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
By all accounts, last Thursday was a quiet day at HOPE For All’s headquarters at 122 Roesler Road in Glen Burnie. Regardless, we found quite a bit of activity ongoing throughout the charity’s extensive warehouse and office spaces.
Executive Director Connie Cooper met us at her desk to fill us in on what HOPE For All does before giving us a tour of the facility. We’d originally learned about the charity’s good works from founder Leo Zerhusen after bumping into him at various community events. However, we had no idea of the enormity of HOPE For All’s mission and the contributions and support the organization supplies to needy families throughout Anne Arundel County.
Cooper describes HOPE For All as a Christian ministry whose mission is to provide furniture, household items, and clothing to people in our communities who are without the financial means to meet their basic needs.
“We’re a unique resource in Anne Arundel County for those transitioning from homelessness, or just in need of a helping hand,” she explained. “We offer clients the essentials necessary to create a home. We strive to bring some stability to their lives and hope for their future.”
Cooper added that they are able to do this primarily through donations from generous individuals and with help from numerous volunteers. HOPE For All partners with 30 agencies and non-profits in the county that refer families to them like Social Services, the Department of Aging, and the Department of Mental Health and the Housing Authorities of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County along with places like Sarah’s House and The Lighthouse Shelter. In addition, 30 churches refer families and help our organization in other ways.
“We try to provide services to everyone who needs them. We frequently serve those who are moving out of homelessness or transitional shelter and getting their first house – folks who don’t have much of anything,” Cooper said. “We are unique. There is no one else in the county that does what we do.”
She filled us in more fully as we moved from place to place on our tour, starting with the offices.
We began in a conference/multi-purpose room where personal shopper and Baskets Of Hope coordinator Barbara Bryl was putting together baskets including health and personal hygiene items to be given to clients on moving day.
Immediately down the hall we arrived at the office of bookkeeping and scheduling assistant Barbara Willoughby who was on the phone arranging for one of several deliveries of furniture for the day. We learned that she spends much of her time speaking to clients and coordinating with logistics assistants Miguel Rodriguez, Jake Davis and Moses Ballard to work out times for the drivers to drop off furnishings, household goods and other items.
As we passed by other offices and entered the warehouse area, Cooper explained that, since the pandemic, rents have risen so dramatically in the county that families can’t find housing they can afford or, if able to find something are so cash-strapped they are unable to afford the basic necessities.
Needless to say, entering the warehouse was eye-opening. The first section of the clothing department had rows and rows of shelving containing already-sorted donated clothing with many more bags and boxes of garments waiting to be unpacked. As we walked on to the next section, we found operations assistant Diane Neighoff and one of her volunteers (as seen in the opening photo) sorting clothing by category, age, gender, size, season, etc. and placing it in appropriate bins. There are 650 separate categories of clothing. In addition, new socks and underwear are always provided.
Beyond the clothing was the linen department with rows of pillows, pillowcases and sheets and two separate rows that were filled with comforters in a range of colors and patterns.
Aside from furnishings, just about every item needed to set up housekeeping could be found within the first few sections of the houseware department.
Kitchen items ranging from utensils, mixing bowls and storage containers to plates, cups, glassware, pots and pans, and electrical appliances were arranged in bins or on shelves.
Bins, with meauring spoons, liquid and dry measuring cups, spatulas, whisks make meal preparation possible. 
An array of dinnerware included plates, cups, and serving pieces.
The more serious elements like a bed to sleep in or a table to eat a meal on could be found in the furniture storage area. There were dining tables and chairs, sofas and ottomans, coffee tables, headboards for beds and chests of drawers.
Logistics assitant Moses Ballard looked for a spot to place two newly donated dining chairs. 
Bedroom furniture and an office chair or two gave way to…..
…..sofas and armchairs and 
….an entire wall of new mattresses and bedframes.
According to Cooper, giving clients brand new beds (and new pillows) is made financially possible by several grants and an arrangement with a company in Pennsylvania to purchase a large quantity of them.
At the far end of the warehouse, the logistics team of Davis, Rodriguez and Ballard worked to pull the furniture and pre-assembled bins of clothing and housewares for each family getting a deliver. They do their best to fulfill the wish lists clients fill out.
Just past the team was a stairway leading to a loft where a baby department was located with bassinets and cribs, baby blankets, baby clothes and an abundant supply of diapers. The loft also provided storage space for one of the biggest collections of winter coats we’ve ever seen.
We were in for a big surprise as our tour came to an end. Connie Cooper announced that the staff and volunteers were getting ready for one of HOPE For All’s popular indoor “Yard Sales” this Saturday, May 20 by checking over, arranging and pricing hundreds of items. Then, she showed us to a part of the warehouse that opens to the outside so customers can easily enter or exit. The scene that unfolded before us was a feast for the eyes.
The shelves and floors of the yard sale area was filled with all kinds of once-loved treasures that can become much-loved treasures for someone new.
“We receive many donations from downsizers, or as a result of estate settlements. Therefore, we receive many ornamental objects like fine China and glassware or jewelry – things that are not part of what a family needs to set up housekeeping but are very appealing,” Cooper said.
“As you can see, we have many things at reasonable prices that attract shoppers from across the county. We’re particularly popular with decorators, collectors, recyclers, and DIYers. Thus, we hold our yard sales on twice-monthly Thursdays or Saturdays as a way of raising money to cover our operational costs.”
We noticed a display of blue-patterned China which is still popular but has become harder to find so it was interesting to see it as part of the HOPE For All Yard Sale.
We ran into warehouse coordinator Kevin Morgan who was devoting most of his time to completing the yard sale layout. Morgan’s work for HOPE For All has covered just about every aspect of the operation. When asked what client’s reaction is when they receive their delivery, he said most people are overwhelmed by the “amount of stuff we give them” and all are very grateful.
Cooper agreed. She also just happened to have a schedule of the 2023 Indoor Yard Sales to hand out. We’ve reproduced it below.
For more information, visit HOPE For All.
Kick Off Celebration at Severna Park Sunrise for “Cycling Without Age”
Severna Park resident Sandy Bishop recently started a “Cycling Without Age” (CWA) chapter in Anne Arundel County. The chapter is sponsored by Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County (BikeAAA) and it provides rides on a disability-friendly electric-assist trishaw to senior citizens in the community.
In April, Cycling Without Age began offering rides to residents of Severna Park Sunrise using the B&A Trail. They are having a kickoff celebration at Sunrise this Saturday, May 20 at 10:30am that the community is invited to attend. For more information about the program, visit Cycling Without Age – Bicycle Advocates For Annapolis And Anne Arundel County (bikeaaa.org).
MACARONI KID SPRING FAMILY FUN FEST THIS SUNDAY, MAY 21
Macaroni KID-Pasadena will be holding its Spring Family Fun Fest this Sunday, May 21 at Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. from 1 to 4 pm.
Enjoy a day of games and family fun activities for all ages. The FREE event will also highlight local kid-oriented businesses. For more information, visit 🎈 Macaroni KID Spring Family Fun Fest | Macaroni KID Pasadena-Severna Park-Glen Burnie.
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.
