Jan Gamby, Author at San Mar Hope

San Mar Alumni Charles Burkett appointed County Commissioner

May 14, 2021

With the recent vacancy on the five seat elected Board of Washington County Commissioners, Governor Larry Hogan recently confirmed that San Mar alumni Charles Burkett was the best choice to fill the position. This success story is less to do with the future, and much more a reflection of the journey to now.

“I came to San Mar Children’s Home in 1972 with my 3 siblings. I left San Mar in 1984 to return home with my father. Although circumstances dictate a person’s view of their past, my experience at San Mar was one of exceptional care during a period that my parents were unable to care for me.”

Although the service model of San Mar has changed significantly since Charlie’s childhood, the new strategies of family and community based services are still consistent with the continuing focus of unconditional care for children and families. Former long-time San Mar staff member Sallie Dorsey fondly remembers Charlie and explained, “He never gave up when things got tough, and his faith got him through those times. His appointment as Commissioner is so well deserving and I’m so proud of him.” Charlie’s experience with the work of San Mar had an impact, so much so that he decided he wanted to find a way to give back.

“People like Mr. & Mrs Giffin, Mr. & Mrs. Black, Ms. Sallie Dorsey, Ms. Darlene Pryor, Mr. Share, and many others, played an important role in making me into who I am today. With that said, I knew one day that I wanted to give back to San Mar, and so from 2005 to 2011, my wife Wendy and our four children stepped up to become foster parents and foster siblings,” Charlie explained.

San Mar Treatment Foster Care relies on the exceptional contributions of foster parents who commit their entire family to local children who are referred in need. The Burkett’s opened their home to make a difference in the lives of many children in Treatment Foster Care.

Current San Mar Chief Executive Officer Keith Fanjoy LCSW-C, remembers his time as a Case Manager for San Mar TFC and working with the Burkett family. “Like any parent, to be a foster parent is to give love to a child by making ongoing sacrifices in their best interest. There are many challenging times in doing this heroic work, and what I most remember most about the Burkett family is the shared commitment of Charlie & Wendy to every child who came into their home, as well as going the extra mile connecting with families from where kids were referred. Charlie’s personal experience helped inform his approach and make a big impact in the lives of not only children in need, but often their parents as well. The recent recognition he’s received is really just a validation of the man of integrity he has always been.”

Charlie explained, “Each child that came into our home had their own challenges especially under the circumstances, but our faith in God and our desire to give back, made the tough times a little easier. We are still in contact with and have continuing relationships with some of these children who called our house home and how we helped shape them.”

After completing his time with San Mar TFC, Charlie was the successful owner and operator of several businesses including ServTec and Burkett’s Deli, before selling them and focusing his efforts on local ministry.

Fanjoy shared, “For every child or family that has ever been a part of San Mar like Charlie, we think of you often, we continue to hope & dream for your future, and most importantly, we want you to know that you’re always part of the San Mar family. Victories of past clients like the story of Charlie is the fuel that keep us moving forward”

To learn more about the important work happening every day at San Mar Family & Community Services, through efforts such as Treatment Foster Care, outpatient mental health services at the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being or the Bester Community of Hope initiative, find us online at www.sanmarhope.org.

FY20 Annual Report Showcases Impact of San Mar Programs

March 31, 2021

San Mar Family & Community Services released it’s FY20 Annual Report today at our quarterly organizational staff meeting. The signature report highlights the transformational work occurring across the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being outpatient mental health center, Treatment Foster Care and the Bester Community of Hope Initiative, along with key organizational efforts, financials and philanthropy partners. San Mar CEO Keith Fanjoy shared,”I’m so proud to share this report that highlights the amazing things happening across the organization. When we are able to take a step back and understand how much we have accomplished in a single year with limited resources and capacity; it really is a reflection of the resilience and shared commitment of our staff and foster parents who live our unconditional care values every single day.” Explore the full document here: SanMarFY20 Annual Report

San Mar Family & Community Services appoints new board members

March 28, 2021

Over the past several months there have been new appointments to the San Mar Family & Community Services Board of Managers. Celebrating 137 years of continuous service, San Mar operates Treatment Foster Care and the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being outpatient mental health services from their Boonsboro campus, as well as the Bester Community of Hope initiative through their neighborhood-based office in Hagerstown. San Mar CEO Keith Fanjoy shared,” Board members play an essential role in ensuring that our operation remains true to its mission, while also playing an important role in the community to communicate and connect others to the efforts we pursue every day that often go unseen. Committing to be a part of the board is making a difference not with words, but with selfless action. This group is an impressive collection of local citizens sharing their most valuable asset: their time.”

Helen Mency brings a wealth of experience including an extensive career supporting young people with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, as well as being a past staff member and foster parent for San Mar. Following her own storied playing career as a Division I scholarship athlete at Providence, she was able to return home and give back by coaching local athletes for over 26 years in track & field and women’s basketball at a variety of places including South Hagerstown High School. Helen remains actively involved in Washington County with many important local causes including supporting the work of her husband at the Greater Campher Temple.

William P. Young Jr., spent close to fifty years a local real estate attorney and has spent much of the past decade collaborating with San Mar during its organizational transformation in his role of almost twenty-five years as the Executive Director of the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation. Raised in Hagerstown, Young received his Bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and his law degree from the University of Maryland, before joining the military to serve as a Judge Advocate General, with decorated service during the Vietnam war and other overseas assignments. Young and his wife Frances have an extensive history of serving various non-profits, particularly those in Washington County.

Charles Burnett joins the board after making a career of service to others. He began his career with a successful ten years of military service in the U.S. Army. Following his time as a Sergeant working in locations around the world, Burnett returned to Washington County to begin a lengthy career at the Maryland Department of Juvenile services in a variety of roles supporting the youth connected with the agency and was recognized as the DJS employee of the year in 2006. He has taken on a variety of roles supporting local youth including most recently joining Smithsburg High School as their head girls’ basketball coach.

Sila Alegret-Bartel is originally from Cuba and has lived in the United States since 1966. She is founder and president of International Corporate Training and Marketing, LLC (ICTM).

Prior to founding ICTM in 2002, Sila worked in banking, marketing and non-profit organizations in the DC area. Sila worked for Security Bank, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Kiplinger Marketing Services and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). ICTM is a diversified company that has been providing translation and interpretation services and corporate training in the tri-state area (MD-PA-WV) since 2005. She was a founding member of the Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-Frederick), United Way of Frederick County and American Red Cross-Frederick County Chapter. Currently, Sila is the Western Region Chapter Director of the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Horizon Goodwill Industries, Mission and Outreach Committee Chair and Board Member of Keystone Health.

To learn more about the important work occurring every day at San Mar Family & Community Services, go to www.sanmarhope.org.

North High Students Donate Laptops to Area Children

March 20, 2021

By Alexis Fitzpatrick – Herald Mail Media

On Friday afternoon, Northern Middle School sixth-grader Leila Mielke got to take home a new laptop with the hopes of developing a handy skill — coding.

The 11-year-old was one of eight recipients of computers bought and donated by Digital Civics, a club made up of North Hagerstown High School students that aims to get youths interested in coding.

Leila, who participates with Girls Inc. in Hagerstown, said she is excited to learn more about computer programming.

Her father, Jon Mielke, supports his daughter’s interest.

“The more you can learn about computers, the better,” he said.

The laptops were handed out to the fourth- through eighth-graders at the Fletcher Branch of the Washington County Free Library Fletcher in Hagerstown.

While the facility has reopened for browsing and computer use, Young Adult Librarian Ann Shilling said the Digital Civics giveaway was the first in-person event the library hosted since closing down to the public on March 13, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shilling said the students in the club are “library kids” who frequented the teen department prior to the closure.

When North High junior Rayan Shahid contacted her about helping out, she suggested choosing local children involved with Girls Inc. and Bester Community of Hope to receive the donations.

Rayan said Digital Civics was founded on the message that coding, especially in the hands of the younger generation, could help the world.

The club already created an app that helps Spanish speakers learn about American government through vocabulary lists of government terms, interactive articles and quizzes. They also launched a website, Educación a Distancia, that provides tips about virtual learning resources for Spanish-speaking families with children in Washington County Public Schools.

Currently, the group has a GoFundMe campaign called “Bring Arduinos to Jamaican Schools” to raise funds for Joining Jamaica to help provide resources for computer science education to schools in Jamaica with little WiFi access. Arduino boards are micro controllers that can be used by students to code robots and smart devices such as thermometers and motion sensors, according to the campaign.

For Friday’s giveaway, Rayan said the group of 11 to 13 members had been planning for months, including raising more than $1,500 through a GoFundMe campaign to purchase the laptops.

“We have it so every once in a while they can report back and say what they’ve been doing, like what code-related things they’re doing … but it’s their laptop to keep,” he said.

Digital Civics members and North High juniors Anish Gupta, Musa Waseem, Mohid Basha, Ryland Mata and Ali Zia were also present to hand out the computers.

Ali, who co-founded Digital Civics with Anish, said there were “no barriers to entry” with coding being largely self-directed.

“We wanted to show them they don’t need an insane amount of resources. Sometimes you only need one laptop to completely change your life or change your career path,” he said. “You can do basically anything within reasonable bounds and expand the access to knowledge. We thought that was a really beautiful thing, so we wanted to give that opportunity to kids who didn’t get to do that.”

Ali said there was a wealth of “untapped potential” in the Hagerstown community, and encouraging a work ethic in younger children could be vital.

“Sometimes people overcomplicate the mathematics of helping people. We kind of simplify that,” Ali said.

Original article available here: https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/brightside/north-high-students-donate-laptops-to-area-children/article_821be475-1edf-5bf5-a430-36f971378b2f.html

Desmond Tutu’s daughter, autistic professor to speak at Bester event

January 25, 2021

By Mike Lewis, Herald Media

Bester Community of Hope has set a new date and added two more speakers for its annual training event, “Breaking the Cycle.”

The organization previously announced that Sue Klebold, mother of Columbine High School shooter Dylan Klebold, would speak at the session.

On Monday, the organization announced two more speakers. They are Temple Grandin, a professor, best-selling author, animal behaviorist and autism self-advocate who is in international demand as a speaker, and the Rev. Nontombi Tutu, a native of South Africa and the third child of Archbishop Desmond and Nomalizo Leah Tutu.

Bester Community of Hope is an initiative of San Mar.

The training, originally scheduled for April 2020, was initially postponed to April 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fanjoy said.

The event is now scheduled for Oct. 7 at The Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown, according to Monday’s announcement.

A news release stated that, with the “promising rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and continued use of masks and social distancing,” organizers are optimistic they can conduct the event in person this fall.

Fanjoy said organizers do not want to hold a virtual session if it’s possible to conduct it in person.

“For those who have attended our past events, they understand the power of not only attending a training event like this in person, but also the networking and the dialogue that occurs,” he said.

The yearly training usually attracts between 400 and 500 people, including educators, law enforcement officers, nurses, social workers and community members, according to past Herald-Mail Media reports.

The following information about the speakers was taken from a flyer for the event:

• Temple Grandin is described as “an extraordinary inspiration for autistic children and their parents.” She is the subject of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning HBO film “Temple Grandin” and was one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. She recounts “groping her way from the far side of darkness” in her book, “Emergence: Labeled Autistic.”

• The Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu, an activist for human rights, experienced the challenges of growing up Black and female in apartheid South Africa. The guiding principle of her Nozizwe Consulting effort is to bring different groups together to learn from and celebrate their differences and acknowledge their shared humanity. She has led truth and reconciliation workshops for groups dealing with different types of conflict.

• Sue Klebold is the mother of Dylan Klebold, one of the two gunmen responsible for the Columbine High School shootings of April 20, 1999, in Littleton, Colo. She is dedicated to the advancement of mental health awareness and intervention

Original story here: https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/desmond-tutus-daughter-autistic-professor-to-speak-at-bester-event/article_034984b8-daed-5d34-b98e-903bb609e50c.html

Savoy lent a ‘compassionate heart’ to San Mar’s foster care program

November 5, 2020

By Dave McMillon, Herald Media

Some children and youths face trauma in their lives.

And Ellen Savoy was there to help many of them by connecting the kids with caring foster parents.

Now Savoy, former director of treatment foster care at San Mar Family and Community Services near Boonsboro, has decided it’s time for someone else to take the reins.

San Mar, a private, nonprofit organization, used to serve as an orphanage, then it began serving girls through a group home. Savoy thought the program could do more for girls by connecting them with caring foster families in the county.

San Mar ultimately obtained a license to operate a foster care program, and it branched out to serve boys, too.

Savoy estimates San Mar has served close to 500 youths through the program over the years.

Savoy said the foster program was crucial to the development of youths, particularly as they began to “age out” at 18 years old. Savoy said girls in the program, for example, might feel they are ready to move in with a boyfriend at that age, but they are not always ready for that transition.

The foster program offers the older youths the ability to stay connected with their foster families to help them succeed in their life transitions, Savoy said.

Many of the foster families are in the Boonsboro and Sharpsburg area. The families are within a 30-mile radius of the center, Savoy said.

Savoy and her husband, Jim, were foster parents through San Mar and they also adopted a girl who was 2 1/2 months old when she came to them. She’s 41 years old now.

“And I don’t know how that happened,” Savoy said, smiling.

Separating children from their biological family can have a significant impact on the individual, and Savoy said raising her daughter was a tremendous learning experience for her. Regarding San Mar’s foster parents, Savoy said she was better able to “walk their journey” with them thanks to her life with her daughter.

Savoy, who lives in Hagerstown, said she is satisfied knowing she retired because she believes it was time to hand over the position to a younger person.

“This has been my baby all these years,” she said.

Keith Fanjoy, chief executive officer of San Mar, said when he arrived at the center 15 years ago as a treatment foster care case manager, Savoy was his supervisor. Fanjoy said he had worked in other human service organizations, and when he arrived, Savoy reignited his belief that change is possible for kids through an organization like San Mar.

“One of the most valuable gifts someone can give to others is their time and love. The children and families we serve have always experienced Ellen’s patient faith, compassionate heart and the immeasurable benefit of her knowing firsthand what it means to be a foster and adoptive parent. Her fingerprints are all over San Mar’s core programs,” Fanjoy said in an email.

Original story link here: https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/savoy-lent-a-compassionate-heart-to-san-mars-foster-care-program/article_a9f930ab-e324-5929-af38-a2499f4d7d6a.html

COVID Brings Out the Good Stuff

November 4, 2020

San Mar Family & Community Services has a 137-year-old history of meeting the needs of the community, with foster care programming, mental health services and community based resources to strengthen families. Like many organizations, when COVID-19 arrived in March, San Mar had to remain flexible and adapt to the changing needs of children and families. In the spirit of making lemonade out of lemons, faced with a lack of personal protective equipment, they found creative safety materials for families and then went the extra mile and developed their own hand sanitizer product: The Good Stuff.

In the Spring, all registered families at their Bester Health Center program in Hagerstown received a variety of PPE during different phases of the early months of COVID 19 including kid-friendly cartoon face shields, disposable gloves, and DIY mask kits to go along with various educational resources. These resources were delivered at a distance, door to door, to local families in the Bester school district by the Bester Community of Hope (BCOH) team. In addition, Proper Cloth, a New York based mask manufacturer donated 5000 medical grade masks to be distributed throughout the organization and community for staff and clients. As these hundreds of boxes of supplies were being distributed throughout the Spring and Summer another process was underway, a five-month journey to design, and ultimately produce local hand sanitizer.

San Mar CEO Keith Fanjoy explained, “It was as simple as identifying the need and responding to it, but from there it was a much more complex undertaking. We ran the gamut of all the needs of creating a new product, from scientific research for a formulation, risk management, supply chain and logistics during COVID, and ultimately safe manufacturing and distribution. The hand sanitizer we manufactured is a functional and safe product that we believe will support families to minimize potential risk to the COVID-19 virus.”

All levels of San Mar worked together during the creation of the product, completing the initial run of close to 3000 16 oz. bottles, almost 1500 liters of hand sanitizer, with a formulation that includes 70% isopropyl alcohol, aloe and lemongrass oil, being distributed at no cost to organizations, partners and families specifically located in South End neighborhoods of Hagerstown. Recipients included local houses of faith; elementary, middle and high school teachers; the Community Free Clinic; children and families enrolled through the Bester Health Center; children and families enrolled through Community Triage Services at BCOH; local food distribution efforts and remaining product going to local healthcare and social services efforts.

Health promotion and concrete resources are some of the various community based efforts under Bester Community of Hope, the initiative of San Mar focused on stronger families and communities, and the ability to provide COVID-19 supplies for local families is made possible through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and their Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program through the Maternal & Child Health Bureau, as well as the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation

Jerica Washington LCSW-C, Director of the Center of Well-Being at San Mar and HRSA grant liaison for the effort shared: “This is one small step in meeting needs during a time of uncertainty. We were happy to put ourselves in a space where we could do something in the area of physical health to ensure the well-being of our community.”

To find out about the work occurring at San Mar Family & Community Services, learn more at www.sanmarhope.org.

Interfaith group, local faith leaders to speak at virtual event

October 8, 2020

By Alexis Fitzpatrick, Herald Media

To encourage conversation and instigate a mutual understanding among those of different backgrounds, Bester Community of Hope will present the Interfaith Amigos in a virtual event on Oct. 27.

Neighborhood Partnership Coordinator Kerry Fair said as an organization, Bester Community of Hope has worked to engage with Hagerstown’s faith community and institutions.

Organizations like the Hagerstown Area Religious Coalition have been doing interfaith work for years, and the faith community have been collaborative problem solvers. But Fair said there is always more work to do.

The group includes Imam Jamal Rahman, Rabbi Ted Falcon and Pastor Don Mackenzie. They have spoken all over the U.S., as well as Canada, Israel and Japan.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., the Interfaith Amigos will discuss the usual taboos of interfaith dialogue to create an authentic conversation between themselves and the audience, according to a Bester Community of Hope news release.

At 7:30 p.m., the Amigos will be joined by a local panel of faith leaders, including Rabbi Ari Plost of B’Nai Abraham Synagogue, the Rev. Don Marbury of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, Interfaith Coalition of Washington County coordinator Virginia Wills and Wendi Perry, the director of the Hagerstown Area Religious Coalition.

Fair said those who have registered can submit questions about a week before the event. The questions will be organized into a few different topics for discussion.

“Through an authentic and courageous conversation, the panel will discuss the potential and challenges for interfaith collaboration in Washington County, as well as current societal topics that are impacting all of us,” Bester Community of Hope Director Jen Younker said in the release.

The event is free and participants do not have to be associated with a Hagerstown or Washington County house of worship, according to Fair. She said organizers hope for a large audience of around 300 people who are “willing to have uncomfortable conversations and examine their own spirituality.

“The [COVID-19] pandemic has people questioning existence itself and everything else, so coming together is more important than ever,” Fair said.

Preregistration is required at besterhope.org. Zoom instructions will be sent after registration.

For more information, contact Fair at 240-513-6370 or [email protected].

Original story here: https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/interfaith-group-local-faith-leaders-to-speak-at-virtual-event/article_b35c9204-a764-5192-afee-899aaa8c804d.html

San Mar board names officers

August 13, 2020

Moving into executive officer roles are: President Ryan Lampton of Middletown Valley Bank; Vice President Mark Halsey of University System of Maryland at Hagerstown; Treasurer and Finance Chair Jamie Iseminger of MKS&H and Secretary Teri Cholewicki of Global HR Recruiter.

In addition, the following members continue their service with the board for another year: James Marshall, personnel chair; David Lidz, programs chair; Harry Reynolds, planning chair and Susan Peterson, Sara Abshari and Angela Ford.

“As with past members, this group will ensure that our organization is accountable and responsive to the needs of our community, and are advocates to share the important work we continue to accomplish every day for children, families and communities. We look forward to another year of accomplishing important work and helping San Mar continue to lead the way as an innovative 21st Century child welfare organization.”

During the meeting, the board also recognized the efforts of outgoing President Noel Williams and Program Chair Thomas Burge.

Celebrate San Mar caps off TGBT XXXIII fundraiser!

July 13, 2020

As a part of the 2020 Experience, the modified edition of the Great Bicycle Tour, San Mar Family & Community Services hosted “Celebrate San Mar” last evening which include testimonials of program participants and staff who make San Mar great! As a part of the TV special, there were special appearances as well as a home studio performance from the one and only Avril Lavigne. Check out some of the highlights below!

Singer Avril Lavigne to perform for San Mar cycling fundraiser

June 18, 2020

By Julie Greene – Herald Mail Media

San Mar Family and Community Services has revamped its biggest annual fundraiser in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual four-day Great Bicycle Tour along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal has been shortened to one day with a virtual program on a second day with the events occurring July 11-12.

The virtual program features “special performances,” including one by singer Avril Lavigne, said Keith Fanjoy, CEO of the Boonsboro-area nonprofit.

San Mar officials reached out to Lavigne’s management and are fortunate she is supporting the cause and donating her time, Fanjoy said in a phone interview.

Last year’s bike ride raised over $86,000 for San Mar’s programs.

“It’s our hope the community rallies around us during these difficult times and we can generate some significant fundraising,” Fanjoy said.

Money raised benefits San Mar’s three core programs: The Bester Community of Hope, the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being outpatient mental-health clinic, and treatment foster care. The nonprofit organization licenses and trains certified foster care parents who care for children with significant mental health or behavioral needs as well as supports those youths throughout their stay in the program, Fanjoy said.

Donations can be made through https://sanmarhope.org/donate or by donating to support a rider or providing donations during the live-stream event, Fanjoy said. Information about the ride, including how to sponsor a rider, is available at https://sanmartgbt.org.

The fundraiser features a shorter bike ride around the C&O Canal in the Williamsport area on July 11 or participants can do a full day of riding in their community with the support of a digital application that is provided, according to the nonprofit’s website.

Over 100 cyclists had signed up by Monday to participate, Fanjoy said.

The livestreaming program on July 12 includes a recap of details about the bike ride, information about San Mar’s programs, and performances, he said. That program can be watched at https://sanmartgbt.org, through the Facebook page for the Great Bicycle Tour or through Antietam Broadband’s WCL-TV on-the-go app, Fanjoy said. The livestream also will be aired from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Antietam’s WCL-TV, channels 6 and 806.

Lead sponsors for the 33rd ride are The Nora Roberts Foundation, Antietam Broadband, SEK, Bitner Henry, Keller Stonebraker and Staples.

See original story here:

https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/singer-avril-lavigne-to-perform-for-san-mar-cycling-fundraiser/article_0b5d56a8-b0ab-11ea-9f1f-73a2a95bdb0e.html

Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being releases FY19 annual report

June 8, 2020

We’re happy today to release the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being Annual Report for FY19. This report reflects many of the important developmental steps under the leadership of clinic director Jerica Washington and her amazing team. As our newest program, the JEB Center is in the midst of another phenomenal year of growth, we are all excited to see the continued evolution of an outpatient mental health clinic that puts the people we serve first!

Go Team JEB!

See more here: Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being Annual Report FY19

BCOH releases FY19 annual report

May 12, 2020

Bester Community of Hope, a San Mar Initiative, has released the FY19 annual report, a beautiful snapshot of the important work occurring everyday in the heart of Hagerstown’s south end to support children, strengthen families and build strong neighborhoods. Follow the link to learn more about all the tangible activities, and the continued journey forward: FY 19 BCOH Annual Report

“Just Call” Film Premiere

April 9, 2020

Bester Community of Hope releases “Just Call”, an important video to educate the general public to see the signs of child abuse & neglect, and a call to action for families to get the supportive services they need to prevent child abuse. Originally intended to premiere at the now postponed April 9th event “Breaking the Cycle” due to COVID-19, the short film and supplemental video is now available on the Bester Community of Hope website www.besterhope.org and their corresponding YouTube channel. Developed with HighRock and Authentic Community Theatre, as well as other important stakeholders and funders, is released during the month of April in concert with Child Abuse Prevention Month. Learn more about this effort and our work at www.besterhope.org.

BCOH promotes health and assets on Walking Loop

October 27, 2019

Getting exercise outside in Hagerstown just got a little easier.

The new South End walking loop officially was finished in early October and is ready for walkers.

“It’s so great to have a path laid out for you,” said Kerry Fair, neighborhood partnership coordinator for Bester Community of Hope. “It’s easy to navigate, and gives the community a fun way to exercise.”

The 3-mile loop was created by Bester Community of Hope with a grant from the Washington County Health Department in support of the group’s walking school bus initiative.

Fair said it was created in an attempt to find a way to connect bus stops in the South End and make them more accessible.

“When we looked at the number of stops and how to connect them, we discovered that it came out to be almost a 5K,” Fair said. “We thought it would be great to just make it a walking loop to help promote and encourage exercise.”

To help bring information to the community in one place, the project includes four boards where local updates will be posted.

The boards will include fliers for upcoming events, a calendar of activities, and useful tips and information for members of the community. They will be maintained by Bester Community of Hope and the Neighborhoods 1st groups of Hagerstown.

“We thought that the boards would be a great way to connect with the community, including those who may not have access to the internet or a smartphone,” Fair said.

During their journey on the South End loop, walkers will pass historic local sites, including City Park and Rose Hill Cemetery, as well as a mural on West Memorial Boulevard and the Mural of Unusual Size on the Hagerstown Cultural Trail.

Fair and Bester Community of Hope have created a bi-weekly walking group for those looking for some company to try out the new loop and get some regular exercise.

The group is open to everyone and begins walking every Tuesday and Friday morning at 9 a.m., starting at Rose Hill Cemetery in Hagerstown. The walk will go around the entire loop, which takes about 45 minutes to walk.

“We hold each other accountable, and it’s a great way to get our steps in,” Fair said.

But those looking to lose some weight have one obstacle along the loop.

“If you’re walking the trail in the evening, it does take you past Krumpe’s Do-Nuts, which can be tempting,” Fair said.

“South End walking loop organizers look to promote community health with new path” – By Valerie Bonk here: Herald Mail Article

San Mar Accepts Human Rights Award

October 18, 2019

Church Women United of Washington County held its fall fellowship, human rights celebration and annual meeting Sept. 23 at Zion Baptist Church with 46 people in attendance.

Keith Fanjoy, CEO of San Mar Family and Community Services, addressed the group and accepted the Human Rights Award for the agency and a donation of $278.23.

Church Women United is a racially, culturally and theologically inclusive Christian women’s movement to celebrate unity in diversity and work for peace in the world.

As seen in the local paper “San Mar CEO addresses Church Women United meeting”: Herald Mail Story

San Mar Alumni Charles Burkett appointed County Commissioner

FY20 Annual Report Showcases Impact of San Mar Programs

San Mar Family & Community Services appoints new board members

North High Students Donate Laptops to Area Children

Desmond Tutu’s daughter, autistic professor to speak at Bester event

Savoy lent a ‘compassionate heart’ to San Mar’s foster care program

COVID Brings Out the Good Stuff

Interfaith group, local faith leaders to speak at virtual event

San Mar board names officers

Celebrate San Mar caps off TGBT XXXIII fundraiser!

Singer Avril Lavigne to perform for San Mar cycling fundraiser

Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being releases FY19 annual report

BCOH releases FY19 annual report

“Just Call” Film Premiere

BCOH promotes health and assets on Walking Loop

San Mar Accepts Human Rights Award

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