The Samaritan Community
The Samaritan Community provides support to families and individuals who are in crisis, using an individualized approach that addresses the unique needs of each client. The vast majority of clients served are unemployed, and many have chronic illnesses, including mental health and substance use disorders. The center’s programs include a food pantry, emergency financial assistance, individual and group counseling, and referrals. This grant supports the Samaritan Community’s general operations.
UMBC Foundation
The UMBC Reach Together Program (RTP) provides high-dosage tutoring for 350 students across four schools in south Baltimore (Arundel, Cherry Hill, Lakeland, and Westport) during the 2021-2022 school year. Alongside the intensive tutoring at these four schools, the UMBC math project will provide teacher level coaching to an additional six schools.
Waterkeepers Chesapeake
Guided by the view that judicial remedies due to environmental harms should be the same for everyone, regardless of income, race, or ethnicity, Waterkeepers Chesapeake, in partnership with Chesapeake Legal Alliance and Center for Progressive Reform, plans to research, draft and release a joint report on the legal hurdles to communities and individuals attempting to sue on pollution matters in Maryland. The report will document the challenges in meeting the standing requirements for suits on environmental matters in Maryland state courts despite broad rights intended by federal environmental legislation. The report will provide a series of policy recommendations that the three organizations will elevate with media coverage, outreach to community groups, and education of elected officials in the Maryland General Assembly.
Baltimore City Mayor’s Office, Fiscally Sponsored by Baltimore Civic Fund
In the 2020 Abell Report “Baltimore’s Digital Divide,” researcher and author John Horrigan’s analysis of the 2018 American Community Survey revealed that 96,000 households in Baltimore City (or 40.7%) do not have wireline internet service, such as cable, fiber, or digital subscriber line service. Recognizing that cost is a barrier to access, in December 2020, the U.S. Congress appropriated $3.2 billion of emergency coronavirus relief toward a new Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) for low income households to receive up to $50 toward monthly internet service and $100 toward a computing device. To maximize program participation in Baltimore City, the Mayor’s Office will offer small grants to a number of community organizations to promote the new benefit and assist low income households qualify and receive benefits.
Baltimore Community ToolBank
Baltimore Community ToolBank lends tools and equipment to community based member organizations for a nominal fee. Items are typically used for community clean-ups, beautification, festivals, and other projects. Due to COVID social distancing guidelines, large scale volunteer deployment projects have been postponed or limited in size. Fees generated from tool rental orders have decreased significantly, thus decreasing the ToolBank’s revenue. During the COVID-19 crisis, tools and equipment for use in support of emergency response activities and support are being provided at no charge for the duration of the crisis. This grant will support core program staffing and the purchase of tools in response to member demand.