AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
The moment you walk through the door of the Partners In Care Maryland Boutique at 8151-C Ritchie Highway, you’re aware of that warm, familiar feeling you’ve experienced since the organization opened it in 2007. With the exception of the period when retailers were closed because of COVID, the upscale retail boutique (PIC’s primary fundraiser) has drawn a steadily growing clientele.
Staffed by volunteers, the boutique is a busy, happy workplace. From manager Paul Loomis at the counter who had a friendly word for everyone, to volunteers on the floor like June Sumner who was helping customers, it was clear they loved what they were doing.
Sumner, a Severn resident, has been a volunteer for three-and-a-half years. She takes special pleasure in talking with customers about vignettes like the one below which are cleverly staged by a group of talented volunteers who’ve been humorously referred to as “the designing women”.
Much of the important work involved in getting donated items ready for display takes place behind the scenes. One group of volunteers was accepting donations being dropped off behind the building, sorting them out, and then delivering them to other volunteers in the pricing room who cleaned and valued the items.
Dotty Cappi, who lives nearby and has been a volunteer for more than a year, was having a fun time working with two colleagues who greatly enjoy each other’s company. Cappi was busy pricing a stack of China plates, a lamp, and, of all things, a pair of boxing gloves. To her right were pages of price stickers and a book she occasionally relied on to determine the value of patterns, brands or categories of merchandise she was unfamiliar with.
Opposite her, Vera Herath was polishing and pricing different objects using an assortment of cleaning solutions to make them shine. Behind the Arnold resident, a rack of bridal gowns was being readied for display in the near future. Another rack held casual wear suitable for spring. Herath also volunteers with Partners In Care as a driver providing much appreciated transportation for seniors to medical appointments or shopping.
A few moments later, Cappi and Herath were joined by Patti Barker, the third member of the pricing trio who joked that she is the one who “cracks the whip”.
Barker, a Pasadena resident, has been a volunteer for less than a year. Formerly employed by an auction house, she has past experience to draw on. She sometimes works out front at the jewelry counter or helps bag purchases when check-out lines are long. On this occasion, she happily joined the others in getting some Easter items ready for the floor.
Not only was the boutique busy but so were the adjoining offices where the team of people who are the backbone of Partners In Care Maryland were meeting to discuss plans going forward. They included Executive Director Mandy Arnold, Deputy Director Michael Jette, Member Care Director Sharon Zentgraf, Volunteer Coordinator April Stup and Communications Specialist Derek Roper.
Arnold started things off with an accounting of just how much progress PIC has made in restoring its many programs to capacity now that pandemic restrictions are lifted.
“Though we had to tone operations down during the past couple years, we were nevertheless able to institute some new programs,” she said. “Spurred by the effects of the pandemic, we were able to obtain a grant from the State of Maryland’s Department of Aging to purchase 125 tablets and start a Tablet Program for vulnerable seniors. We offered one-on-one training to the seniors who were then able to keep the tablets. The program helped in multiple ways. It helped reduce social isolation since they were able to communicate with family and friends, explore social media networks, schedule tele-health visits, or do online grocery shopping. The program had a wonderful impact.”
She added that, as a result, PIC was able to get an additional grant to start a Tablet Program for 60 seniors served by their Frederick, Maryland branch.
PIC received another important grant from the Goula Foundation for a program educating seniors about cybersecurity. Offered in different locations and free to the general public, the program is meant to educate older area residents about internet theft and fraud.
Jette gives the program high marks because it gives seniors ways to protect themselves online, removing some of their fear of navigating cyberspace.
Since its founding in Severna Park in 1993 by Barbara Huston, Sandra Jackson and Maureen Caviola, Partners In Care has steadily grown from a small group of volunteers to an organization with thousands of members. Jette noted that Partners In Care Maryland now has branches in five counties.
“PIC has two main branches, this one in Anne Arundel County and the Frederick branch. In addition to offering our cost-free time/service exchange programs like Member Care, Repairs with Care, and Ride Partners that are designed to help seniors remain healthy, active and independent, Frederick now has its own boutique, ” Jette said. “We’re also on the Eastern Shore in Talbot and Caroline Counties and Hagerstown as part of a Community For Life program. We hope to further expand to Montgomery County. We’re now able to offer some fee-based services for those unable to volunteer.”
As the creator of Partners In Care’s Veterans Helping Veterans program which pairs volunteers who are veterans with veterans in need of help, Sharon Zentgraf is thrilled that the effort is again gaining momentum.
“We’ve recently partnered with the American Legion of Anne Arundel County – a wonderful match for us. Last Tuesday we coordinated with them in holding Welcome Home gatherings for Vietnam veterans at three different locations,” she said. “We hope some of their members will join us in serving the approximately 60,000 veterans in this community.”
April Stup, who is likely to pop up anywhere in the community, said she has been out talking to anyone who will listen to her because, in order to make Partners In Care work, the non-profit needs volunteers. She added that she’ll have a table at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s Spring Shop Local Fun Fiesta on May 7th and will probably have a volunteer or two with her so everyone is invited to stop by.
When not out and about, Stup can usually be found on the floor of the boutique or in the back checking on her volunteers or the merchandise. She sometimes helps customers including a gentleman she met Tuesday afternoon who was color blind and asked if the piece of pottery he held had a purple tag. Tuesday was Purple Tag Day when every object bearing a purple tag was offered at 75% off.
Stup is delighted by the way those who stage items that are homemade by PIC volunteers are able to display them artfully. As proof positive that anyone can be a volunteer, she showed off one of the delicate handbags made by a volunteer who is blind. The lady has made them for all five Partners In Care branches.
Stup is particularly enamored of the stagers’ creativity in highlighting certain items in those great vignettes which she’s convinced lead to increased sales.
“If some of the objects were just sitting on a shelf, people wouldn’t notice them but, in a vignette, they look amazing,” she said.
As Communications Specialist, Derek Roper keeps the public informed about the latest programs and events. But he also fills in elsewhere when needed. Roper stressed that it’s easy to follow the activities of Partners In Care or to make a donation or volunteer by visiting them at Home – Partners In Care Maryland or on Facebook at Partners In Care Boutique | Facebook.
