Community Partners Provide Food, Clothing, and Support to Local Families

Alisha Yocum

Emmitsburg Elementary School (EES), in partnership with Helping Hands and Caring Hearts (HHCH), recently hosted a community event aimed at connecting local families with essential resources. From food, hygiene items, clothes, and toys, the volunteers were ready to help meet the needs of Emmitsburg families.

Mary Beth Smith, the new principal at EES, said she feels so fortunate to be at EES and has enjoyed getting to know her students and families, and wants to be of service to the community.

“The more we can do to provide resources—the more love and care we show—the better our students will do in the classroom,” Smith said.

Smith originally reached out to the founder of HHCH, Jenifer Zimmer, to set up an event that would allow easy access for not only EES families, but anyone in Northern Frederick County, to gain access to much-needed resources.

The need is significant. Approximately 53 percent of EES students participate in the Free and Reduced-Price Meals program, a federally funded initiative that provides low- or no-cost meals to students based on family income. Organizers recognized that many of those same families could benefit from additional support beyond the classroom.

Zimmer was extremely happy with the success of the first event, with nearly 100 families taking advantage of the resources during the two-hour event, and she hopes to offer future events.

Zimmer and her team spent days preparing and packing up their mobile outreach van for the event. Any remaining food, clothing, and hygiene items were left at the school to continue supporting families in need.

Local nonprofits, Autumn’s Table, dedicated to feeding and supporting the community, was on site, offering meal bags, as well as Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which offers free beds.

Overall, it was a great day of community connection in Emmitsburg.