The Circle of Giving
Serving Up Holiday Cheer in Southern Maryland

Story by Jill Malcolm
Courtesy Photograph

The holidays in Southern Maryland are a time for families to gather and share in the bounty and fruits of their year.  Sadly, for some residents, the holidays are a time of struggle in finding a way to make ends meet.  Homelessness and poverty exist in our bountiful region, much to the disbelief of many Southern Marylanders.   Fortunately, there are many programs in place through area churches and charitable organizations to help people in need of a hot meal or food for their holiday table.

Catholic Charities sponsors the Southern Maryland Regional Food Bank located at Routes 5 and 231 in Hughesville. The food bank serves the needs of the community by providing food and supplies for area food pantries and community assistance programs.

George Mattingly, Program Coordinator for the Southern Maryland Food Bank said their facility supplied 290,000 pounds of food last year at the deeply discounted rate of 18 cents a pound to area programs, providing assistance for over 15,000 families.  They accept donations of non-perishable foods at their warehouse year round and see increased need over the holidays.

Our mission here is to help the community the best way we can,” said Mattingly.  “By collecting and distributing food we provide a necessary service.”  One of the biggest participants in the Southern Maryland Food Bank program is the SMILE Food Pantry in Lusby.

SMILE, a name that comes from the words Service Makes Individual Lives Exciting, is a non-profit organization comprised of the financial and volunteer efforts of nine area churches to offer food stores for those who qualify for assistance.  Thirty- five volunteers provide the manpower and the facility covers overhead costs by selling donated household items in the adjacent thrift shop.

Volunteer, Lottie Danielson has managed the SMILE food pantry for the past 11 years.  The holidays are a time the community is particularly generous to their program.

“It’s a great circle of giving,” said Danielson.  “We gave out 260 holiday baskets last year.”

For those in need of a meal, area soup kitchens are eager to serve.  St. Mary’s Caring in Lexington Park is in the business of providing a hot breakfast and lunch five days a week and for the holidays will be offering a Christmas dinner.

“Anyone can come in and have a meal, we require no proof of hardship,” said Susan Holmes-Noel, Volunteer Coordinator for St. Mary’s Caring.  “We serve 50-60 people a day and even more for the holidays.”

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church operates a soup kitchen and food pantry at their sanctuary in Leonardtown.  The church hosts an annual Christmas Wonderland.  They serve a buffet style dinner, take pictures with Santa, and have gifts for everyone who attends, including a bag of food to take home complete with their choice of a turkey or ham.

“The food last year was fantastic and there was plenty of it,” said Ruth Baker of Lexington Park who regularly comes in to the soup kitchen for lunch.  “I liked the Santa Claus, he was nice.  I still have the picture on my TV at home.”

Mona Famoso coordinates the program for St. Paul’s and believes everyone deserves something special.  She and her family, all members of the church, give freely of their  time to provide for those less fortunate.  Her teenage grandson, Richard Hern-Lent washes the dishes and her husband dresses up as Santa.

“My birthday is December 19th, the day of our Christmas celebration, and I can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday than packing food bags for the needy,” said Famoso.

The Charles County Children’s Aid Society will host their 14th annual Christmas Connection food drive this year.  With multiple drop sites at businesses around Charles County, the program benefits over 2,500 children and their families over the holidays.

With all the programs in place for the holidays, residents of Southern Maryland can help by volunteering, making donations of food or making a financial contribution. Foods regularly requested are non-perishables such as canned fruit, canned green vegetables, soup, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese and tuna but most facilities will accept anything donated as every little bit helps.  Your donation can complete the circle of giving by making the holidays brighter for a fellow Southern Maryland citizen in need.