SPAN October Update

As the weather is starting to cool, it’s time for some of SPAN’s fun fall traditions – our Turkey Trot and Holiday Caring program.

Join us for the 12th Stride for SPAN Turkey Trot 5K race and one-mile fun walk on Saturday, November 2. Held at Kinder Farm Park, the event is our main fundraiser and a great community tradition. Many local businesses sponsor the event and are contributing gift cards that will be the prizes for the winners in the different age categories. Registration is available at www.spanhelps.org. If you are interested in sponsoring or volunteering at the event, please contact us.

Our Holiday Caring program is for our clients, families who have come to us when they needed help to ensure they had enough food for the month or when they were facing an eviction or utility turnoff. A lot of our clients are employed and still have a difficult time paying for necessary expenses, and then when life throws them a curveball – a broken car, a health crisis or other unplanned emergency expense – it gets to be too much. A few of our Holiday Caring families have a family member with cancer, several of them have chronic health issues that make employment difficult, and some are helping to care for extended family. It is a blessing to know that together we were able to relieve some of the holiday stress for these families.

SPAN is seeking about 100 generous sponsors for our Holiday Caring program this year. With your support, we can provide Christmas gifts for children and help with a delicious meal for families’ Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. You can sponsor a child for the holidays by providing gifts or gift cards. You also have the option to provide food and/or gift cards for holiday dinners. For more information, email spanhelps@yahoo.com or go to www.tinyurl.com/spanholidaycaring to sign up. Together, we can brighten the holidays for these families.

At SPAN, I hear from people dealing with difficult situations. Visiting with friends in the evenings, I am reminded that all of us go through rough moments – hospital visits, major repair expenses and family members who need extra care. It is great when we have each other – to listen, to provide a hand, to help with a meal. When we are there for each other, life is better.

At SPAN, I see daily examples of people being there for each other. I communicated on social media and through our member churches that our pancake, syrup and jelly shelves were bare. Then I saw those items being dropped off and a noticeable difference on the shelves. I see examples of our volunteers going above and beyond – whether buying needed pantry items themselves, stepping up to help with our special events or taking extra time trying to find additional information for a client. And I see examples of our clients being there for their neighbors, helping with transportation and sharing items that they cannot use.

With all of SPAN’s events, there are lots of opportunities to join us in helping others this season.

SPAN (Serving People Across Neighborhoods) is an independent nonprofit food pantry and emergency services provider that has been helping local families with eviction prevention, utility turnoffs, medical/prescription bills, and food since 1990. SPAN serves 15 zip codes in Anne Arundel County. SPAN is located behind Our Shepherd Lutheran Church at 400 Benfield Road in Severna Park. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 10:00am-1:30pm. For more information, call 410-647-0889, email spanhelps@yahoo.com or visit www.spanhelps.org. Financial donations may be made through the website. Food donations may be dropped off 24/7 using the storage bin behind SPAN’s building. Please “like” SPAN on Facebook!