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 regular programs, as well as a special fund established to meet the needs of clients who have been directly impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Maryland MENTOR, Fiscally Sponsored by Fund for Educational Excellence
Maryland MENTOR aims to increase the quality and quantity of mentoring relationships for Maryland’s young people and close the mentoring gap. The organization provides free training, technical assistance, and quality improvement efforts to mentoring programs. The Mentoring Connector also helps programs recruit mentors. This grant provides general operating support.
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins Brancati Center for the Advancement of Community Care (“The Brancati Center”) will implement an evidence-based diabetes self-management training and support program for 70 people in partnership with three churches in East Baltimore: Zion Baptist Church; Memorial Baptist Church; and Israel Baptist Church. The Brancati Center will assess the effectiveness of the program through both laboratory results and validated patient questionnaires for the following outcomes: A1C levels; weight loss; blood pressure; medication burden (the number of diabetes-related medications and the type and dosages of medications); and participants’ knowledge of diabetes self-management information.
Franciscan Center, Inc.
Founded in 1968, the Franciscan Center is an emergency outreach and drop-in center that serves individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The center serves a hot, mid-day meal five days a week, dinners twice a week, counseling, case management, flexible financial assistance, and related services. This grant provides general operating support for the center’s operations, which have greatly expanded during the pandemic to meet the needs of the many Baltimore residents who are struggling with food insecurity, unemployment and other needs.
The Community Builders
The Community Builders is a national nonprofit organization that develops and operates affordable housing supported by services designed to strengthen and sustain both the residents of the buildings and of the surrounding communities. This grant will support the construction of a health and wellness center at City View at McCulloh, a 350 unit apartment building that houses low-income seniors and non-elderly people with disabilities.