SPAN To Celebrate 35 Years Of Supporting Neighbors In Need

One of the most widely recognized and supported nonprofits in Severna Park, SPAN has an origin story of humble beginnings dating back three and a half decades.

Six churches in the community – Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. John the Evangelist, Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church, Severna Park United Methodist Church and Severna Park Baptist Church – came together to form SPAN after witnessing a common need.

“What they were seeing was people in need would go from church to church asking for help,” explained Linda Moore, who served as executive director for SPAN from 2001-2006. “The pastors got together and decided to … form an organization, and then it turned into a nonprofit, and it took off from there.”

SPAN opened its doors on April 2, 1990, enabling people to find resources in one convenient location. Originally called Severna Park Assistance Network, SPAN changed its name in 2009 to Serving People Across Neighborhoods to reflect their broadening reach – it now serves clients across 15 zip codes in Anne Arundel County. However, its mission remains the same. More than a pantry, SPAN is a faith-based, nondenominational ministry that exists to provide “food and/or financial assistance to qualified individuals and families to help them through critical or emergency situations.”

Through the generosity of countless community members and SPAN’s partner churches, which now number 13 in total, the nonprofit’s impact ranges from providing Christmas gifts to children who might otherwise not receive any, to Thanksgiving meals for families in need, to financial assistance to help avoid utility shutoffs or assist with medical expenses, to regular disbursements of food to those in need.

Michele Sabean, SPAN’s director of development, estimates that over the last 35 years, SPAN has helped more than 100,000 individuals, and that in just the last decade, the nonprofit has distributed over $2.4 million in emergency financial assistance and food to clients in need.

Located in a house behind Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, SPAN has grown over the years in both impact and community involvement. The nonprofit has been a steady presence in Severna Park with its annual 5K Turkey Trot and participation in the Independence Day parade, Shop Local events and more. But serving people in need has always been the primary focus for the nonprofit’s staff and many volunteers.

“SPAN’s not ever really kept track of milestones,” said Nanci Hulting, who serves as vice president of the board and has been a SPAN volunteer since 2019. “It’s like we’re just a constant: We’re here, we’re doing it, we’re taking care of everybody that we can who walks in, in some way, as much as possible.”

That “we” includes Sabean, Director of Operations Maia Grabau, board members, and a host of dedicated volunteers over the years including Francie and Carl Seaman.

Francie began volunteering with SPAN in 2009, interviewing clients in the office. Hearing about the good work being done, Carl rolled up his sleeves and got to work with SPAN as well. The Seamans are longtime members of Severna Park United Methodist Church, and for a season, Francie served as the church’s representative to SPAN. Over a long weekend years ago, Carl led fellow church members in a SPAN kitchen renovation project, during which they gutted the space, installed new flooring and cabinets, repaired walls, and added new light fixtures. The couple agreed that volunteering with SPAN was eye-opening, illustrating just how broad the need truly is in the greater Severna Park area.

Fellow longtime volunteer Joanne Petrik agreed that serving with SPAN really brought to light just how many neighbors who might appear to be doing fine could actually need assistance.

“When I started, I always thought SPAN was just a food pantry – I didn’t realize how they help people monetarily with assistance for … various things,” said Petrik, who served with SPAN for over 20 years, echoing a common misconception among the community.

As businesses, Scout troops, school groups, families and individuals have become more involved in making the mission of SPAN possible, that perception has shifted for the good. Sabean shared that while the 13 churches provide the foundation of SPAN’s funding, the community provides the bulk of its food and financial donations.

The outpouring of generosity from the community has enabled SPAN to help more people year by year. Hulting shared that in 2019, the nonprofit helped roughly 25 monthly food clients. Today, that number has doubled, and in January 2025 it spiked to 65. SPAN also disburses about $100,000 annually in emergency financial assistance, not including pandemic-related fluctuations, Sabean shared.

Many of SPAN’s clients are working individuals who are living paycheck to paycheck. Any change in employment status or an unexpected expense such as a medical bill or car repair can snowball into a financial crisis. In recognition of 35 years of serving the community, and with a desire to help provide more financial assistance, SPAN has a current goal to raise $35,000 leading up to events celebrating its big anniversary next month.

On April 1 at 4:00pm, the public is invited to celebrate SPAN’s history and milestones at a service at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, followed by a reception and tour of SPAN’s facility and a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce.

On Saturday, April 5, the community is also invited to come out and celebrate with SPAN at Birthday Fest, which is slated to run from noon to 4:00pm at Severna Park United Methodist Church. The party is free, and will include carnival games, live music, booths sponsored by churches and community groups, and more. Food will be available for purchase from three food trucks: Chevy’s Fresh Mex, Green Valley Marketplace, and Always Ice Cream Company.

The Birthday Fest will also include a little friendly competition as an opportunity to donate food items: Two trucks will be onsite, one labeled for the Baltimore Orioles and the other for the Washington Nationals. Attendees can “vote” for their favorite local Major League Baseball team with their canned goods as they collectively race to “stuff the truck.”

To discover more about SPAN, to make a financial or food contribution, or to learn more about upcoming celebratory events, go to www.spanhelps.org.