News

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.