On April 13th, a sold out crowd filled the Waterfowl Building in Easton to attend the Lip Sync Battle to benefit Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS).  Competitors and audience members from all over our community came together to have a great time, and raise money and awareness for TIS’ S4 Program (Shelter, Stability, Support, Success).

This year’s live show contestants – Team CBMM, Team Scout, Team BAAM, The Happy Hour Honies, Team Gabby, The Country School Faculty, Team Eastern Shore Brewing, and The Chapple Family, Team Coastal Retreat, and the AKAs – along with the competition’s first-ever Online Only contestants – Team TIS and The Aerial Angels – collectively raised more than $26,000 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.  This is a record amount raised since the event’s founding in 2017.

“Each year, we are so humbled by the efforts of our teams,” says TIS Marketing and Development Director and show organizer Jayme Dingler.  “Not only do our contestants work hard to raise money and put on a good show, but they bring people from every corner of our community together to share a joyous evening together for a common purpose.  It is a rare occurrence, and it is quite an inspirational experience.”

There were three awards given out at the end of the evening.  The first was the Online Only award, which was won by the Aerial Angels from The Studio in St. Michaels.  After an unprecedented four-way lip sync-off, the People’s Choice Award went to Team Gabby.  Another first for the event came with the Live Show Award, given to the live show team that raised the most money for TIS.  This year, the top two teams were so close that a tie was declared between the Country School Faculty and the Happy Hour Honies.

The event was presented by the Easton branch of Wells Fargo Advisors, Eat Sprout, and On Your Mark Lighting Design.  Additional sponsorships and services were provided by TIS Business Partners Applebee’s, Subway, Olive Garden, Bay Imprint, Campbell’s Boatyards, Doc’s Downtown Grille, Hair O’ The Dog, Aaron’s Easton Store, 1880 Bank, Hill’s Café and Juice Bar, and Catering By Jamie.

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, which provides Shelter, Stability, Support, and a path to Success for families and individuals on Maryland’s Mid-Shore.  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.    If you would like more information about TIS’ Business Partnership Plan, contact Jayme Dingler at 443-786-4676 or tis.jayme@gmail.com.

It’s Back!! The most fun night of the year – the Lip Sync Battle to benefit Talbot Interfaith Shelter – returns on April 13th at 7:00 pm at the Waterfowl (Old Armory) Building in Easton.  Teams from all over the community will perform their hearts out to earn votes (in the form of donations to TIS) in hopes of becoming the 2019 Lip Sync Champions!  Adding to the fun are co-hosts Jayme D and Jay Hudson from Eastern Shore Brewing, who will be joined this year by DJ Matt Spence from WCEI.   This family-friendly show is presented by On Your Mark Lighting, Eat Sprout, and Wells Fargo Advisors Easton.

This year’s contestants, who range in age from their single-digits to their 60’s, are The Happy Hour Honies, Team Eastern Shore Brewing, Team Scout, Team Gabby, The Country School Faculty, The AKAs, Team BAAM, Team Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Team Coastal Retreat, and The Chapple Family.  They are ready to rock out and create an unforgettably fun evening!   This year, TIS has also added an online-only competition, which currently features Team TIS and the Aerial Angels from The Studio in St. Michaels.  The winner of the online competition will be announced at the end of the live show.  Interested participants for both the live show and online competition should contact Jayme at tis.jayme@gmail.com or 443-786-4676

Team Eastern Shore Brewing from last year’s event – from L-R: Jessica Bass, Jay Hudson, Jim Bass.

There are many ways to choose the winner of this epically fun event:

Buy a ticket to the show. Online ticket purchasers will be prompted to vote for their team of choice when they make their ticket purchase. Undecided voters and people buying tickets at the door can use their ticket as a ballot to vote for their favorite lip syncers. The purchase price or the ticket will be counted towards their fundraising total. As a bonus, just by purchasing a $27 ticket, attendees will also be providing a “win” for a man, woman or child in need in our community by covering the cost of shelter and services for one day!

Come early and come hungry and thirsty! Doors open at 6:15 for dinner provided by Catering by Jamie and Hill’s Soda Fountain. There will also be beer and wine provided by Hair O’ The Dog, and plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic beverages available. Every dollar spent on food and drinks will count as a vote for your team of choice.

Make an online donation. Those unable to attend the show, or who just want to help push their contestant over the edge, can vote by making an online donation to TIS.

Buy tickets, meet the contestants, and vote at talbotinterfaithshelter.org.

Talbot Interfaith Shelter 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 homelike 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.

To learn more about TIS and how you can help, visit www.talbotinterfaithshelter.org or contact Julie Lowe at 410-310-2316 or julielowe@atlanticbb.net. 

Eat Sprout has big plans for 2019, and they enlisted Talbot Interfaith Shelter to help them reach their goals and better our community in the process.

Sprout is making big strides this year toward becoming a zero waste company.  They have already converted to compostable packaging, and are planning to take incremental steps throughout the year to ensure that they are 100% waste-free by 2020.  According to Sprout owner Ryan Groll, this means that everything that is edible will be turned into something that can be consumed, and any food byproducts will be composted and distributed to local farmers.

A large part of their zero waste effort involves making sure that unsold pre-packaged food makes it to people who will eat it, rather than ending up in the trash.  For this part of their plan, Groll reached out to Talbot Interfaith Shelter.  TIS has both a shelter facility and eight off-site transitional apartments.  While the shelter receives daily meal donations, often the families and individuals living in the apartments need a little help beyond their grocery budget.

When there are extra meals and snacks available at Sprout, Groll contacts TIS’ Operations Manager Fran Doran, and she picks them up and brings them to Easton’s Promise for distribution to the apartment guests.

“We are so excited about this partnership,” Doran says.  “Not only does it help fill a need for our guests, but it exposes them to healthy food and ingredients that they might not normally eat.  It also teaches them that eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated, and that a simple meal can be nutritious and taste great.”

Sprout has a tradition of donating food to those in need in our community.  It is important to Groll that he is able to provide already prepared meals, rather than donating leftover ingredients.

Groll says, “Whenever I go to food banks, I see people taking easy-to-prepare food that can be easily and quickly cooked, but isn’t necessarily healthy.  Perhaps they want the fresh ingredients that are available, but don’t know how to prepare them, or simply don’t have the time, so they opt for the non-perishable options.  When we donate food, we want it to be fresh and ready-to-eat, so that the recipients can have a healthy meal that’s just as easy as a processed one.”

Eat Sprout is owned and operated by husband and wife Ryan and Emily Groll.  The Grolls are passionate about healthy living and helping others thrive.  As experts in the health, fitness and the food industry, they believe taste buds are made happiest by food that’s crafted close by, in smaller batches and by certified nutritionists interpreting great recipes.  Rather than stamping out huge quantities of meals from a giant kitchen somewhere and trucking them all over the world, they work with local farmers to prepare a great variety of tasty prepared meals, all dreamed up locally and delivered to directly to their customers’ doors. They’ve also created a Grab n Go café on Aurora Street in Easton where their products can be sampled and bought.

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 homelike 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.

If there is one local organization that exemplifies the Talbot County community’s ability to rally together to assist those in need, it’s Talbot Interfaith Shelter.  Among other support, more than 450 volunteers from multiple faith communities, organizations, and charitable individuals provide supervision, meals, and fellowship for the guests at TIS’ shelter facility, Easton’s Promise.  Local businesses have jumped on board as well, including several restaurants that provide monthly meals for shelter guests.

In years past, TIS has received delicious support from the likes of The Bartlett Pear, Out of the Fire, and Giuffrieda’s Pizza.  Currently, monthly meals are being provided by the Easton Applebee’s, Olive Garden, and Subway.  Incredibly, Applebee’s has been supporting TIS consistently since their 2013 Shelter Century bike ride.  Pizza Hut also regularly delivers extra food from their lunch buffet for the guests at Easton’s Promise.

When asked why they provide meals for TIS, Subway manager Tommy Cassidy said, “It’s not about the press at the end of the day.  I’ve got it, and they don’t, and that’s how I was raised.  Our branch tries to help the community as much as possible.”

For their part, TIS is grateful to these restaurants for their assistance.  “Each month, without fail, these busy businesses take time out to feed our guests,” says TIS Executive Director Julie Lowe.  “It means the world to us, and is such a great treat for the folks in our shelter program.”

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 homelike 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, or if your restaurant would like to be a monthly dinner donor, visit www.talbotinterfaithshelter.org or contact Julie Lowe at 410-310-2316 or julielowe@atlanticbb.net.

When local Girl Scout Troop 961 was looking for a community service project for this holiday season, one particular charitable organization came to mind.  Members from the troop had volunteered for Talbot Interfaith Shelter’s Long Walk Home Family Fun Walk in October, and they were eager to continue helping the shelter and transitional housing program.  They decided to do a supply drive.

“This year we chose the Interfaith Shelter because they help local people with other things and teach skills besides just the usual food drives and soup kitchens that charities usually have around the holidays,” said Troop Leader Theresa Plog.

The troop, co-led by Plog and Casey Andrews, is based out of St. Michaels and has 26 members, ranging in age from kindergarten to seventh grade.  They reached out to TIS’ Marketing and Development Director Jayme Dingler in November to find out if there was anything in particular the organization needed.  She provided them with a list of household essentials, including paper towels and toilet paper, laundry and dish detergent, baggies of all sizes, snacks to put in a bag lunch, and more.

The girls made and distributed flyers asking neighbors, friends and family to help donate items from the list and then collected the items.  A group of scouts then delivered the haul to TIS’ shelter facility at Easton’s Promise on December 19^th.  While at the shelter, Dingler and Executive Director Julie Lowe met with them and talked to them about how the organization’s S4 Program works and answered any questions they had.

“We love to see what local kids can accomplish when they are on a mission,” says Dingler. “We are always impressed by the finished product, and this was no exception.  It was obvious that the girls took this very seriously and worked really hard to collect as much as possible.  We are both grateful for the supply infusion and gratified to see young people who want to make a difference in our community.”

Many of the girls who gathered donations were unable to make it to the shelter to deliver them, but one of the scouts, Ruby Fisher, said, “That’s ok.  I enjoyed making the holiday brighter for others.”

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 homelike environment, services, and tools that can help them break the cycle of poverty and homelessness and regain their independence.

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.

The Long Walk Home Family Fun Walk and Adventure Day is returning to the Oxford Community Center on October 6th!

Last year, Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) supporter Robert Messick hiked the Appalachian Trail to raise over $37,000 in support of the organization’s S4 Program (Shelter, Stability, Support, Success). Last year, TIS parlayed Messick’s effort into a Family Fun Walk and Adventure Day, and they are reprising the event this year!

Presented by Wells Fargo Advisors’ Easton Branch, the event begins with a nature walk with stops along the path commemorating events that happened to Messick on the Appalachian Trail. Once they arrive back at the Community Center, there will be several adventure activities – a compass scavenger hunt , mini rock wall, obstacle course, aerial dancing, photo booth, crafts, and more! This is a rain or shine event. Should there be inclement weather, all activities excluding the nature walk will be available inside the Community Center.

The nature walk and activities will be from 11 am to 2 pm, followed by a 2:30 pm presentation by TIS board member and Oxford resident Harvey Zendt about his epic around-the-world surfing adventure in the 1970’s. While the walk and activities are geared towards families with children, the presentation is appropriate for all ages.

Due to the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to offer free admission so that every local child has the opportunity to attend. Donations in support of our program are welcome, but not necessary.
If you are interested in sponsoring or volunteering for the event, contact TIS’ Marketing and Development Director Jayme Dingler at tis.jayme@gmail.com or 443-786-4676.

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.

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.