On June 19th, Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) Board members and staff addressed the Talbot County Council to update them on the growth of the organization since its founding in 2008. The Council then presented TIS with a proclamation in honor of its 10th anniversary.

L-R: Board Member Nancy Sajda, County Council Member Dirck Bartlett, Board President Gail Benjamin, Executive Director Julie Lowe, and Board Member Gloria Farrare.

The proclamation reads as follows:

“Whereas , Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) was formed in 2008 by a group of citizens concerned about the growing homeless population in Talbot County; and

Whereas, the organization served our community from 2008-2014 as a winter shelter which rotated between faith communities with the assistance of 17 partner congregations; and

Whereas, in 2014 TIS obtained a permit to operate a permanent facility at 107 Goldsborough Street, a former bed and breakfast known as Easton’s Promise, and opened its doors on November 30, 2014 to begin year-round shelter operations; and

Whereas, TIS has since developed its S4 Program (Shelter, Stability, Support, Success), which is designed to provide personalized case management, access to the necessary services, and resources designed to assist guests in building sustainable self-sufficiency, including a subsidized transitional housing program comprised of eight off-site apartments; and

Whereas, the organization brings together people from every corner of our community, with over 450 volunteers donating more than 10,000 hours of their time each year for the common cause of fighting homelessness in Talbot County; and

Whereas, Talbot Interfaith Shelter is the only shelter program in Talbot County that serves families with children; and

Whereas, 2018 marks their 10th anniversary of service to Talbot County and the Mid-Shore community;

Now, Therefore, We, The County Council of Talbot County, do hereby bestow upon Talbot Interfaith Shelter this Certificate of Recognition in honor of their 10th anniversary and their continued outstanding work towards creating a brighter future for our neighbors in need.”

Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) is a 501(c)3 organization based in Easton and serving Talbot County and the surrounding areas. The organization has developed a program that they call S4 (Shelter, Stability,
Support, Success), which is designed to give guests access to a stable home-like environment, services, and tools that can help them break the cycle of poverty and homelessness and regain their independence. Once guests are accepted into Easton’s Promise, they receive case management as they move through an individualized plan, eventually transitioning into one of the shelter’s eight subsidized off-site apartments, where they incrementally take over expenses until they are fully self-sufficient.

Their vision is that no one in Talbot County will ever have to spend a night on the streets, in a car or in the woods because he or she cannot find housing. To learn more about how you can help, visit www.talbotinterfaithshelter.org or contact Julie Lowe at 410-310-2316 or julielowe@atlanticbb.net.

Ten years ago this month, a group of concerned citizens from Talbot County met to discuss
the growing problem of homelessness in Talbot County and to develop a way to assist those in need in
our community. Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) was born!

Ahead of the organization’s milestone 10th anniversary, a shelter supporter who has been with the
organization from day one made an incredible offer to match the next $10,000 TIS raised. The call went
out to shelter supporters on May 15th, and with the help of more than 30 donors, including generous
donations from Tom and Cathy Hill and the Dock Street Foundation, the $10,000 goal was not only met,
but exceeded within 10 days.

That’s when another long-time shelter supporter stepped up to extend the matching challenge by
$3,500, with the potential for a higher match if that number is exceeded. At the time of this article, TIS
had raised $13,396 towards the new goal. Those who are interested in making a matching donation and
doubling the impact of their gift can do so on|ine at ta|botinterfaithshelter.org or by mail to PO Box
2004, Easton, MD 21601.

TIS served its first guests in the winter of 2008-2009. The organization began as a “homeless” homeless
shelter, rotating every couple of weeks between various houses of worship throughout the community.
Staffed by volunteers from 17 partner congregations, who did everything from moving cots to cooking
dinner to laundry or driving guests to take a shower, the organization was initially open during the
winter months. Due to fire code regulations, only five individuals could be served at one time.

In 2014, TIS applied for and was awarded a permit to operate a permanent, year-round facility at a
former bed and breakfast in the heart of Easton called Easton’s Promise. They can now serve up to 14
people at a time, including families with children. Through partnerships with the Housing Commission
of Talbot and a private landlord, they have procured eight off-site transitional apartments. This allowed
for the development of their S4 Program (Shelter, Stability, Support, Success). The goal of the program
is to provide guests with the tools they need to build sustainable seIf-sufficiency.

Guests start the program at Easton’s Promise. They work with TIS’ Operations Manager Fran Doran to
develop a plan that addresses their specific needs. Ms. Doran then provides case management
throughout their stay in the program. Guests are directed to the necessary service agencies, and are
provided with budget assistance, health and parenting classes, participate in a program called ”Getting
Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World”, and will soon be offered on-site GED classes.

Once they achieve a certain level of financial stability, guests are invited to move into one of TIS’
transitional apartments. The organization subsidizes part of the rent, and the guests’ portion increases
incrementally over time until they are able to take over all expenses. They are then monitored for a
period of time to ensure that they can maintain seIf-sufficiency, at which point they are able to move
out on their own.

To learn more about Talbot Interfaith Shelter and the S4 Program, visit ta|botinterfaithshelter.org or
contactJulie Lowe by phone at 410-310-2316 or via email atjulielowe@atlanticbb.net.

Last Saturday night, the Waterfowl Building in Easton was bustling with energy as a nearly sold out crowd attended the Lip Sync Battle to benefit Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS). Competitors from all over our community came together to dance, laugh, and NOT sing in order to raise money for TIS’ S4 Program (Shelter, Stability, Support, Success).

By the end of the night, the contestants – Team TIS, Team Scout, Team Talbot Mentors, The Happy Hour Honies, Gabby Pfeifer, The Country School Faculty, Team Eastern Shore Brewing, and The Country School HOHOs – had raised an astounding $17,000 to provide individuals and families in Talbot County with safe, stable shelter, case management, and access to resources and tools that will help them build sustainable self-sufficiency.

“We are so grateful to all of our participants for the time and energy they put in to make the night a success,” says TIS Marketing and Communications Director Jayme Dingler. “It was an incredibly fun night, but the outcome is that our community will be a better place because of these wonderful individuals.”

Country School HOHOs. L-R: Garrett Lang and Nick Oxnam. Photo Credit: Jonathan Williams

The big winners of the night were the Country School HOHOs, featuring last year’s winner Garret Lang and partner Nick Oxnam. Lang and Oxnam are part of the Helping Others, Helping Ourselves program at the Country School, and their advisory group has been volunteering at TIS’ shelter facility, Easton’s Promise, for three years. Together, they raised more than $4,000 for the shelter and transitional housing program.

The event was presented by the Easton branch of Wells Fargo Advisors for the second year in a row. Additional sponsorships and services were provided by the Mid-Shore Board of Realtors, Eastern Shore Vacation Rentals, Shore United Bank, Rise Up Coffee, Hill’s Café and Drug Store, Domino’s Pizza, Easton Pizzeria, On Your Mark Lighting Design and Equipment, Hair O The Dog, Kelly Distributors, Eastern Shore Brewing, and Eat Sprout.

Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) is a 501(c)3 organization based in Easton and serving Talbot County and the surrounding areas. The organization has developed a program that they call S4 (Shelter, Stability, Support, Success), which is designed to give guests access to a stable home-like environment, services, and tools that can help them break the cycle of poverty and homelessness and regain their independence. Once guests are accepted into Easton’s Promise, they receive case management as they move through an individualized plan, eventually transitioning into one of the shelter’s eight subsidized off-site apartments, where they incrementally take over expenses until they are fully self-sufficient.

Their vision is that no one in Talbot County will ever have to spend a night on the streets, in a car or in the woods because he or she cannot find housing. To learn more about how you can help, visit www.talbotinterfaithshelter.org or contact Julie Lowe at 410-310-2316 or julielowe@atlanticbb.net.

Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) is bringing back their Lip Sync Battle fundraiser for another round. This year’s event, presented by the Easton branch of Wells Fargo Advisors, will be held on April 21st at 7 pm in the Waterfowl Building (old armory) in Easton.

Individuals and teams from all over Talbot County, ranging in age from their preteens to their 60’s, are preparing to duke it out on stage to see who can raise the most money for TIS’ shelter and transitional housing program. Two awards will be given out – People’s Choice, which is determined by audience applause, and Best Fundraiser.

This year’s contestants include Team TIS, Team Eastern Shore Brewing, Team Talbot Mentors, The Happy Hour Honies, The Country School HOHO’s , The Country School Faculty, Team Scout, and Gabby Pfeifer. Amping up the fun factor will be co-hosts Jay Hudson and Jayme D. The entertaining duo will not only be hosting the event, but competing against one another – Jay is on Team Eastern Shore Brewing, and Jayme is on Team TIS. DJ Throwback will be spinning tunes throughout the night.

“Last year’s event was such a huge success,” says event organizer Jayme Dingler. “We raised $10,000, and everyone had the time of their lives. As soon as it was over, we couldn’t wait to start planning round two!”

For those who want to support their favorite lip-syncers, there are many ways to vote.

The first is to buy a ticket to the show. At the event, a ticket becomes a ballot, and the $27 ticket price will be added to the fundraising total of the ticket holder’s team of choice. In addition to helping one of the contestants win one of the coveted bedazzled microphone trophies, each ticket sold also provides a day of shelter and wrap-around services to a man, woman, or child in need in Talbot County.

TIS also encourages attendees to come hungry and thirsty. Doors will open at 6:15 for Domino’s pizza, salads from Hill’s Café and Juice Bar, snacks from Eat Sprout, Rise Up Coffee, and more. Every dollar spent on food and drink will also be counted as a vote for the purchaser’s team.

If someone cannot attend the show or wants to help bring their team closer to victory, they can make an online donation in their team’s name.

Visit www.talbotinterfaithshelter.org to purchase tickets, meet the competitors, and place an online “vote”. Those interested in volunteering for the event should contact Jayme Dingler at tis.jayme@gmail.com or 443-786-4676.

When asked why people should attend the Lip Sync Battle, Dingler says, “It is the happiest two hours you will spend all year. You’ll laugh, dance, sing along, and leave uplifted. The cherry on top is that, through having an incredible night of fun, you will have helped to provide a better life for individuals and families in need in our community. What more can you ask for?”

Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) is a 501(c)3 organization based in Easton and serving Talbot County and the surrounding areas. The organization has developed a program called S4 (Shelter, Stability, Support, Success), which is designed to give guests access to a stable home-like environment, services, and tools that can help them break the cycle of poverty and homelessness and regain their independence. Once guests are accepted into Easton’s Promise, they receive case management as they move through an individualized plan, eventually transitioning into one of the shelter’s eight subsidized off-site apartments, where they incrementally take over expenses until they are fully self-sufficient.

Their vision is that no one in Talbot County will ever have to spend a night on the streets, in a car or in the woods because he or she cannot find housing. To learn more about how you can help, visit www.talbotinterfaithshelter.org or contact Julie Lowe at 410-310-2316 or julielowe@atlanticbb.net.