Do You Know What You’ve Been Missing?

January ended and if you haven’t purchased your Rockville Rewards Card, you’ve missed out on another month of specials:

January 3-9: Free appetizer at Gordon Biersch
January 10-16: 20% off at Timpano’s
January 17-23 save $25-$90 with specials at Aveda
January 24-29 50% off platter order at Bean Bag Catering

By contributing $25 to one of 15 area non-profits, you can join this community effort and have your very own Rockville Rewards Card. These local organizations need your help and this is a fun way to give it. Along the way, you can also discover Rockville businesses and receive a discount.

With the purchase of a card, you’ll continue to have access to Everyday Rewards and Weekly Hot Deals through June 30, 2011. The sooner you make the contribution, the more you can save and experience in Rockville. There are almost 70 Everyday Rewards and you won’t believe the restaurants, services, retail, health & beauty, activities, and events offering specials!

If you hurry, this week has a double duo of savings with a Rockville Rewards Card:

• 40% off entire purchase at Color Me Mine: “This week only, head into Color Me Mine, and get 40% off your entire purchase. Head in to create a memorable piece perfect for a Valentine’s Gift. Just pick your piece, paint, and the folks at Color Me Mine, will fire it and have it back to you in a week’s time. Cannot be combined with any other coupons, promotions, offers, specials and cannot be used for parties.” Color Me Mine Location, 33 F Maryland Avenue, (301)-251-2010
• Three Scoops for $3.00: “3 full scoops of Ice Cream, Yogurt or Sorbet, scooped in a cone or cup. Enjoy the latest scoop on all the yummy treats, and the fun events we are concocting for you. We are here to give you a great little vacation, a bit of self-indulgence, and joy for the belly and soul. Fresh baked waffle cones have an additional cost.” Ben & Jerry’s Location, 199-F East Montgomery Avenue, (301)-610-0560

Go to the Rockville Rewards site and click on the organization you want to help to find out how to purchase a card directly.

Several businesses are also selling the Cards on behalf of the organizations: The Bean Bag Deli & Catering Company, Decorating Den, Oro Pomodoro, Rockville REDI, Upscale Resale Thrift Shop, Wagging Tails Thrift Store, and VisArts, Too.

Join me in purchasing a Card!

Help And Save With A Rockville Rewards Card

Yesterday I purchased my Rockville Rewards card from Community Ministries of Rockville. This new program designed by the Rockville Chamber of Commerce as part of the Buy Rockville campaign “combats the increased needs in our community”.

Simply put, you can purchase a card for $25 from one of the nonprofit organizations (or local businesses selling them on behalf of the organizations), then use the card for discounts and deals. The cards are currently valid until June 30, 2011 so the sooner you purchase one the longer you can enjoy the benefits.

Everyday Rewards categories include Business to Business, Events, Health & Beauty, Food & Drink, Retail, Services, and Activities. All you have to do is present your card. Here are some examples of the savings:

• Talk of the Town – 10% off any party rental, excluding entertainers & performers.
• Acqua Nails – 10% off any service, until 02/15/11.
• VisArts at Rockville – VisArts Too – 10% off any item
• Bark! Pawsitive Petfood – Bark! Pawsitive Petfood in Congressional Plaza. $5.00 off your first purchase of $25.00 or more!

If you’re into dining out, these are deals:

• The Bean Bag Deli & Catering Company – Come in to The Bean Bag deli & Catering Co for Breakfast or Lunch Mon-Sat. and receive 10% off your in-store order. Excludes delivery orders.
• Ben & Jerry’s of Rockville – 15% off of any scooped cone, sundae, shake, mash, smoothie or coffee ‘Joe’ drink. Also $3.00 off any ice cream or yogurt, handpacked cake.
• Cake Dreams – 10% discount on cupcake and basic cake purchases. Excludes custom cakes and cupcakes.
• Gordon Biersch – 10% off total check, excluding alcohol.
• Il Pinito – 20% off total check. Dine in only. Not valid with any other offers. One card per table.
• Jackie’s Wine Club – From 4-7 p.m. daily, enjoy 15% off!
• Lola’s Cafe & Bakery - From 3-7 p.m. daily, enjoy 15% off!
• Oro Pomodoro Pizzeria Ristorante – Get 10% off entire check excluding alcohol. Valid for Lunch & Dinner Dine-In only. Not valid on Fridays & Saturdays. Cannot be combined with other offers.
• The Potomac Grill – 25% of total check up to $20 dollar maximum discount. Valid 1 card per table, not valid on holidays or New Year’s Eve.
• Potomac Pizza – 10% off dine-in or carry-out purchase. Expires 5/31/11
• Robeks Fruit Smoothies – Buy One Get One Free Smoothie or Frozen Yogurt!
• Timpano Chophouse and Martini Bar – 10% off your total bill when you dine. Offer is valid in our dining room only for lunch or dinner. Offer not valid in the bar & lounge, on holidays, banquets.
• Phillips Seafood: Receive a complimentary appetizer, order two (2) full-priced entrees and present your Rockville Rewards card. All offers subject to black-out dates & availability.

When you register your card online by providing your name, email, and zipcode, you will receive notification of Weekly Hot Deals. Quite frankly, anything hot sounds good to me right now.

The organizations can make up to $25,000 each if they sell all their cards so join me in purchasing one!

Here are the organizations you can help:

The Arc of Montgomery County
Bikes for the World
Child Center and Adult Services
Community Ministries of Rockville
Jobs Unlimited/Upscale Resale Thrift Shop
Literacy Council of Montgomery County
Manna Food Center
Montgomery County Humane Society
Montgomery County Stroke Association
Musical Theater Center
Pain Connection-Chronic Pain Outreach Center
Premier Homecare
Rockville Community Nursery School
Rockville Concert Band
VisArts of Rockville

“Give a little, get a lot.”

Senator Forehand Featured On CNN

Last Friday, Maryland State Senator >Jennie Forehand was the subject of a photography project by students called, A Day in the Life of a State Senator. The students from New Vision Photography Project, Inc. followed her through her day at the General Assembly Session and even joined her on the floor of the Senate.

The New Vision Photography Project asked Senator Forehand to participate because of her past work supporting the developmentally disabled and the arts. This innovative Project is a training and employment program for adults with developmental disabilities. Students learn the basic principles of Digital Photography from prominent photographers. This training gives students the skills to be employed as photographers for conferences, family events, community events and photographing for ID Badges and passport photos.

CNN sent a producer and cameraman to do a story on the students and we can all see their enthusiasm for photography:

Health Clinic Officially Opens In Rockville

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The Reverend Mansfield Kaseman grew weary of burying parishioners at Rockville United Church. Good, hardworking people who didn’t have medical insurance were dying and leaving children behind. His own father died of cancer when he was 39 years old leaving Reverend Kaseman’s mother to raise her children. He was the oldest and remembers living in the parsonage on welfare.

After retiring from Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR), Rev. Kaseman worked to provide healthcare to every uninsured Rockville resident. Yesterday CMR officially dedicated the Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic in his name. Located at 8 West Middle Lane off of North Washington Street, the Clinic helps the most vulnerable in our community, those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Agnes Saenz, CMR Executive Director speaks

The Clinic has been years in the making but coincidentally held its opening ceremony the week after sweeping federal legislation was passed to provide medical coverage for every person in the country. In his opening remarks, Chuck Lee, President of the CMR Board of Directors, said access to healthcare is the right of every individual. He referred to CMR’s clinic as “our two cents” to the federal government as it implements new healthcare reform. Infrastructure will be necessary and the Clinic has the ability to expand. He said, “It’s not just a dream come true. It’s a miracle come true.”

Maryland State Senator Jennie Forehand commented that it was good thing that the State contributed the funds a few years ago because we couldn’t have been able to do it now. She thought the Clinic needed some color so she presented a Maryland flag.

Clinic Director, Francisco Orantes, proudly announced that medical care is now offered to the greater Rockville area Monday through Friday from 9 AM until 5 PM. The Clinic anticipates serving 1,850 patients in 2010. The Clinic also offers referrals for testing/examinations by specialists and for food/clothing in economic emergencies. Dr. Anna Maria Izquierdo the Clinic Medical Director, reported that during the first eight months of operation over 90% of patients surveyed strongly agreed that they received the care wanted and needed. Quite an accomplishment when the national average is 30%. She explained that this endeavor is not about a building but rather it’s about an attempt to bring care to patients the right way.

Rockville Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio has been impressed with Mansfield Kaseman since meeting him years ago. She described him as a man who “had a mission and fulfilled it.” Then added “To anyone who can do it, bravo!”

With the timing of federal health care reform, John Colmers, Secretary of the Maryland Health and Mental Hygiene, sees the Clinic as bricks and mortar. With the opening of the Clinic, CMR will “have the infrastructure and workplace to provide critical care.” He quoted Governor O’Malley that there is “No such thing as a spare Marylander.” We need to keep everyone healthy and we need clinics like this to do it.

Pedro Gutierrez, a patient at the Clinic and resident of Twinbrook, told everyone about his family’s situation and how CMR has helped. Since he owns his own small business, he cannot afford insurance. Suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, the clinic has helped. He’s also benefited from the Obesity and Nutritional Class and joked that he has lost some weight. His wife suffers from asthma and has been helped at the Clinic. She also received assistance in getting a mammogram when she found an unidentified bump which turned out to be benign.

County Councilmember Nancy Floreen, County Executive Ike Leggett with Agnes Saenz and Rev. Mansfield Kaseman

The Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic is a low cost clinic, not a free clinic. Services are provided on a sliding scale based on the federal level of poverty. In addition to basic medical services by doctors and nurse practitioners, they offer classes as part of a health care education initiative for better living. Mental health services will be available starting in July.

As it may be years before every American has medical insurance, it’s good to know the Clinic is open for business and ready to provide health care in our City. As Rev. Kaseman said in his remarks about having a facility named after him “Perhaps best of all. Here I am alive!” The Clinic will work to insure many others with medical emergencies can say the same.

Nonprofits, Prepare Your Testimony For Community Development Block Grants

At their meeting on Monday the 26th, Rockville’s Mayor and Council will here proposals from nonprofits interested in applying for funding from the city’s community development block grant program. This is a Federally-funded program designed to help moderate- to low-income residents.Here’s the >press release from the city:

The Rockville Mayor and Council will receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) proposals to be funded for Fiscal Year 2011 at a public hearing Monday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. Any nonprofit organization interested in presenting a proposal at the public hearing should call the City Clerk’s Office at 240-314-8280 by 4 p.m. Oct. 26.

The Community Development Block Grant is a federal grant for housing and community development programs. Federal grant funds are awarded to the City and distributed to local programs. Rockville expects to receive up to $300,000 for FY11.

To be eligible for funding, all projects must principally benefit low and moderate-income people. Projects must serve Rockville residents.

Block grant funds can be used for the following:

• Buying property for public uses (recreation, public facilities, historic preservation, neighborhood conservation);
• Building public facilities (roads, curbs, sidewalks, parks, neighborhood facilities, sewerage collection systems, water distribution systems, flood and drainage systems);
• Providing public services;
• Removing architectural barriers for people with disabilities and the elderly (widen doors, install wheelchair ramps);
• Providing loans and grants to rehabilitate houses and apartments;
• Implementing economic development activities (training programs, energy conservation programs, commercial revitalization); and
• Paying for planning and administrative costs (studies, staff salaries).

Applications for grants are available at the Department of Community Planning and Development Services at City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave. Applications for FY11 funds are due by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2.

For further information regarding proposals, contact the Department of Community Planning and Development Services at 240-314-8200.

VisArts Goes Vroom

Although the pavement was wet and the morning overcast, >VisArts held the First Annual Ride for the Arts last Saturday. Due to the unfavorable weather conditions only 35 riders participated. Unfortunately, my husband’s motorcycle needed to go back to the shop and I didn’t want to ride alone with the wet weather, so I wasn’t one of them. VisArts will hold another run in September or October.

Even though I missed the ride, I didn’t want to miss the afternoon festivities in Town Square. The Crimestoppers rocked the stage with the sun shining, too little too late. The VisArts studio artists decorated the donated motorcycle which was on display and will eventually be raffled. The paint now prevents it from running! An artist was sketching people and gave us a drawing of each of my sons. Bikes lined Gibbs Street, but not the kind for the stands on the sidewalks.

Upstairs in the Gallery several antique Harley Davidson motorcycles circled the room with historic descriptions. Down at the other end of the hall, Ram Cycles displayed racing bikes with an Xtreme video playing on the screen.

As always, I enjoyed talking with the artists in their studios and planned a design for a necklace with Mimi Harris. Last week, she moved to a larger studio. When she creates my necklace, I’ll be sure to share it.

If you have a motorcycle, please let me know. Hopefully we can ride together from Rockville Central this Fall and support our local art center.

Event Feature: Shelter Walk 'n Roll

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As I’ve mentioned, last year I joined the staff of the Montgomery County Coaltion for the Homeless. I want to let you all know that we are having our Shelter Walk ‘n Roll in Rockville Town Square on Sunday, May 3, 2009 from 1 PM to 3 PM. Since I’m always into Rockville events, I’m excited the walkathon will be in our very own City.

I would love it if you all come out to support our work to help those experiencing homelessness in our community. Registering is as easy as signing up at the tables in Rockville Town Square betweet 1 PM and 2PM. Jack Worthington and Denise D’Amico will start playing on the stage at 1 PM and we’ll have kid activities like face painting, coloring, and games.

The 1-mile walk around the Rockville Town Center will commence at 2 p.m. The walk will go past the Old Courthouse and the park in memory of those from Montgomery County who perished on September 11th. After the walk, the music and activities will continue until we pick the winners of the door prizes at 2:45 PM. The City Staff will be turning on the Town Square interactive fountain when we are done, so the kids can run through the water when the event is over. Let’s hope for spectacular weather!

Registration is
$25 for adults (includes t-shirt)
15 for Children under 18 and students with a college i.d. (includes t-shirt)
Free for children under 5.
Checks only please.

We do have early registration online if you visit http://www.mcch.net/. Click on donate tab, fill out the online donation form and in the “Gift Designation” section, please indicate Shelter Walk ‘n Roll 2009 and list the names of each walker.

Please join my family for a fun afternoon and help raise awareness about homelessness in Montgomery County. If you have any questions, let me know: Cindy Cotte Griffiths.

Nonprofits: Get On Austin Grill’s “First Mondays” Schedule!

Our good friends at the Austin Grill in Rockville Town Square have let us know that, after a brief hiatus, they’ve been able to reinstate their incredible “First Mondays” program for area nonprofits. The deal, in a nutshell, is simple: Austin Grill donates 20% of the night’s revenue to your organization. It’s up to you to fill the room and make it a party. These events can be huge, and they are scheduled a few months out so it helps to be organized.>

The band I play with, The West End, served as entertainment for one in support of Beall Elementary School’s PTA last year, and we were able to raise enough to support the school’s annual anthology of student writing.

As you might imagine, there are some hoops to jump through and some applications to fill out — but it is worth your time. Here are the forms you need.

Invitation from MCCH and CMR

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UPDATE: We are very sorry to report that the Open House must be postponed due to the construction in the parking lot as pictured here. Our local weather report has rain coming in before and during the event as well, so we are going to have to wait!

Last year I took a position with the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH). We are having an Open House to celebrate the newly-completed Gude Drive Complex and I would like to invite all of our readers to stop by for a visit this Thursday, April 2, 2009 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at 600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.

The Gude Drive Complex, owned and developed by Montgomery County, houses MCCH’s Home Builders Care Assessment Center, MCCH’s Adrianne’s Safe Havens and offices, and Community Ministries of Rockville’s Chase Partnership House. The Open House is a rare and special opportunity to see all of the facility (and my office!).

The Home Builders Care Assessment Center (HBCAC) provides 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week shelter and services for men experiencing homelessness. Approximately 900 men are served over the course of a year. The addition was added onto the original 8-year-old building. Demand for shelter and comprehensive services for homeless individuals has increased dramatically. The capacity of the existing building was 100 men. An additional 35 men were served by an on-site trailer, which has been closed. There are now 35 new beds in the HBCAC building. The addition will primarily be used to provide a range of new services including new laundry, bathroom and shower facilities, two medical exam rooms, and a meeting space and computer lab for educational and vocational activities to be conducted.

A shared-facilities building has also been built for Adrianne’s Safe Havens, Community Ministries of Rockville’s Chase Partnership House, and offices for MCCH services and staff. Prior to the new construction, housing and services for both programs were delivered in substandard buildings on site. In addition to providing transitional shelter for 51 men, the new building will feature offices for staff, two dining rooms, two life skills kitchens, two computer labs, laundry and bathroom facilities, conference rooms, and lounges.

Keep an eye out for parking instructions to adjacent properties. We don’t have much parking on site. We hope you can attend!

CMR's Having A Health Fair and Yard Sale

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Are you doing any spring cleaning? Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR) is collecting items for their upcoming Yard Sale on Saturday, March 21, 2009. If you have something worth selling to raise funds for CMR’s programs, simply drop them at their office at 1010 Grandin Avenue, Suite A-1. You’ll also be helping to cut down on garbage and landfills by allowing someone else to re-use your possessions.

Put the date on your calendar because the event is not just a yardsale but also a Health Fair offering screenings for weight, blood pressure, and diabetes. Apppoinments can also be made for free mammograms and low-cost medical checkups. Information on cancer prevention, nutrition, tobacco cessation, and health insurance will also be available

This all is happening at:
Crusader Lutheran Church
1605 Viers Mill Road, Rockville
Saturday, March 21, 2009
12 Noon until 4 PM

CMR rocks by combining the efforts of congregations to provide services to the homeless, assist the elderly in their homes, give emergency assistance, teach basic English, and offer health services to the uninsured and under-insured.

Prepare For The Weekend Of Service

Most >Rockville Central readers know that there is a big push going on to make this Inauguration Weekend one that highlights a call to service.

Montgomery County has established “Yes Montgomery Can” as a way for people to connect to service opportunities this weekend. (Warning: that link has irritating sound you can’t turn off.)

In particular, we encourage readers to donate food to Manna Food Center, the largest food bank in the county and located right here in Our Fair City. Just take your food items to the Giant on Rockville Pike (next to Flagship Car Wash) between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm on Saturday or Sunday.

(Here’s the food most needed: peanut butter, tuna fish, canned fruit, baby formula, baby food,shelf-stable milk, cereal and oatmeal, rice, canned and dried beans, tomato sauce, pasta, macaroni and cheese, and canned soup.)

In addition, please consider volunteering to help out. You can sign up easily here. (No sound at this link.) Many of our neighbors will be going door to door, canvassing to raise funds to match an anonymous gift.

Community Organizations: Attend Tonight's Grantseeking Session

If you are affiliated with a community organization that is interested in seeking grant funds from Our Fair City, get ready to attend this afternoon’s >technical assistance session at 4:00 pm in the Blue Crab Room at City Hall.

At tonight’s session you will learn all you need to know about filling out these applications. It’s important to attend so you can put your best foot forward! But, it is not required — you can still submit an application.

The deadline is January 15.

"A Line In The Sand" Educates

>I don’t know what I was expecting. What I found was strength and hope in the faces of those who have worked tirelessly to help the women and children of domestic violence.

A traveling photographic exhibit entitled A Line in the Sand is at the Circuit Court building until tomorrow, October 30, 2008. This is late notice for a Rockville viewing of this exhibit created by House of Ruth Maryland, but it will continue around our state until summer 2009. Having this exhibit in our courthouse has been an appropriate reminder of the women who file for protective orders each day.

At first, the photos were simply large portraits. I wondered why former Governor Donald Schaefer’s picture greeted me. Until you read the words tightly tied to each, you don’t understand. The explanations build until a full awareness of all the work undertaken since the early 1970’s overtakes you. Back then, there was no recognition of domestic violence. Maryland passed its first Protective Order legislation in 1980 but didn’t extend the duration from 15 days to 12 months until 1997. People like Mr. Schaefer worked to change attitudes and laws.

One placard describes the volunteers as angels. Judge Robert M. Bell claims only to be doing his job, yet he increased the number of interpreters in the courtroom. Drs. Jackie Campbell and Barbara Parker are developing protocols to help caregivers support children who survive uxoricide, which is more common among children than leukemia. Lisa Spicknall carried on after her children were killed to insure that our laws were changed when they allowed her husband to purchase a gun even though there was a protective order against him.

Altogether over thirty people are featured for their involvement, including legislators, mothers, philanthropists, and nurses. Some were personally touched by the pain of this abuse, but many went beyond writing a check to dedicate their time to this cause without firsthand knowledge of a tragedy. As I gazed into each of their faces, I felt like I was meeting them, which is a great testament to the sixteen fine art photographers who were given free reign to portray these determined individuals.

If you don’t make it to one of the exhibitions, you can buy the book and make a contribution.

Photograph from House of Ruth Maryland.

Workshop Will Provide Mortgage Advice

Did you know that in 2007, there were 117 foreclosures within the city limits of Roc>kville? So far in the first two quarters of 2008, there have already been 122. People from all income levels throughout the City have been struggling with housing burdens beyond their capabilities. It’s important to seek help as soon as you realize you are heading for trouble.

The City, State, and HomeFree USA are holding a free workshop for homeowners who are having difficulty paying the mortgage. The Foreclosure Workshop will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at the Lincoln Park Community Center, from 10 AM to 3 PM.

The program will begin with a one-hour general information session about foreclosures from the panel of sponsors. The rest of the day will be individual sessions with counselors and attorneys. HomeFree USA is an organization that helps homeowners by discussing housing issues and providing confidential counseling.

Registration is required. Call Tanya Hines at the City of Rockville 240-314-8113 or email her at [email protected] to attend and request the individual counseling. Sign and foreign language translation are available. Refreshments will be provided.

If you fall behind in payments or are facing a change in your interest rate, an important first step is to contact your lender and meet with a nonprofit housing counselor. Mortgages can be renegotiated three times, but never sign anything you don’t understand. This workshop is a good start.

As we talked about on Rockville Central Radio, people have a tendency to bury their heads in the sand when faced with financial problems. If you think you are having trouble, you should find out your options in order to make a sound decision for your future.

Community Ministries of Rockville Celebrates Changes

Agnes Saenz says it was a “happy surprise” which she was not expecting. On July 1, 2008, the Board of Directors promoted >her from Managing Director to Executive Director, combining the two positions. For 17 years Agnes Saenz’s heart has been dedicated to Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR), an organization she loves because it believes in people’s second, third, and even fourth chances in life.

The CMR offices were crowded and cramped when they were sharing a small Victorian with Interfaith Works (formerly CMMC). When the lease was up, one of the organizations was faced with moving. CMR found office space offered at less than the rate for the old location. The building at 1010 Grandin Avenue is a renovated elementary school owned by Montgomery County and rented to five nonprofits. CMR’s wide-open space provides flexibility for growth and program changes.

The move went smoothly due to some energetic manpower provided by the clients of CMR’s own housing programs, Chase, Jefferson, and Hope. These talented men worked hard to get the job done. Two had worked for movers and knew the best way to fill the truck and avoid more trips. Two others asked for tools and quickly assembled the desks because they had worked for furniture companies. These men have made some bad decisions in life and have addictions, but now they are going through these programs in hope of managing their lives again. CMR Board Member, Delia McCormick, pulled together a team of colleagues from Long and Foster, who also volunteered their muscle power for the move and provided lunch for everyone. The Branch Manager, Cheryl Kenly, and Vice President, Terry DeWitt, of the M&T Bank on North Washington Street donated lunch on another day, since the move was more than a one-day endeavor.

Even though it has only been two weeks since the move, people seeking help from the Rockville Emergency Assistance Program (REAP) are finding CMR when facing evictions or foreclosures, paying overdo utility bills, and purchasing prescriptions. The location is good, only one block from Veirs Mill Road and close to the buses on First Street.

One concern is that people who need the resources provided by CMR are not completely familiar with them. Elderly Ministries can help with home care and repair services. The Mansfield Kaseman Health Program serves the uninsured and under insured poor, elderly, homeless, and any other group not being served by medical insurance. Latino Outreach offers free English as a second language classes. Neighborhood civic associations can help by familiarizing themselves with the care offered and responding to neighbors when they need assistance.

Another way to lend a hand is by volunteering.

-Two pro bono program evaluators are needed for the REAP and Kaseman Health programs. If volunteers have program evaluation experience that’s a plus, but orientation is provided. Volunteers interview staff and clients, review literature and grant information, and then write a report with recommendations. Although each program performs internal evaluations, outside assessments insure compliance and initiate improvements. The evaluation could be completed by a 3-4 person team.

-The part-time REAP director also needs help on Mondays. A volunteer is needed to interview and refer clients and assist the director during the 10 AM – 2 PM office hours.

Congratulations to Agnes, CMR, and all of the volunteers that work so hard to bring hope to people in Rockville when they most need support.