Change in Operations

Beginning Monday, June 1, SPAN will be open Monday through Thursday from 10-12:45 to help with utility assistance, rental assistance, prescription assistance, and food. Please call 410-647-0889 before you come in to determine eligibility. Please be patient as we adjust our operations and tweak some of our rules. The food areas we serve are Severna Park, Millersville, Broadneck, and Arnold. If you do not live within one of our food service areas, we can help you with emergency food or baby products if you have no other source. We will maintain safe practices, with no-contact transactions. Food is distributed through our side door so there is no contact. The areas we give financial assistance to are Severna Park, Millersville, Broadneck, Arnold, Fort Meade, Linthicum, Severn, Pasadena, Glen Burnie, Crownsville, Gambrills, Odenton, and Crofton. Payments are made directly to providers, not to clients. MARYLAND IDs ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL ASSISTANCE.

We are beginning to phase out our free outdoor pantry, and will be stocking it this week with only canned and jarred food plus toiletries.

If you need further resources, please consult the attached list of pantries from the Anne Arundel County Food Bank or call 2-1-1.

SPAN, Inc. is having a FOOD DRIVE! Help us Stuff the Bus on Saturday 5/16 from 1-3 pm at Severna Park Middle School - Lynwood Parking Lot.

Throughout the pandemic, SPAN has continued to assist Severna Park and our surrounding communities. The volume of food and necessities coming in and out of the door has been staggering. All (non-expired) non-perishable food items are welcomed. Items specifically in need are: pasta sauce, jelly, syrup, canned fruit, side dishes (pasta or rice), all hygiene products, laundry detergent, shampoo. Perishables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and apples that won't get smushed are welcome also!

For no-contact dropoff, we will have gloved and masked volunteers who can take your food out of your car for you!

Hope to see you there this Saturday! Please share!

Here is a link to our Wish List and Amazon Wish List. If you can't make it Saturday, you can drop your donation off at SPAN any time!

For the week of May 4, 2020, SPAN will be open Monday-Wednesday, 10-noon, and Thursday by special appointment. All interactions will be conducted via no-contact methods.

Our free outdoor pantry is open, regularly stocked, and available 24/7 to anyone who needs it. It is a tall bin behind the SPAN house. The SPAN house is directly behind Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Severna Park at 400 Benfield Road, just east of Truck House Road.

NOTE: Evictions and utility shutoffs are NOT being enforced until the state opens back up. We still owe money for these, so everyone should try to make payments, if possible. However, you won't be shut off or evicted if you are unable to come up with the money. You also can't be charged late fees.

SPAN is focusing on food, toiletries, baby needs, and prescription medication during this time. If you have a special need; i.e., a prescription, adult diapers, or a particular type of baby diaper, formula, etc. that you need, please email [email protected]. If you have no transportation, we will be happy to help you via your neighbor or family member if you give them permission.

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has been donating food and money to SPAN! Our work has been labor-intensive, but we're trying to reach all of those who need help. A special thanks to SPAN VP Mike Monahan and pantry workers Tia Jones Johnson and Elle Johnson for working seven days a week to keep our pantry running!

PLEASE NOTE: We are making decisions one day at a time, and will modify our operations based on recommendations of the Maryland Department of Health. Please check SPAN's Facebook page for our most current updates. SPAN Facebook Page

To our friends and followers: SPAN is committed to serving its community in a way that will maximize benefits while minimizing risk during the coronavirus state of emergency. We will operate during our normal hours, from 10:00am to 1:30pm, until further notice. However, our doors will remain locked. We will conduct transactions through our window, and will streamline the assistance process.

MyBGE is suspending service disconnections and waiving new late payment charges until at least May 1. Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works has suspended water turnoffs indefinitely. The Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office is not enforcing evictions during this state of emergency.

Kathy Berge of St. Martins-In-The-Field Episcopal Church was named president of SPAN's Executive Board of Directors on January 13, 2020. Her term will last for two years.

Kathy is an Occupational Therapist by profession, who has practiced in the field of psychiatry in Baltimore. Kathy previously served on SPAN's Board of Directors, representing St. Martins-in-the Field. She has been involved with nonprofits for more than 40 years, and is on St. Martin's Outreach Committee, coordinates St. Martin's Winter Relief service for Arundel House of Hope, and currently provides pro bono services to families in need. Kathy has sat on the Board of Directors for multiple organizations for many years and has chaired the Charity Committee for the Foundation for Families. She is currently helping family members set up a charity in Cecil County. We look forward to working with Kathy and continuing to serve our neighbors in need under her leadership.

SPAN's Executive Board for 2020-2022: Kathy Berge-president (St. Martin's), Mike Monahan-vice president(Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church), Karen Hall-secretary (Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church), and John Howland-treasurer (Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Severna Park).

Sharon Tegler from The Capital newspaper recently wrote a great article about Kathy's new position with SPAN. You can read it by clicking here. 

For the third year in a row, Severna Park United Methodist Church has sponsored a "Reverse Advent" program, where members of their congregation are given a SPAN bag on the first Sunday of Advent, and instructed to put one item in it every day for SPAN. This year, 352 filled bags were returned, but in reality, there were more, because families added extra bags of their own to their SPAN bags. Our house was bursting at the seams with all the food and toiletries, but that's a wonderful thing! Thanks to Francie and Carl Seaman for spearheading this program, and thanks to the generous donors from SPUMC for their kindness! 

We are so proud of SPAN's president of the Board of Directors, Ted Florenz, for being chosen as this month's Volunteer of the Month by the Severna Park Voice newspaper! Ted is finishing up his second two-year term, and we will be sad to see him go, but he has promised to continue being a volunteer! Thanks, Ted, for always giving 110% for SPAN!

To read the article with an interview with Ted, click here: https://www.severnaparkvoice.com/stories/span-volunteer-proud-to-serve-community,30433?

                            Photo by Zach Sparks

Thanks to all of our loyal supporters, the 2019 Stride for SPAN Turkey Trot was our most successful race to date! With a record number of sponsors, donors, and participants, the race grossed over $26,000! This money will all be deposited into SPAN's general fund to be used for local families in need who need assistance with evictions, utility shutoffs and medical/prescription bills.

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

2019 Turkey Trot Prize Donors

Old Tyme Barber
Craft American Eatery
Qdoba
Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi
FroYo
The Great American Car Wash
Noodles
Squisitos Severna Park
Park Tavern
Cafe Rio
Magothy Wine & Spirits
Dawsons Liquors
Kyoto Japanese Steak House
Franklin Toys
Adams Ribs
Ledo's Pizza Severna Park
The Breakfast Shoppe
The Big Bean Coffee Shop
Severna Park Lanes
Sophie's Crepes
The Cottage
Lisa's Cakepops

2019 Turkey Trot Food Donors

Be My Guest Catering
Uber Bagels
Dunkin Donuts
Severna Park Giant Food
Severna Park Harris Teeter

SPAN recently got a wonderful delivery of a 16-foot storage container filled with food and toiletries by Severn School's #SevernServiceSociety. These wonderful students collected over 11,000 items during their Spirit Week right before Homecoming! The classes had a friendly competition to see who could collect the most items, and the senior class won!

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.