Archives for September 2026

Hello Dear RWN [Refugee Welcome Network]Team,

We would like to sincerely thank every member of your team from the bottom of our hearts for all the kindness, support, and help you gave us during one of the most difficult periods of our lives.

When our circumstances were very difficult, you stood by us and helped us in so many ways. You helped us find work, assisted us with rent, and even provided food for us. We will never forget your kindness, generosity, and support.

Your support and trust gave us hope and the strength to stand on our own feet again. We worked very hard, made many sacrifices, and did everything we could to build a better life. We also worked hard to meet the requirements and become eligible to purchase a home.

Today, we are very happy to share one of the greatest achievements of our lives with all of you: we have been able to purchase a home for our family. This home represents hope, hard work, perseverance, and the beginning of a better life.

Today, my wife and I are both working and doing our best to build a better life, be productive members of our community, and contribute to the people and the country we now call home.

Whenever we faced difficulties, we reached out to you, and you were always there for us with kindness and compassion. But this time, we did not want to contact you because of a problem. This time, we wanted to share a happy moment with you because we consider all of you more than just people who helped us—we consider you part of our family.

If we have reached this point today, a part of our success is because of your support, kindness, and encouragement. Your help during our difficult days gave us hope, energy, and motivation to keep working hard and moving forward.

Thank you to every member of the team for everything you have done for us. We will always remember your kindness and carry it in our hearts. We are truly happy to share this wonderful news with all of you.

With our deepest respect, gratitude, and appreciation,
Mohammad Aref Danish and Family

Want to help support other families like this one? Donations of funds and time are always needed. Donate HERE, choosing Refugee Welcome Network from the drop-down menu. If interested in volunteering, contact refugeewelcome@harc.datachievereview.xyz or 301-842-4272.

A huge thank you to our community partners Fiserv and the Elk’s Lodge for collecting and distributing 3,512 individual servings of peanut butter (439 boxes of eight) + 1,396 individual cracker sleeves for Micah’s Backpack! Fiserv collected all the food and delivered it to the Elk’s Lodge, where members sorted the food by individual Micah’s Backpack sponsors and distributed it. What a great partnership and community effort!

Rev. Mark Van Meter, Major for the Salvation Army in Hagerstown, MD, moved here last year to take over operations. In March of this year, the ministry’s only thrift store had a fire and closed, causing a huge loss of revenue. Salvation Army hosted our September HARC meeting, where Mark shared an update on the fire and progress with the thrift store as well as information about the essential programs and services of the Salvation Army, which served 41,938 people in 2025.  Mark also offered ways the faith community can help.

Watch the presentation on YouTube

Salvation Army one page programs overview

Help with bell-ringing!

 

HARC’s Lighthouse After-School program is seeking Program Leaders who have a skill or hobby to offer and can commit to weekly sessions for at least one marking period (4-8 weeks). This role can be paid or volunteer. We try to match you with a school and day of your choosing, and you will have at least one classroom aid from the designated school and typically no more than 15 children. A training will be held Friday, October 9, 3-5 pm for new and seasoned Program Leaders. Classroom volunteers and Substitutes are also wanted. Contact Angela for more info: angela@harc.datachievereview.xyz or 801-520-4918.

The United Way recently presented the 2026 Howard T. Rockwell Award to Julien Patrick Tete Wabo, a truly remarkable member of our community.

Through his work with HARC and the Asian American Center of Frederick’s ENOUGH Bilingual Community Workers, Julien Patrick consistently goes above and beyond to support families and make sure they have the resources, encouragement, and connections they need to thrive.

What makes Julien Patrick so special is not simply the work he does, but the heart he brings to it. He gives so much of himself to the families he serves, advocating for them, building relationships, and helping create a stronger, more connected community. His kindness and dedication have made a lasting difference in the lives of countless people.

The Howard T. Rockwell Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to strengthening our community. Julien Patrick embodies that spirit in every way, and we are incredibly proud to honor him with this award.

Congratulations, Julien Patrick, and thank you for all that you do for our community!

 

FEMA has observed National Preparedness Month since 2004 to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies. The month is a great time to take small steps to make a big difference in being prepared including at your House of Worship.

HOWs
Use these questions to help determine if your house of worship is prepared for emergencies, disasters, and security-related incidents.

• Do you have an Emergency Operations Plan? This plan should explain how
  your house of worship will respond during an emergency.
• Do you know whether your house of worship may qualify for FEMA
  assistance after a disaster? Learn about FEMA’s Public Assistance Program
  and what types of assistance may be available.
• Do you know what Federal or state grants may be available? The 2026 FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program may provide $150,000 to $200,000 per site for eligible applicants.
• Have you completed a vulnerability risk assessment? A current vulnerability risk assessment is required to apply for some security grants. You can complete a self-assessment or work with local, state, or federal partners.
• Do you know your local or state emergency management officials? Building relationships with your Office of Emergency Management before an emergency can help improve coordination and response.
• Who are your community partners during a disaster? Consider joining your county or state Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) to build partnerships before a disaster occurs.

 

As we begin the school year and school personnel collect permission slips for Micah’s Backpack, we are getting reports that some families don’t have a microwave oven for children to heat the food received in the bags. If you have a gently used microwave to donate or can purchase a new one, please contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@harc.datachievereview.xyz. New microwaves can be purchased and delivered directly to our office from our Wish List.

HARC grieves the loss of Dr. Michael Parsons, who passed on to the next life on September 2. Mike was an active member of HARC for many years as a lay representative of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He enjoyed participating in HARC’s Interfaith Team, attended nearly every HARC meeting until a stroke last year, and loved discussing books in the Interfaith Book Club.  See Mike’s obituary for more details about his well-lived life.

A viewing will be held at Rest Haven on Wednesday, September 9 from 5-7 pm. His funeral mass is Thursday, September 10 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church

A celebration of life will be held for William “Bill” Pike on Saturday, October 31 at 11:00 am at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown.

Bill was a kind soul who loved to volunteer for his church, HARC, Reach, a shelter in Virginia, and in any other way he could help people. As a HARC Hike team member of many years, he loved to shop and prepare meals for both Hike events.  As a representative to HARC for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown (UUCH), he made sure the congregation was up to date on all things HARC and participated in any way they could.

Bill served on the HARC board from 2017-2020 and on the board of Reach of Washington County.  If Reach needed a meal, Bill was happy to bring his friends and make one, and he often filled volunteer holes throughout the shelter during the cold weather season.

Most of all, Bill was a good friend who could always find the positive in any situation.  We grieve for his loss and will miss him greatly.