Nonprofit Institute at CSM Promotes Local Projects for Local Support
Southern Maryland is showing its generosity as local organizations have received more than $6,000 to date through the online giving portal, Southern Maryland Gives, an initiative of the Nonprofit Institute at the College of Southern Maryland. The online hub, available at www.southernmarylandgives.org, highlights nonprofits addressing our region's needs through the environment, historic preservation, humanitarian aid, health, education, arts and culture, youth services and programs, animals and more.
Southern Maryland Gives features projects currently needing support as well as many local nonprofits that are accepting general donations. Featured projects during August include:
LifeStyles of Maryland, project goal $5,000
Safe Nights is a united and compassionate response to serving the homeless in our community. It provides overnight shelter to individuals and families from October 1 to April 15th of each year. The program rotates to a different host site each week. Participants are provided with meals, cots, linens and toiletry items. Supportive services and enrichment activities are conducted nightly to encourage the journey towards self-sufficiency. Your donation will help pay for 50 sturdy, heavy duty cots for the homeless in the tri-county area.
The Greenwell Foundation, project goal $5,000
Located in St. Mary's County, Greenwell's mission is to provide inclusive activities for people with disabilities. Camp Greenwell is an inclusive summer camp for all children, regardless of ability or challenges to play, have fun, make new friends, and experience new things. Archery is a sport everyone can enjoy, and the camp needs an updated range. Greenwell would like to provide better wheelchair access to offer better accessibility. Creating shade would also provide respite from the sun and heat so camp-goers could have more time for archery. Giving to this project would help pay for a shade structure, archery holders, and new targets, bows, and arrows.
Bay K9 SAR, project goal $400
This search and rescue organization is run completely by volunteers in Charles County. Using bloodhounds to locate lost people, Bay K9 SAR supports the community by offering this service free of charge to law enforcement agencies. Their newest bloodhound, Mathilda, is a puppy in training. Mathilda could use a cooling vest and car fan for those hot days when she's working. She needs a service vest that will allow her to enter stores and homes as a professional working dog. As a tracking dog, Mathilda also needs an extra-long leashes and customized harness. With this gear, she will be able to help find a critical person in need.
Southern Maryland Carousel Group, project goal $1,500
Preserving a piece of Southern Maryland history ignited this group into action. Do you remember the carousel at Marshall Hall Park? This nonprofit wants to build a carousel in Charles County, similar to the original that was torn down in the 1970s. Some original pieces from the old carousel will also be worked into the new grand design. Commissioned local artists have already hand carved more than 50 animal figures, including two wheelchair accessible chariots. Supporting this project will buy stirrups for each animal, so riders can step up safely and go 'round.
Sotterley Plantation, project goal $10,000
Some stories are not easy to tell. Sotterley wants to bring to life the stories of the enslaved, tenants and farm domestic laborers who lived there from the 18th to 20th centuries. 'Land, Lives, and Labor' is a year-round exhibit to be housed in the historic Corn Crib on the site in St. Mary's County. Funds directed to this project will renovate the Corn Crib, supplementing a capital grant from the African American Heritage Preservation Program.
Forever Free Books, project goal $2,000
Putting a book into the hands of a child who doesn't own one-this is why Forever Free Books exists. For a child, the chance to start a personal library at home can be very empowering and encourage the love of reading. This program reaches out to kids throughout Charles County who have not had the opportunity to own even one book. Your donation can help ensure that more and more children will be proud book owners and on the road to becoming lifelong readers.
Center for Children, project goal $5,000
Children who have been subjected to abuse urgently need help, not just for physical harm but also for damage to their mental health. As the largest provider of children's mental health services in Southern Maryland, the Center for Children serves 4,500 people every year. Crisis intervention, court advocacy and psychiatric testing are just some of the many critical services it provides. Many parents cannot pay for them and are without insurance. The Center's project assures help to just such families. Your donation can make a lasting difference in a child's life.
Humane Society of Charles County, project goal $2,500
Dogs at this shelter need long-term, loving families who know how to take care of them. To make that happen, a professional trainer is now on staff to work with pets and their future owners. Unfortunately, there is no space to conduct evaluations or counsel adoptive families. The trainer has been working in the parking lot, as potential adopters stand under the open tailgate of her minivan. A shed is a dire need, giving the trainer space to ensure successful adoptions. The structure requires siding, flooring, and other supplies-the Humane Society needs funding for all of these things.
Accokeek Foundation, project goal $2,500
Young adults in Southern Maryland can get hands-on agricultural training, thanks to the work of this nonprofit. Accokeek operates both a Colonial era and a modern ecosystem on its 200 acres. The Agriculture Conservation Corps teaches farm management to equip budding farmers with new skills, creating solutions to hunger, health and food access. Support for this project will help provide scholarships for young people who have a sincere interest in farming but need practical experience to fulfill their dreams.
The Southern Maryland Gives online portal is powered by Razoo and sponsored by the Nonprofit Institute at CSM. Any size donation is appreciated, but a minimum $10 donation is required to donate online.
Southern Maryland Gives supporters include Charles and St. Mary's County Governments, Southern Maryland Oil, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative and the College of Southern Maryland.
For information about the Nonprofit Institute, visit www.csmd.edu/NonProfitInstitute/. To view the latest projects or search local nonprofits to support, visit www.southernmarylandgives.org. For information on adding a local nonprofit to Southern Maryland Gives, visit http://southernmarylandgives.razoo.com/giving_events/smg/nptoolkit or email nonprofit@csmd.edu.