AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
It’s not often that customers visiting Black Market Bakers in Edgewater spot a pair of puppets while enroute to the counter for some pastries or a cup of coffee. However, Assistance League of the Chesapeake president Cindy Whittle and member Teresa Hales Tudor had puppets Melanie and Ginger with them following an appearance nearby. With the fall term about to start, the puppets will be visiting Anne Arundel County Public School classrooms as the stars of ALC’s popular Kids On The Block program which helps students understand what bullying is and how to stop it.
Last Thursday, however, the puppets were helping Whittle and Tudor draw attention to their organization’s signature program, Operation School Bell for which ALC is seeking volunteers and donations.
Whittle explained that Operation School Bell is the umbrella program for the organization’s school assistance initiatives.
“Our primary program is Kids in Need which supplies new school uniforms to children in six Title 1 elementary schools and one middle school,” she said. “The schools include Georgetown East, Germantown, Meade Heights, Mills Parole, Tyler Heights and Van Bokkelen elementary schools and MacArthur Middle School. Each child receives pants, polo shirt, sweatshirt, socks and underwear. We do it twice a year – in the fall and then in January when we also include hats and mittens for them.”
As of last spring, the Assistance League had provided over 27,000 new uniforms to Anne Arundel County students giving them a good start for academic success. The program also relieves some of the stress struggling families are experiencing.
Every year ALC provides three brand new uniforms to more than 3,000 kids in those Title 1 schools. And every year volunteers from the 80-member organization spend countless hours going to the schools to measure the students for the clothing.
ALC members measure each student to be sure their new uniform will fit perfectly. 
Members getting ready to assemble almost 4,000 uniform packages for distribution.
Once packaged, the uniforms look great and are a joy for the children to receive.
Tudor revealed why Operation School Bell is so important and why the Assistance League continues its drive for donations year after year.
“We want children from families in need to have the same feeling we all had when we started school each fall with new school clothing,” she said. “We want to allow them the excitement of having a new school uniform – to look just like everyone else coming in. We want to give them the tools and clothes to feel accepted and be successful.”
She added that some of the kids being measured have a sense of wonderment in their eyes that they are getting something new to wear that is just for them. They wish they could take the clothes with them and are disappointed when told that it will be about two weeks until they receive them.
AACPS school counselors recommend which children should receive uniforms. Schools in the most poverty-stricken districts tend to involve more students.
Operation School Bell is just one of the programs that has ALC’s members shifting into high gear this fall. Though the Assistance League of the Chesapeake began as a guild in Annapolis in 2001, it became a chapter of the nationwide Assistance League organization in 2006 and subsequently attracted members from throughout the county. Members come from all walks of life and generally take an active role in more than one initiative.
One of the most important initiatives now that school is starting is Project Literacy.
“Our volunteers staff a monthly Guest Reader program and, at some of the schools, we do one-to-one tutoring for kids who are struggling readers,’ said Whittle. “The teachers or counselors will match us with a child who needs a little extra help and we work with the same child week after week.”
She added that ALC also provides summer reading materials – a brand new book for each child.
A number of volunteers make sure the summer reading books find their own special student.
“These books are for students that don’t have any books or a reading library at home. We want them to have new books of their very own to keep, build on and develop a love of reading,” Tudor said.
Both women emphasized that there are so many other programs for volunteers to participate in. To name a few, there are Sing-Alongs for Seniors wherein Assistance League members provide music, song sheets, encouragement and companionship for senior citizens in assisted living residences. Closely allied with the sing-alongs is the Smiles for Seniors Greeting Cards effort to provide personally signed cards for assisted living residents who need cheering up, especially during holidays.
There is also the popular Stork’s Nest Baby Shower initiative. Using a list provided by Baltimore Washington Medical Center, ALC members purchase baby gifts for expectant mothers enrolled the hospital’s Nature and Nurture prenatal care program. The gifts will be brought to an Assistance League baby shower being held at the Bistro at Heritage Harbor.
Tudor stressed the fact that the work of the Assistance League of the Chesapeake is not well known but is very important. They would love to attract some new members. Anyone over 18 can join. The group meets once a month except during the summer. Meetings are designed to update members on ways they can volunteer to help county families. The Assistance League also has an online appeal to give community members the opportunity to donate money to purchase one or more uniforms for a child. A donation of $65 covers the cost of pants, polo shirt, sweatshirt, and three pairs of underwear and socks.
For more information or to make a donation, visit Home – Assistance League of the ChesapeakeAssistance League of the Chesapeake.
Walk the Walk Foundation backpacks already being delivered to schools
According to Walk the Walk Foundation’s Nicole Dolan, the organization’s annual Backpack for Kids donation drive was quite successful this year increasing the number of backpacks donated by 500 for a total of 1,500 distributed to 30 different schools.
“We partner with the Department of Social Services and a few other partners to figure out where the need is.” Dolan said. “Then, using financial donations from our supporters, we purchase backpack items in bulk at a discount. We next bring the items to a specific location, like a church, where supporters can make a donation and pack a backpack for a child.”
In filling the backpacks, WTWF follows guidelines on the standard list of school supplies provided by Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Not every backpack is exactly the same but there are generally 24 items – things like composition notebooks, crayons, pens, dry erase markers, dry erase sleeves, water bottles, Ziplock bags, and more.
Next on the agenda for Walk the Walk Foundation is the 2023 Bay Bridge Walk on November 12. WTWF is now a Bay Bridge charity partner and has the ability to fund raise. For information on any of the Walk the Walk Foundation programs or events visit Nonprofit Organization | Walk the Walk Foundation | Annapolis MD (wtwf.org).
Our visit to Pumphrey’s Farm Stand was as fun as ever
In our efforts to support our local farmers, we visited a longtime favorite summer destination – the Pumphrey’s Farm produce stand at 8220 Veterans Highway in Millersville.
As always, we found amiable proprietor Nat Pumphrey keeping cool in a shady spot with his companionable black and white cat. Reminiscing with a longtime customer, Pumphrey pointed to a blackboard in the corner which celebrates the fact that the farm has been selling produce for 62 years.
The selection of vegetables “fresh daily from the fields of downtown Millersville” as Nat Pumphrey puts it exceeds expectations.
Laid out “serve yourself” style, there are rows and rows of bright red tomatoes plus less ripe ones for making fried green tomatoes. There are crates of green, red and yellow Bell peppers, baskets of pattypan squash, yellow squash and sweet corn. In addition, Pumphrey’s sells an astonishing array of hot peppers including Jalapenos, Habaneros, super-hot Ghost Habaneros, Thai peppers and round red cherry peppers.
Peaches and plums and nectarines share a table with potatoes and runner beans along with a few crates on the floor in front of the antiques.
Behind a full complement of Canary melons and cantaloupes is a Welcome To Our Farm sign, a vintage John Deere Dr. sign, and a collection of vintage toy trucks. One could easily say that Pumphrey’s Farm stand not only has fresh from the field produce but also has quite a bit of character. For hours and information, visit Pumphrey’s Farm | Facebook.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.
And by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
