Spunkwear has done.

“We can’t begin to thank Spunkwear for their generous support during this time. As we move into the fall and winter months, we will have a continued need for funds to support shelter, food, clothing, and resources for those challenged by COVID. As residents of Queen Anne’s County continue to struggle with finding affordable housing, we will also require funds for housing assistance,” comments Krista Pettit, Executive Director of Haven Ministries.

For further information about donating or becoming a Business Partner of Haven Ministries, visit haven-ministries.org or call Krista Pettit at 410-739-4363.

Love shapes the ministry, love transforms people, and hope prevails at Haven Ministries. Haven Ministries operates a seasonal Homeless Shelter, a Resource Center and Food Pantry at 206 Del Rhodes Avenue in Queenstown, Our Daily Thread Thrift Store in Stevensville, Hope Warehouse in Queenstown, and a Resource Center at Fisher Manor.

The League of Women Voters of Kent County Meeting

October 20, 2020 by League of Women Voters Leave a Comment

The League of Women Voters of Kent County will conclude its yearlong celebration of the ratification of the 19^thAmendment giving women the right to vote, and the 100^th birthday of the founding of the League of Women Voters, by hosting a lecture, “Parades, Presidents, and Protests: Suffragists and the White House.”

On October 26 at 4:00 p.m. the League will present this lecture by Colleen Shogan on Zoom. Dr. Shogan is the Senior Vice President of the White House Historical Association and the Director of the David Rubenstein Center for White House History. She is also the Vice Chair of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission. Dr. Shogan received her Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University and has published essays, books and scholarly articles on presidential leadership, women in politics and Congress.

The public is invited to join the Zoom meeting. To receive an invitation please send a request to Sandy Bjork at sbjork@atlanticbb.net and include the subject line “Shogan-Oct 26”.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization dedicated to promoting informed and active participation in government; it does not support or oppose any candidates or political parties.

Girl Scouts Launch New STEM Program

October 17, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay are proud to announce the launch of a new in person girl led STEM program “GSCB Program on the Move.” With our first series “Crazy for Circuits” girls have the opportunity to learn the science behind a battery, parts of a circuit, what happens when a circuit is not complete all like enjoying creating the circuits to power a lightbulb, fan and more!

The inaugural event was held October 13th at Camp Todd in Denton, MD. A group of Brownies enjoyed “Crazy for Circuits” at the GSCB Program Center. From now through November 21st the Program on the Move series of events will be taking place throughout the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay tri-state footprint!

This is a welcomed fun, in person, hands on experience that many girls are lacking right now with the current classroom restrictions. GSCB has set up event areas for girls to participate while social distancing, and taking all possible coronavirus prevention precautions.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer girls an experience to connect with peers and explore STEM based hands on activities. Families and girls are craving to have a sense of normalcy. While taking all precautions for COVID-19 mitigation, Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay is resilient and eager to move forward safely,” Claudia Peña Porretti CEO of Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay.

For information on all events please visit gscb.org/events. These are open to Girl Scouts of all program levels, not a Girl Scout? Interested in events like this and more, join now at gscb.org/join.

ShoreRivers Donates River-Friendly Yard to First Kent Attainable Home

October 14, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Kent Attainable Housing (KAH), the recently-formed non-profit organization, is pleased to announce receipt of a generous donation from ShoreRivers of a river-friendly yard for the Garnet House, its first home located across from Garnet Elementary School on College Avenue in Chestertown. In keeping with the organization’s mission to assist landowners, towns, and communities in funding and developing innovative pollution-reduction projects, ShoreRivers will provide the concept and the native plants, specifically tailored to the location. Volunteers will do the planting to create a low-maintenance yard that will serve as a demonstration of good land and water stewardship.

In a statement Darran Tilghman, ShoreRivers Director of Community Engagement, said, “ShoreRivers is so excited to partner with Kent Attainable Housing on its first home, and to collaborate with a family to become good stewards of our waterways. The river-friendly yard we are co-designing will mimic the natural environment to benefit water quality, native species, and our local ecosystem. In a time when it is easy to feel despondent about our environmental future, this is a hopeful truth: stitching together small habitats into conservation corridors may make the essential difference we need for all species, including our own, to thrive. Each of us can make positive change in our own backyard while enjoying beautiful, resilient native species.”

Photo: ShoreRivers staff Tim Trumbauer and Darran Tilghman (pre-COVID-19) explore the property of the first KAH home site with VP of Construction Ed Minch to create a river-friendly yard that ShoreRivers is donating to the Garnet House.

River-friendly yards feature colorful and low-maintenance native plants, create bird and pollinator habitat, improve soggy lawns and basements, and help to restore water quality in Eastern Shore waterways. ShoreRivers 24-page booklet ”River Friendly Yards” contains tips, strategies, recommended native plants, and illustrations and can be found at https://www.shorerivers.org/river-friendly-yards.

“We are very grateful to ShoreRivers for this wonderful contribution. Not only will it create a very attractive streetfront, but it will serve as a model for other homeowners who put a priority on conservation,” said Lani Seikaly, President of the KAH Board of Directors.

KAH is creating home ownership opportunities for local, low-families in need of safe, decent, and affordable housing. To date, more than twenty-four applicants have turned to Kent Attainable Housing, Inc. in search of affordable housing. Their first home is in production at the Beracah plant and scheduled to arrive on October 26 where volunteers will complete the home and landscape the grounds. KAH has secured a second piece of property to begin construction for another family.

More information about ShoreRivers can be found on their website at https://www.shorerivers.org. You can view Kent Attainable Housing’s website at http://kentattainablehousing.org.

Sections

More