Harford County government employees gathered on April 18 to celebrate the second annual Day of Service program initiated by County Executive Barry Glassman in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout January, February and March of this year nearly 100 county employees in the program gave more than 800 hours of volunteer service to local nonprofits in partnership with United Way of Central Maryland. The county program is based on the national day of service inspired by the life and spirit of Dr. King.
“Dr. King said, ‘Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve,’” said County Executive Glassman. “I would like to thank our county employees for their service, first as professionals in county government and also as volunteers to help strengthen our families in Harford County.”
Nearly 20 charities participated in the effort including Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford County, Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland, Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, Harford Community Action Agency, Harford County Public Schools, Harford Family House, Highland Senior Center, Homecoming Project, Humane Society of Harford County, LASOS, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Mason-Dixon Community Services, SARC, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region, and Village at Lakeview Neighborhood Network Community Center.
Specifically, volunteers helped by:
- Connecting 450 individuals facing homelessness with local resources at Project Homeless Connect;
- Reading to 120 students for Dr. Seuss Day;
- Organizing two food pantries for the Harford County Action Agency and SARC;
- Preparing 10 apartments for families transitioning from homelessness;
- Building two homes for Habitat for Humanity;
- Cleaning 50 animal stalls at the Humane Society.
At the early morning Day of Service celebration breakfast held at the McFaul Activity Center in Bel Air, Harford County Director of Community Services Amber Shrodes thanked Caroline Adolf, Beth Littrell and the United Way team for their partnership. Wegmans generously sponsored the breakfast.
Information about volunteer opportunities available in Harford County can be found on the county website at http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/735/Volunteer-Harford.
