THANK YOU
Thank you everyone for all your help during our 22nd Annual National Rebuilding Day activities on Saturday, April 28, 2012. Another 20 homes were repaired this year because of your support, encouragement, and hands-on home repairs.
ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN APRIL
Christmas in April * St. Mary's County, Maryland, Inc. is a local chapter of Rebuilding Together, a national volunteer organization that, in partnership with the community, rehabilitates the homes of low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and disabled, so that they may live in warmth, safety, and independence. We also provide help through work on community projects in St. Mary's County.
In the past 22 years, Christmas in April * St. Mary's County, Maryland, Inc. volunteers have repaired over 631 homes; 14 community nonprofit facilities have received help with repairs; 35,900 people have shared their time and talents; and have made free home repairs worth more than $5.2 million to improve the living conditions of the low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners in St. Mary's County.
Volunteer registration officially begins on January 1, 2013, however, we are always looking for volunteers to serve on our committees and help with various aspects of our program. Volunteer sign-up is on-going, but we ask prospective volunteers to contact us prior to April 1, 2013, since it takes a lot of logistical planning to prepare for each one of our National Rebuilding Days.
In Tribute - Mary Ann Chasen
Our relationship with Mary Ann Chasen started in 1990 at Burch Oil's meeting room. John Parlett was starting a program in St. Mary's County called Christmas in April. He guided us for the first few years and saw in Mary Ann someone that would take the organization to the next level. Mary Ann's position with Christmas in April grew immensely over the years. She has been noticed nationally the last few years at the Rebuilding Together conferences as an Execute Director and Board Member that ran their program with success and smoothness. She was sought after at these conferences for her wisdom. Because of Mary Ann, Christmas in April*St. Mary's County, Inc. is a model affiliate. She was a woman who touched, helped, inspired and stood up to a lot of people. She gave great strength to volunteers and fellow board members. Christmas in April*St. Mary's County, Inc. will never be the same without Mary Ann, but we will continue to thrive and we will always honor her.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, October 9, 2013, the CMI General Contractors, Inc. sponsored golf tournament fundraiser to benefit Christmas in April * St. Mary's County. Golfers and sponsors are welcome! Contact John Parlett, Jr., at CMI General Contractors, Inc., to sign up. His office number is (301) 884-4133 johnp@cmigc.com
On Sunday October 13, 2013, at 1 PM in the Leonardtown Square, the members of the Southern Maryland Antique Power Association will sponsor the 4th Annual Antique Tractor Parade to benefit Christmas in April*St. Mary's County, Inc.. Come on out to show your support and see tractors from years ago. To enter your tractor in the parade or donate, call Walt Neal at 301-904-3491.
What's Next
We are already preparing for our 23rd year in repairing homes of low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners in St. Mary's County.
Our next National Rebuilding Day will be on Saturday, April 27 2013.
We now have our 2012 Christmas in April * St. Mary's County Newsletter.
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THROUGHOUT THE YEAR...
Planning meetings are held in the evening on the third Wednesday of each month (except July and August), at our office at 28231 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville at 6:30PM.
Volunteers are needed throughout the year. You don't need to be a carpenter or plumber to help with planning activities, offering office support (filing and typing), fundraising activities, or helping to distribute homeowner applications. Come and join us. Your help is welcome. Of course, if you are a plumber or carpenter, sometimes we need your help during the year too-for emergency repairs.
FINANCIAL NEEDS
Christmas in April * St. Mary's County (an affiliate of Rebuilding Together) is grateful for every financial contribution (from $1 on up). For our major financial donors, we have three levels:
Donating at least $3000 or more before Saturday, April 27, 2013. We want to help Christmas in April*St. Mary's County, Inc. purchase materials and supplies for repairing one home, get our group name on the back of the tee shirts, have our name publicized as a “County Builder” and get our group's name on a sponsor sign located outside the home we are financially sponsoring.
Donating at least $2000 before Saturday, April 27, 2013. We want to help Christmas in April*St. Mary's County, Inc. purchase materials and supplies for repairing a home, have our group name publicized as a “Community Builder” and have our group's name placed on a sponsor sign located outside the home we are financially sponsoring.
Donating between $1000-$1999 before Saturday, April 27, 2013. We want to help Co-sponsor a home and help Christmas in April*St. Mary's County, Inc. purchase materials and supplies for repairing that home. We know as a co-sponsor we will be known as a “Neighborhood Builder” and we will be able to get our group's name listed with others on a sign.
All prospective County Builders need to let Christmas in April * St. Mary's County know of their upcoming donation prior to February 28 in time to get on the volunteer tee shirts.
MATERIAL NEEDS
Donations of new building materials are always welcome. Give us a call with your suggestions. We always need paint brushes, buckets, safety masks and gloves, not to mention trash bags, fire extinguishers (to leave with each home owner so that they may be more safe in their homes) and smoke alarms.
WE GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2012 MAJOR SPONSORS
2011-2012 In-Kind Donations
A&B Trucking & Repairs donated dumpster and rolloffs and assisted with trash services at four locations.
Steve Arnold (Plumber) donated plumbing services for emergency repair projects and for many of the homes on our National Rebuilding Day He also encouraged other local plumbers to volunteer their services on our National Rebuilding Day.
AVIAN Engineering donated and prepared lunch for House #10 volunteers.
Bear Creek Open Pit BBQ provided lunch for the volunteers working at the County Fairgrounds.
Bethesda United Methodist Church members donated lunch for the volunteers at House #16.
Bay District Fire Department and Tennyson's Fire Extinguishers donated 24 smoke alarms and 1 small box of 9v batteries.
Brandy Blackstone donated her services in maintaining and updating the Christmas in April * St. Mary's web site.
Patrick and Hans Boecher donated HVAC services on House #16.
Special Thanks for major sponsors:
The Boeing Company for sponsoring a house
Booz-Allen Hamilton donated breakfast and lunch for House #12 volunteers.
Bozik Distributing Co. donated free beer and water for our volunteer picnic. They also donated the use of their refrigerated truck.
Buck Distributing donated free beer for the picnic.
Burch Oil Co. donated their meeting room for our Christmas in April meetings.
Burch Oil Co. donated breakfast for volunteers on House #9.
Calvert County Appeal Transfer Station allowed Christmas in April * St. Mary's County to bring tons of trash to their station during a one-week time period (worked with St. Mary's County Public Works
Captain Pat's (Pat Wathen) provided food for picnic.
Chaney Enterprises donated gravel at four (4) locations; totaled over $1,500.
Alex Clarke and Wyle prepared and donated the cover pages for this year's Annual Report, along with making 100 copies of the report.
Alex Clarke and Wyle produced and donated the art work in preparation for our first dinner dance.
Norma Clarke of DRS Inc. donated her services with graphic arts in laying out the 2012 Christmas in April * St. Mary's County tee shirts.
Norma Clarke of DRS Inc. donated copying services.
Community Bank of Tri-County contributed free banking services.
CMI General Contractors, Inc., sponsored the annual golf tournament fundraiser in October 2011. Their in-kind donations included: Hole-in-One USA Insurance, prizes and awards, postage for mailings, flyers, copies, and envelopes, and tee sign materials.
The County Times newspaper printed our press releases.
Mary Lou Cullison and Honeywell typed thank you notes to supporters following Christmas in April 2011 activities (Summer 2011).
June Diesel made and donated afghans and hand-made crafts.
Doyle's Carpeting donated services and discounted flooring for House #16.
Dyson Building Center discounted building materials and supplies and delivered at a discount roofing shingles and large orders of lumber to numerous homes.
Steve Dyson Hauling donated rolloffs and provided trash services at five (5) homes (Worth over $4,000).
The Enterprise donated free space for press releases and a complimentary thank you ad and terrific coverage of stories throughout the year. The complimentary thank you ad was a half-page ad worth over $600.
First Saints Community Church (St. Paul's United Methodist Church) provided lunch for volunteers on House #7.
Frank Morris Point Restaurant provided lunch for House #11 volunteers.
Good Samaritan Lutheran Church and Daisy Troop #6422 provided lunch at House #20.
Great Mills Trading Post donated trash pick-up services on National Rebuilding Day at numerous locations.
Bob Green Siding Co. discounted materials at several of the homes we repaired this year
Green Holly Elementary School students donated home-grown plants for House #1.
The Greenery discounted costs of azaleas and flowers. The Greenery also donated some flowers.
Larry Greenwell of Elitz Beatz donated DJ services at this year's volunteer picnic.
Guy Distributing donated free beer for the picnic.
Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship sponsored and donated this year's thank you dinner for House Captains, Area Coordinators, and Board Members, and Skilled Trades.
Harry Lundeberg School (Paul Hall Center) donated their facilities and dinner for the House Selection Committee meetings.
Harry Lundeberg School (Paul Hall Center) donated lunch for volunteers working at the warehouse prior to Christmas in April day.
Harry Lundeberg School (Paul Hall Center) donated lunch for House #1.
Hollywood United Methodist Church provided lunch for House #8 volunteers.
The House Selection Committee Members donated their time in visiting homeowners and inspecting homes (October-December 2011); Steve Arnold, Jim Bailey, Ralph Guenther, Ann Hawes, Tony Iagnemmo, Sergio Jimenez, Darene Kleinsorgen, Ken & Pat Ritter, Harold Siskind, Howard Thompson, and John Weiner.
IBPOEW of St. Mary's Elk Temple #782 provided lunch for House #19.
Institute for Human Growth and Development donated breakfast for House #19.
Lexington Park United Methodist Church provided breakfast and lunch for House #15 volunteers.
Sue Lockhart donated additional mulch and weed cloth for House #6.
Lowes discounted all the materials and supplies purchased for our National Rebuilding Day.
Maryland State Highway Administration donated trash pick-up services, drivers, and trucks for numerous homes and the community project on our National Rebuilding Day (Houses 1-20).
Bill Mattingly of Mattingly Electric donated time in helping House Captains and Area Coordinators choose materials, ordered, sorted and wrapped all electrical materials and supplies.
Mechanicsville Lions Club donated 450 barbecue chicken to feed over 1,000 volunteers for the volunteer picnic.
Mechanicsville Optimist Club printed notices on Christmas in April in several of their monthly newsletters.
Mechanicsville Worship Center provided/and donated a Christmas lunch/dinner for volunteers at House #9.
Metro Restaurant & Janitorial Supplies (Philip A. Sperin) donated paper and plastic supplies for the volunteer picnic.
Bob Morehouse donated truck/rolloff services needed after our National Rebuilding Day.
Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Circle of Friends and UMC Hungry Team provided breakfast and lunch for House #4 volunteers.
Picnic/Food Providers. In addition to those mentioned elsewhere, we also received donations for the volunteer picnic from the following companies, groups, and individuals: All Saints Episcopal Church, Applebee's, Bear Creek Restaurant, Bozick Distributing, Brass Rail, Buck Distributing, Café Des Artists, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Dominos (Charlotte Hall), Giant Food Store (California), Guy Distributing, Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, J. F. Taylor, KFC, Lenny's Restaurant, McKay's Foodland (Hollywood), Mechanicsville Lions Club, Metro Restaurant & Janitorial Supplies, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #495, Nicoletti's Restaurant, Papa John's (Leonardtown), Pizza Hotline (Charlotte Hall), Ridgell Oil Co., Ruby Tuesdays, Sandgate's Inn, Seabreeze, Seaside View, Seventh District Fire Department, 7th District Ladies Aux., St. James Pub, St. Mary's Landing Restaurant, Sunshine Catering, Barbara & Mike Thompson, Tidewater Pharmacy, Tidewater Veterinary Hospital, and VFW 2632 Ladies Auxiliary, and Wonder Bread.
RMC Contracting (Robert Mattingly) provided specialized equipment on House #8.
SMECO volunteers covered overhead electrical wires for volunteer safety; plus donated time to work with several skilled trades and volunteer groups on Christmas in April day.
Southern Maryland Antique Power Association members sponsored a Tractor Parade to benefit Christmas in April * St. Mary's in October 2011.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church donated lunch for our volunteers at House #14.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church donated meeting room space for house captain and homeowner's meetings.
St. Mary's County Commissioners donated free trash disposal for Christmas in April National Rebuilding weekend.
St. Mary's County Department of Public Works worked with our program in providing free trash disposal services for our National Rebuilding Day activities.
St. Mary's County Fair Board donated free use of the county fairgrounds and fair buildings for two weeks in April for Christmas in April * St. Mary's County.
The following individuals volunteered at the Christmas in April booth at St. Mary's County Fair in September 2011: Darene Kleinsorgen, Julia Bohle, Lee Dyson, Jennifer Lewis Misner, Levi Parker, Sandra Johnson, Sergio Jimenez, Janie Hunter (and her grandson), Howard Thompson, Philip Scriber, and Tammy Pilkerton.
St. Mary's County Fair Board paid for the monthly electric bill expenses on the warehouse.
St. Mary's County Office on Aging printed free press releases in their newsletters for our program. Michael's School in Ridge donated and prepared lunch for House #5 volunteers.
Sunshine Catering (Patrick Michael) donated sausages for feeding 1,000 people at the volunteer picnic (50 lbs of Italian sausages).
Richard Tarr of the St. Mary's County Government Dept. of Public Works & Transportation worked with Christmas in April numerous days in setting up the transfer of up to 100 tons of trash to St. Andrew's Landfill and the Calvert County Appeal Station Landfill.
Tennyson Fire Extinguishers, Inc. (Bay District Fire Department) donated a total of 24 smoke alarms with batteries and 12 additional batteries during 2011/2012 year.
The Tester printed press releases and stories about Christmas in April throughout the year.
Thos. Somerville Co. donated over $1,500 in plumbing materials.
Dennis Tice, electrician, provided free electrical repairs on House #10.
Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions, Inc., donated space for Christmas in April * St. Mary's to have an informational table at the Juneteenth Celebration in Lexington Park.
United Site Services provided discounted porto-potties for each of our 20 sites on Christmas in April day.
Waste Management donated trash roll-off containers on Christmas in April National Rebuilding Day (2 rolloffs for use at the county fairgrounds' headquarters).
Wayne's Signs discounted prices for signs.
William W. Winpisinger IAM Education & Technology Center donated 24 cases of sodas.
WMDM/WPTX Radio accepted and broadcasted press releases throughout the year.
Delegate John Wood welcomed Christmas in April at his annual golf tournament fundraiser and allowed us to fundraise for our program in selling “mulligans”.
Wyle also donated copies of our Application for Assistance and House Captain manuals.
Zion United Methodist Church provided breakfast and lunch for House #18 volunteers.
+WMDM/WPTX Southern MD Radio
Logistical Support
In addition to the volunteers that worked on the 22 different sites for Christmas in April's National Rebuilding Day this year, and the 6 homes we helped repair during the year, were the people providing logistical support for each one of the sites. Work begins several weeks earlier when volunteers from SMECO visit each home and install safety covers on the overhead electrical wires where needed. SMECO volunteers also help on our National Rebuilding Day when the electricity needs to be turned off for safety and repairs and then turned back on after the work is done. Then United Site Services comes and places porto-potties at each one of the sites. Chaney Enterprises follows up with the delivery of the gravel needed at sites. We salute the following individuals, groups and companies for their assistance in providing this logistical support: A&B Trucking (Bonnie Sternack); Harold Berg (Berg & Son); George Erichsen , Richard Tarr, and Bobby Cooper (St. Mary's Co. Public Works Dept.); Barry King (Calvert Co. Public Works); Steve Dyson Hauling; Waste Management of Southern MD; Ray Carter and the other members of the Maryland State Highway Administration; Howard Thompson; Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Paul Hall Center; and Bubby Knott, Great Mills Trading Post.
Ongoing Events & Happenings
- We have formed a Christmas in April*St. Mary's County, Inc. Relay for Life team. Relay for Life in St. Mary's County is on June 8, 5:30PM to 5:30AM at the Leonardtown High School. If you would like to join our team or donate to it, please go to the Relay for Life, St. Mary's County web site and look for the Christmas in April team. We started this last year in honor of Mary Ann's fight with cancer and continue this year in her memory.
- We are currently running a lottery fundraiser for the month of May, 2013. You have 31 chances to win and the tickets are just $20. Our total potential give away is $3300 for the month. Please contact our office at 301-884-2905 if you would like to purchase a ticket and support our work.
2013 Christmas in April * St. Mary's Board of Directors
(as of February 21, 2013)
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