Every Act Of Generosity Counts

Michele Sabean

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I sat down to write this Thanksgiving weekend, very thankful for time with family and the food we shared together. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, it was very clear to me that the holiday was approaching, and this year, it was not because of stacks of cranberry sauce and marshmallows greeting me at the grocery store or Christmas decorations at every other store, but because of the increased activity level at SPAN.

With SPAN’s Holiday Caring program, our community provided over 150 Thanksgiving food baskets for local families in need. Throughout the week, as those meals were being picked up, many community groups such as the Colchester neighborhood, Woods Child Development Center, Chartwell 9 Hole Golf Group, Cub Scout packs 855 and 955, and Caropreso Real Estate Team were dropping off food they had collected. As these donations were being dropped off, we also had an increase of clients and lots of appreciation for the food and turkeys being shared!

We at SPAN have a lot to be thankful for – especially for our community! Thank you for all you do for SPAN. Every act of generosity counts and everybody has something to give.

We are thankful for the many who donate food and toiletries through their school, church, business, community or civic group and also for all of those who stop by to drop off a bag or two – it all adds up!

We are thankful for all of those who donate financially including businesses such as Maid Healthy and civic groups that pool their resources to give like Chartwell Garden Club and SUN Networking Group and also for individual donors, who are currently our largest source of funding.

We are thankful for the many who give of their time – our volunteers log many hours interviewing clients and stocking our pantry.

We are thankful for our partnerships with local businesses and community groups – such as Diehl’s Produce, Severna Park Lanes and Greenway Bowl in Odenton, Landmark Roofing and the Severna Park High School drama department.

As we take time to reflect on the last year plus, we celebrate how much we have helped each other and our neighbors. We thank you for all you have done to keep SPAN open and serving people throughout the pandemic and especially in this transition from the pandemic. For many of our clients, this time of transition, as some of the supports are being lifted, is more difficult. For local families who are not able to get enough food to eat, pay their utilities, or pay their rent or prescription costs, SPAN is here to help. Please call 410-647-0889 between 10:00am and 12:45pm Monday through Thursday to see if you are eligible for food or financial assistance.

Together we feed. Together we give. Together we help. Every act of generosity counts, and everybody has something to give.

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 14 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-12:45pm. 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!