Every day we see the unique challenges facing our neighbors in need. The holidays are no exception. Unfortunately, there are families in our area that have faced an emergency situation this year, leaving them struggling to pay their rent, pay their utility bill, fill a prescription, or buy food. These financial stresses make it difficult or even impossible to provide a holiday dinner or Christmas gifts for their children.

The SPAN Holiday Caring Program helps our neighbors in need by providing assistance with holiday food baskets and gifts for children. In order to provide this assistance, we depend on the generosity of people like you! Please consider becoming a sponsor - you will be matched with a SPAN client family, purchase the food and/or gifts for the family, and deliver the donation to SPAN for distribution. Sponsors also have the option of sending SPAN a tax-deductible donation or gift cards as an alternative to shopping for the items.

2019 Turkey Trot Sponsors 

Platinum ($1,500+)

Alexander Animal Hospital https://www.alexanderanimalhospital.com/

Assured Partners of Maryland - Moscker Insurance Agency https://www.mosckerinsurance.com/   

Severna Park United Methodist Church https://severnaparkumc.org/

SPAN Volunteers donated over $3,000!

Gold ($1,000)

Severn Bank https://severnbank.com/

Severna Park Automotive https://www.severnaparkautomotive.com/

Honeybaked Ham Severna Park https://myhoneybakedstore.com/home/

Chick-Fil-a Severna Park https://www.chick-fil-a.com/locations/md/severna-park

Silver ($500)

Long & Foster of Severna Park - Tim Blanchfield https://www.longandfoster.com/Office/OfficeInfo.aspx?OfficeID=102298

RockWell Fitness https://www.rwfitness.com/

The Matt Wyble Team - Century 21 New Millennium https://www.c21nm.com/teams/matt-wyble-team/

First County Mortgage SOMD https://www.firstcountymortgage.com/Find-A-Branch/Severna-Park,-MD

Marathon Real Estate https://www.annearundellistings.com/

McDonald’s Severna Park https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/restaurant-locator.html

Chesapeake Hearing Centers https://www.helpyourhearing.com/

Fence and Deck Connection https://www.fenceanddeckconnection.com/

Edward Jones Alexis P Lecouras, CFP®, AMS https://www.edwardjones.com/financial-advisor/

Russell, Deasey, Wright & Zitofsky, DDS http://www.thetoothplace.com/

Wright Orthodontics https://www.orthowright.com/

The Bank of Glen Burnie  https://www.thebankofglenburnie.com/

Julie Antinucci and family

Squisito http://www.squisitopizzaandpasta.com/

Bronze ($250)

Broadneck Pharmacy https://broadneckrx.net/

Environmental Automotive https://www.environmentalautoservices.com/

Millersville Auto Body https://severnaparkautobody.com/

Lighthouse Car Wash https://www.facebook.com/Lighthouse-Carwash-121148157969889/

Charter Title http://www.chartertitlemd.com/

Savvy Consignment http://savvyconsignment.com/

Paul J. Kinsey, DDS https://www.drpaulkinsey.com/

Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi http://jingying.org/

Dr. Brian D. Valle, DDS https://www.drbrianvalle.com/

McCarl Dental Group https://www.mccarldental.com/millersville-dental-office.html

Clement Hardware http://clementhardware.com/

Honorable Mention

Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery https://secure.sidestreetframers.com/

Café Mezzanotte https://www.cafemezzanotte.com/ 

Victor and Kathleen Simon

TO SPONSOR: 

Being a sponsor of the Turkey Trot is a great way for a business to promote community good will and show your community that you care about nonprofits. You will receive shout-outs and "tags" on social media outlets by SPAN, and will also have your logo featured on banners, posters, and printed materials. The higher your sponsorship level, the more benefits you get. Read about the different levels on the form below:

We have coin-collecting cans that ghosts and goblins can carry on Halloween to collect money for SPAN in addition to the usual candy. If your little ones would like to do a "good trick" on Halloween, just shoot us an email at [email protected] All you have to do is return the can to us whenever it's convenient. All money collected will be deposited into SPAN's general fund, and will be used to help local families with evictions, utility turnoffs, and medical/prescription expenses.

These cans can also be used to collect change at your office. Just place it in the lobby or by your cash register. Email us at [email protected] when you want us to pick it up!

Make checks payable to:  Team Caropreso

Memo: Donation to SPAN and RTACC

Return registration form and payment to:

Attn: Melinda Caropreso

7123 E. Furnace Branch Rd. Ste 200

Glen Burnie, MD 21060

If you need a formal donation receipt, please let us know.

If you have any questions about the Bull Roast, please feel free to contact:

Melinda Caropreso

Direct: 443-375-2737

Office: 410-384-4800

[email protected] 

SAT., NOV. 16, STRIDE FOR SPAN TURKEY TROT 5K/1M RACE/FUN RUN AT KINDER PARK - REGISTRATION IS OPEN ONLINE. 

RACE DAY - Saturday, November 16th

Where: Kinder Farm Park

When: Can start to arrive at 7:30am

Start Times:   5k Race Time: 9:00am

                       1 Mile Fun Walk: 9:30am

Parking is available at Kinder Farm Park (fee to enter park will not be collected for registered participants).

Packet Pick-Up Information: Friday, November 15th, 5-7PM, 400 Benfield Rd., Severna Park (located behind Our Shepherd Lutheran Church) You may also pickup your packet the morning of the race, but remember to arrive early to allow time.

Register for the race here:  https://www.active.com/millersville-md/running/distance-running-races/stride-for-span-2019?int=

Sponsorships are available - For more information, email [email protected].

On Saturday night, June 1, Broadway came to Severna Park. Laurette Hankins-O’Connell, a member of the well-known Giddings family and a talented singer and entertainer, put together a cabaret show, Broadway Goes to the Movies, and performed it with pianist Anita O’Connor to a full house at The Holy Grounds Center. All of the proceeds from the show were donated to SPAN.

Laurette trained in musical theater at Duke University and performed professionally in Baltimore and New York. After a “second career” in fundraising and development - she is currently associate dean of development and alumni relations for the University Of Maryland School Of Nursing - she realized she could put her talent to work giving back to her beloved local community. A long-time supporter of SPAN, Laurette concocted a plan to perform a cabaret show and donate all proceeds to help local families with utility turnoffs, eviction prevention and medical/prescription needs.

While searching for an accompanist, Laurette’s friend, former County Executive Janet Owens, connected her to Anita O’Connor, a talented pianist and vocalist who is a music teacher at Indian Creek School. To Laurette’s delight, Anita agreed not only to perform with her, but to also donate her time to the cause.

The show was a whimsical and occasionally irreverent salute to movie musicals. Spirited songs such as “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music and Irving Berlin’s “There’s No Business Like Show Business” from the show of the same name, had the audience clapping and singing along enthusiastically. Laurette’s wit and humorous anecdotes punctuated the show as she charmed the spectators.

SPAN’s Director of Development Ellen Kinsella decided to maximize the show’s profits by soliciting donations of food and silent auction items from the local business community. This also netted a donation of six copies of Severna Park Reflections, a book of memories about Severna Park, donated by Bay Media’s Pat Troy. All combined, the show brought in about $3,500, which includes $500 that was raised at the last minute of the show when Laurette pledged she would match all donations that came in in the next 60 seconds.

Laurette dedicated the show to her mother, the late Kathie Giddings-Hankins, who was an active member of the Severna Park community for five decades, and associate editor of the aforementioned book, Severna Park Reflections. Kathie grew up in Severna Park and attended Severna Park Elementary School when it was a wooden building housing grades one through seven. She was the daughter of Arthur and Lydia Giddings, who developed much of Severna Park. Kathie also was instrumental in founding the Severna Park Old Timers club (SPOT), and was awarded the Heritage Leadership Award by ASPIRE in 2009.

Thank you to the following donors, who contributed to the success of the cabaret show by practicing “Shop Local, Give Local:” Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, Be My Guest Catering, Lisa’s Cakepops, Coco Couture, RockWell Fitness, Magothy Wine & Spirits, The Cottage, Goska’s Liquors, Benevolent Baskets, HoneyBaked Ham, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, The Baltimore Ravens and Justin Tucker, Great Frogs Winery, Benfield Nail & Day Spa, Gayle Gutridge, Benfield Wine & Spirits, Northway Liquors, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Safeway, Costco, and BJ’s.

Sharon Tegler wrote a great article for The Capital about this show. Read it here: https://www.capitalgazette.com/ac-tegler-column--20190605-story.html

                                                           Anita O'Connor and Laurette Hankins-O'Connell

SPAN Board member Kathy Norville and former County Executive Janet Owens

                                                              The crowd at Holy Grounds enjoyed the show

At the Shop Local Fun Fiesta, we were approached by several BB&T employees who excitedly shared the news that they had done a fundraising campaign among the local branches and had collected upwards of $1,500 that they were going to designate to SPAN! Yesterday these four wonderful young women went to BJ's Wholesale Club and shopped for two hours, getting everything on SPAN's wish list and then some! Then they delivered it to SPAN. They bought us meat, milk, cheese, yogurt, paper products, toiletries, and much more! The most amazing part is they loved doing this, and thanked us profusely for what we do! So now we want to go on record saying THANK YOU BB&T! By the way, this was not a corporate donation - the money was raised by the employees themselves!

Thank you to the confirmands from Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, their wonderful leader Elizabeth Baril, and the dedicated parent leaders for collecting three carloads of food and toiletries for SPAN! These wonderful 8th- and 9th-graders spent the day Sunday collecting items from the fine folks in Shipley's Choice. They also collected cash for SPAN. If these teenagers are an example of what our future will be like, there is reason to be very hopeful!

Huge shoutout to our favorite store manager - Thanks Bo Withers of the Severna Park Giant Food for donating dozens of cases of frozen fried chicken to SPAN! We had so much, we were able to share it with Severna Park United Methodist Church's mission group, Heaven's Kitchen, which feeds the hungry in Brooklyn Park. So grateful!

Karen began her professional career working for eight years as a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant both in Maryland and at a border hospital in Arizona. She earned a Masters in Social Work in 1992 from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. She then had a opportunity to work in a variety of locations with different populations with her now-retired Army spouse. She has worked in a community-based outreach program in Kansas serving families and children. In Germany she worked as member of a team for the New Parent Support Program with expectant parents and children up to six years old. Relocating back to Maryland in 2003, she recently retired after 13 years of service working for the Department of Defense, serving military and civilian members. 

Broadway Goes to the Movies at Holy Grounds

623 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Severna Park (adjacent to SP Community Ctr.)

Sat., June 1 - 7:30pm (doors open at 7:00)

Save the Date!

A HUGE THANK YOU to all of the wonderful Severna Park neighborhoods who responded to the call for food in the 2nd Annual Neighborhood S(o)uper Bowl Food Drive, by the Good Neighbors Group. We got tons of food and toiletries that should supply our pantry for weeks to come! A huge shout-out to the team captains for organizing and delivering their neighborhood collections, and a special thank-you to Julie Shay for founding this drive, which also assisted Asbury Assistance network and My Brother's Pantry! Join us Wednesday night (Feb. 6) at Cafe Mezzanotte, where the winning neighborhood will be announced at 7:00. This will also be a fundraiser for Good Neighbors Group between 4 and 9.

SPAN received a beautiful gift over the three-day MLK weekend. The #VIM (Volunteers in Mission) group from Severna Park United Methodist Church renovated SPAN's kitchen! The hard-working crew set up camp Thursday afternoon, and worked clean through until Monday night. When SPAN staff and volunteers walked through the door after the long weekend, the kitchen had metamorphosed from a well-loved 1950s-era kitchen to a modern marvel with LED lights and new cabinets, floor, counters, sink, paint, and much, much more! It was a true labor of love, and we don't know how to begin to thank them! We'll start by saying THANK YOU!

SPAN is very happy to announce that Mike Monahan of Millersville has been named as SPAN's Vice President on the Executive Board. Mike will replace Trish Davis, who previously served as Vice President since 2014.

Mike first became aware of SPAN after hearing about their holiday drive in 2016 and began working with the organization soon after. He has been active in similar organizations in and around Baltimore over the past several years and was both impressed with the contributors and scale of SPAN’s efforts, and somewhat surprised with the needs that existed closer to home.

Mike attended Loyola University in Baltimore, earning degrees in Finance and Accounting, and has held Finance and Portfolio Management roles within the commodities industry since 2001. He and his wife Denise moved to the area in 2009 and have three boys currently attending Shipley’s Choice Elementary School.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Leo J. Kennedy, a faithful SPAN volunteer. Leo was always cheerful and pleasant, and was liked very much by the SPAN family. Our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Following is Leo's obituary, as sent by his daughter:

Leo J. Kennedy, age 94, of Severna Park, MD, formerly of Columbus, OH, passed away December 26, 2018. Husband of the late Irene R.and Betty S. Also preceded in death by son John M. Kennedy; brother James Kennedy; sister Bernadette Green. Survived by children: Judith (Mike) Neidig, James E., Marianne (Salvatore) Calenda, Jean (Martin) Warner; brother, John; sister, Mary Lou Betz; five grandchildren. He was a US Navy veteran of World War II and an administrative manager with Murphy, Young and Smith. Friends may call Sunday 2-5 PM EVANS FUNERAL HOME 4171 E. Livingston Ave. Funeral mass Monday 10:00 AM St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church 1573 Elaine Rd. Father William Arnold celebrant. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of lowers, donations may be made to St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church or the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year, the SPAN Turkey Trot 5K/1M, was held on a beautiful morning at Kinder Park on November 11. A good time was had by all! Race organizers Tia Johnson and Sarah Salkeld outdid themselves this year and grossed over $20,000 for SPAN, the best race ever! Our generous SPAN volunteers donated over $2,000! Thanks also to Mike Johnson for emcee-ing and to the other family members of Tia and Sarah for helping so generously! Please remember these race sponsors when deciding where to shop locally:

Moscker Insurance Agency, Alexander Animal Hospital, Marathon Real Estate, Rockwell Fitness, Freedom Restoration, Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, McDonald’s Severna Park, McCarl Dental Group, Chesapeake Hearing Centers, Severna Park Taphouse, Severn Savings Bank, Broadneck Pharmacy, Fence and Deck Connection, Squisito, Edward Jones – Alexis P Lecouras, CFP®, AAMS, Café Mezzanotte, Living Health Integrative Medicine, Savvy Consignment, Brightview Builders, Lifetime Wealth Care, The Bank of Glen Burnie, Wright Orthodontics, Paul Kinsey Dentistry, Bay Area Appraisers, Friendship Creative Printers, Emidio Vincenzo, Lighthouse Car Wash, Environmental Automotive, Severna Park Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dynasplint Systems, Inc., Side Street Framers, and Be My Guest Catering.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters, Anne Arundel County Retired Firefighters, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, and Anne Arundel County Fire Department Training Academy's donation to our Holiday Caring Program. Having promised 40 Thanksgiving meals, they showed up with 106! What an amazing display of generosity from our local heroes! In addition to the food, they also collected $600 to be donated to our general fund, to be used for court-ordered evictions, utility cut-offs, and medical/prescription co-pays. We are in awe! Read Sharon Tegler's article about this event in The Capital by clicking here.

SPAN is humbled by the generosity of the Severn School community. During their spirit week, students collected food and toiletries for SPAN. When the (8'x12') storage container was delivered to SPAN, every last inch of it was filled! Our pantry will be overflowing thanks to this generous community of students, parents, teachers, and administration. We cannot thank you enough!!!

These folks from Wells Fargo in Annapolis did a food drive for SPAN. They delivered at least a dozen bags of food and toiletries, including great stuff like laundry detergent - and delivered it in reusable bags that they let us keep! They also gave us a special present - a Wells Fargo cookie jar! Thanks to all of these fine folks for your generosity!

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.." - Matthew 25:35

Local vacation bible schools practiced what they preached, as many local schools collected food and distributed it to SPAN during their week-long sessions.

Particularly noteworthy were the contributions of Our Shepherd Lutheran Church's VBS, who dedicated a different goal to each day of the week. Monday was breakfast day, etc. We are so grateful for all your gifts!

On Monday, August 20, we saw a wonderful display of local businesses collaborating to help local children in need as the start of school approaches. The brainchild of Theresa Kurtz - Realtor at Re/Max One, the plan was simple: to provide free haircuts and backpacks full of school supplies to some kids who would have a tough time affording it on their own. Fabu' Salon & Spa, under the thoughtful leadership of Jean-Marie, Stylist at Fabu' Salon & Spa, decided to donate a Monday - a day they are usually closed - to providing free haircuts to 48 children, whose names SPAN provided. Eight stylists donated their time! They also collected backpacks and school supplies for 100. The remainder of the backpacks went to students at the Cisco Center.

Those who helped, by either collecting school supplies, donating cash, or both were: The Cottage, Severna Park Family Chiropractic, Garry's Grill & Catering, Bulldog Bikes and Floats, Shauna Lodowski Talbot, Lee Talbot - State Farm Insurance Agent, and many others!

We were allowed to sit ringside at Fabu as these kids were treated like royalty, with drinks, cupcakes, balloons, candy, and a lot of pampering. It was heartwarming! Following are some of the photos we captured...

Thank you to Andrea Granquist Eichenlaub and SPRFC for highlighting SPAN in their Shop Local event last week. They collected and donated an entire carload of food to us for our neighbors in need!