Supporter Corner
by Jason Strecker
After almost 20 years at the “514” address on Crain Highway, Arundel House of Hope (AHOH) has moved its Day Center in Glen Burnie. The exact address is 7164 East Furnace Branch Road and friends are already making their way there for the support and resources that staff and volunteers offer clients. Although “514” will always be a special place in our memories, I see this new location as officially making the house of hope a “home” for everyone to come.
The new location offers the Resource and Day Center, Community Recovery Center and case management services all in a one floor building. The most important part for me is the continued fellowship that is offered to everyone. When I first entered the new location this past April, I was met at the front desk by the warm welcome of my friend and AHOH staff member Kevin. I continued inside and was greeted by other special staff and volunteers. This is not just a good feeling that I get as a former volunteer and staff member. This is the feeling that any guest, whether a client, volunteer or donor gets from the AHOH staff led by Program Director Charity Cummings and others such as Community Engagement Associate Dawn Baskin.
With my experience as a volunteer in the homeless resource field, I’ve had many special memories in service to others. In just a few months of this new AHOH location being open, I’ve seen a few of my most favorite memories. While I normally come back to AHOH once a month for Solley United Methodist Church lunches, I plan on coming back as much as I can to this new location. Other friends are joining me as well, with excitement.
Two of the most recent special events have included longtime AHOH staff member Ronnie Vaughn’s birthday celebration and the third Thursday Solley lunch. Due to medical issues, Ronnie has not been able to work and attending AHOH functions has been rare though friends visit him at home. With AHOH’s new location offering better handicap accessibility, Ronnie is now able to attend. For his birthday, staff members and AHOH clients were by his side to celebrate this man so important to us all.
Additionally, the third Thursday Solley lunch is a fun event each month and this recent May third Thursday topped all others. Close to 20 AHOH staff and supporters all got together this day to offer food and friendship to each other and most importantly AHOH clients. Just prior to lunch being served, the volunteers of “Together” offered their regular 12 step recovery meeting. This is led by husband and wife founders of Together, Father Ed Jansen and Amma Trish Gaffney with regular volunteers Yvette and John. During lunch time, Father Ed and Amma Trish offer support for the troubles of those facing homelessness. John helps take care of both client and volunteer needs, with food prep and helping handle donations. Yvette serves as the day’s official photographer to capture our memories.
This May’s Solley volunteers were my longtime friend Cindy, her sister Debbie and friends Ramona and Linda. Along with these special ladies, mutual friends of Cindy and me, Doug and Bob from Annapolis Church of Christ came for the first time. They enjoyed it so much they are planning on making it a regular part of their schedule. Other supporters included former Day Center and Winter Relief Program Director Karen Biagiotti along with former Winter Relief church site coordinators Joe Dulany and Alice Neary, who were both seeing the new AHOH for the first time. Dawn happily gave Joe and Alice a tour of the new location. It was a great feeling seeing their contributions to the homeless resource community appreciated by a new staff member such as Dawn.
Lunch time together was still not over and we all were continuing to reminiscence about old memories and make new ones. This was a day I hoped would never end but when it did I was left with so much hope for the future. To staff and supporters of AHOH, I hope you all continue to serve with kindness. I hope new supporters come and donate not just food and material goods but lifelong friendship. I hope I do my best to continue to give back and pay forward all the goodness given to me by clients, staff and supporters.
Sincerely,
Jason
Arundel House of Hope Volunteer/Staff 2008-2010
