Charlotte

HARC’s Lighthouse After School Program is in need of Volunteers and Program Leads starting this fall. Do you have a talent you can share (reading, art, music, gardening, STEM, etc.), willingness to support students, and a desire to be the change in your community? If so, we would love your help! Requirements: Commitment to regular sessions (flexible scheduling and short-term commitments available) and a passion for working with children. Interested in making a difference? Contact Angela at (240) 347-0780 or yamashitaangela6@gmail.com. Flyer – please share! And an announcement in bulletins would be appreciated.

Save the Date! Annual Taste of the Town – September 29
Sunday, September 29, 5:00 – 8:00 pm
The Maryland Theatre
21 S. Potomac Street, Hagerstown

ON SALE NOW: Reach of Washington County presents the 19th Annual Taste of the Town on Sept 29! Taste of the Town is one of the largest and oldest tasting events in the area, showcasing the culinary talents of local chefs. Ticket proceeds go directly to Reach’s programs. To purchase tickets, visit mdtheatre.org/town or call the local Box Office at 301-790-2000.

Four 2024-2025 Equity in Education Scholarship recipients were honored June 12, 2024 during a community and school celebration. A privately funded partnership between the Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC) and Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), the fund has awarded $45,000 in scholarships since 2022.

Pictured in the photo: Dr. David Sovine, WCPS superintendent with this year’s recipients Janeice Bates, Carmen Diaz, Hakema Mutanu, and Precious Steel, along with Allison Smith, Supervisor of Equity and Excellence for WCPS, and Kathy Powderly, Executive Director of HARC. Also in attendance were several members of the HARC board – Rev. Christopher Serufusa, Rev. Les McIntosh, and Rev. Dionne Hall; Carol Mowen, president of the Washington County Teachers Association, and other members of the Equity in Education Scholarship team: Tim Haines with WCPS, Jessica Scott, and E.J. Fuller.

Janeice Bates is enrolled at Hagerstown Community College (HCC) in Early Childhood Education and was recently hired as a substitute teacher for Washington County Public Schools (WCPS); Carmen Diaz works in the WCPS International Welcome Center and is enrolled at HCC with a goal of becoming an English Language Teacher; Hakema Mutanu is currently enrolled at Shepherd University for a Masters of Arts in Teaching Art and works as a paraprofessional for WCPS; Precious Steel is enrolled with Frostburg at USMH for early childhood/elementary education, while she works as a paraprofessional at WCPS.

We congratulate all four future educators, who impressed the scholarship team with their commitment and passion to serve children in Washington County.

The Equity in Education scholarship fund is a partnership between The Hagerstown Area Religious Council and Washington County Public Schools. Multiple scholarships are awarded annually ranging from $1,500 to $7,000 to racially minoritized students who reside and/or teach in Washington County, Maryland, and are pursuing a degree in education or a related field.  Learn more at here.

Funding for the scholarships has been provided by The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, Soroptimist International of Hagerstown, and many individual donors. Donations are needed for the 2025 awards and for building an endowment to fund the scholarship in perpetuity. Donations can be made here.

Average of 3-6 hours per week anticipated (more during larger events), $20 per hour. Help coordinate and market events and communicate with membership. This is a great opportunity to help connect and elevate Black professionals in Washington County.  See full job description here.  To apply, please send a resume and letter of interest to Tania Anderson at tanderson@harc.datachievereview.xyz.

Summer is approaching and the Refugee Welcome Network (RWN) is seeking window air conditioners to place in apartments of refugees to keep them comfortable in the summer heat. RWN continues to grow as more refugees settle in our area, so we are also in need of volunteers for the following roles: Household & Furnishings, Workforce Development, Family Allies, Legal Team (no legal experience required), and Fundraising. Learn more HERE about these roles and the RWN. If interested, please contact RWN at refugeewelcome@harc.datachievereview.xyz.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church has 43 kindergarten-sized chairs, 17 nursery-sized chairs, and 5 adult-sized chairs available to give away on a first-come basis. If you are interested, please contact the church office at 301.733.7550 and speak with Alison.