Advocates rally outside the State House in November. Developmental disability advocates left frustrated and confused following a meeting with state officials on a proposal to cut $200 million from the DDA. (File photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

An effort by the Department of Health to get public input Friday on $200 million in proposed cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration instead left advocates feeling frustrated and confused.

Advocates who took part in the virtual meeting said the hour set aside for it was not nearly long enough for state officials to fully explain the eight different categories of cuts under consideration, and left little time for community members to ask clarifying questions.

“The families just feel like it was a meeting to have a meeting — and their voices were not heard. It’s that simple,” Andre Coats, executive director for Maryland Community Connection, said after the call.

Coats said she received numerous calls and texts from families she works with who felt frustrated by the meeting Friday with leaders at the Developmental Disabilities Administration. Laura Howell, CEO with Maryland Association of Community Services, said that a lot of the confusion comes from the “complex” nature of the state’s developmental disability system and the proposed budget cuts.

“It can be challenging for a lot of people affected by these budget cuts to give feedback … because it is such a complex system, and we still lack a lot of clarity in the exact nature of what the budget cuts will be,” she said after the meeting. “We know, in general, what they’re talking about, but many of us … still have questions about the specificity of the proposals — and how those cuts are implemented have a huge impact on peoples’ lives.”

The cuts she was talking about are the $200 million in reductions to the budget for the DDA, one of the biggest cuts as Gov. Wes Moore (D) works to close a projected $3 billion deficit in the fiscal 2026 state budget.

The developmental disability community strongly opposes those cuts, which they fear would threaten access to some programs and reduce wages for certain support staff. Their frustrations culminated in a rally Monday that brought several hundred to Annapolis, urging lawmakers to fight back against Moore’s proposed cuts.

But state officials say that the hard decisions on the DDA are necessary to keep the state afloat amid the state deficit and growing costs of the agency.

Deputy Secretary Marlana Hutchinson told attendees in Friday’s virtual meeting that the agency was looking for feedback on how to implement those cuts in a way that reduces impact on the affected community — but she also said she stood behind Moore’s budget, to the dismay of many of the meeting attendees.

“I do want to say that we support our governor, and we also support the proposed budget, which also includes record investments into our service delivery systems,” she said.

Hutchinson noted that the proposed budget includes a record $1.3 billion for the rapidly growing DDA program. But state officials have had to trim its growth, saying gains of recent years are not sustainable.

“We have an unsustainable system. The investments will help us support, maintain what we have, and also supporting additional enrollment,” she said. “And we have to look at the service delivery model at large to bring things into a sustainable system.”

Many of the participants struggled to follow how the cuts would be proposed and implemented in the first place. When the DDA discussed a proposal to remove a rate increase for providers who work in certain counties, one participant told the officials that it was “very hard to envision what this is going to look like” based on how they explained the proposal.

Another participant had to ask for clarification on a proposal that would affect how certain one-on-one work hours are calculated because she was “not sure what the change is” after state officials described it on the webinar.

One of Moore’s proposals would eliminate the Low-Intensity Support Services program, which provides additional funds to help qualifying families afford additional expenses incurred when caring for a person with developmental disabilities. The program offers one-time payments to a limited number of families selected on a random basis.

But Hutchinson initially said the administration would “suspend” the program before saying the governor plans to eliminate it, leaving some audience members confused.

Attendees were also frustrated with the length of the meeting. With an hourlong meeting to cover eight different DDA-related budget proposals, participants were left with just two minutes to speak. By the end of the webinar, some of the proposed cuts had to be rushed through in just a couple minutes.

“Listening to everyone, you did hear some frustration with the time limit,” Howell said. “I think it’s a lot of information to take in.

“There are a lot of time pressures on everyone including the leaders at DDA. But I think two minutes to address each of those complex issues – you can understand why people were frustrated,” she said. “Hopefully there will be future opportunities for these discussions.”

Hutchinson told participants that there would be additional meetings and opportunities to hear from the community on the proposed budget cuts. She thanked audience members for their feedback and said she was open to any additional comments on “approaches to implementation.”

But both Howell and Coats said many attendees felt frustrated by the conversation.

“I’m glad the DDA had the meeting. I’m glad they asked for feedback, but I think the complexity of the budget cuts, and the lack of information on how the cuts would be implemented made the meeting really challenging for a lot people,” Howell said.

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by Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters
February 8, 2025

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: [email protected].

 

Gov. Wes Moore Wednesday proposed a budget he said will promote long-term economic growth and provide tax cuts to many, but it will be  balanced on tax increases on high-income earners in the state.

Moore’s proposed $67.3 billion spending plan — a 1% increase compared to the current year — includes $2 billion in cuts and efficiencies to help close projected $3 billion deficit in fiscal 2026. At the same time, it will offer a tax break he hopes will “energize” the state economy.

All of the moves, the governor said, are made with an eye toward needed economic growth in a state where the post-pandemic economy continues to falter. The projected $3 billion budget gap for fiscal 2026 could grow to more than $6 billion by fiscal 2030 if no action is taken, analysts have said.

“We need to grow,” Moore said during a Wednesday news conference. “Growth is the answer.”

Maryland Budget Secretary Helene Grady said the administration’s proposal “flips” the projected $3 billion shortfall into a projected $106 million positive balance at the end of fiscal 2026. It also reduces overall spending in the state’s general fund budget to $27 billion — a decrease of $274 million or 1% from the current year.

The governor’s proposal includes $2 billion in cuts and efficiencies. Moore will also use about $500 million from the Rainy Day Fund, which leaves more than $2 billion in the account or about 8% of revenues — more than the 7.5% recommended by a legislative spending panel in December and well above the 5% balance required by law.

Those actions leave a roughly $1 billion deficit that will mostly be covered by a restructuring of the state tax code.

“The problem hasn’t been that working Marylanders are not contributing,” Moore said in an interview. “It’s one of the reasons why we’ve given two-thirds of all Marylanders a tax cut.”

He said a proposal to cut the corporate tax rate would help attract businesses to the state. Moore also touted a proposed elimination of the inheritance tax, and the fact that his administration was able to hold the line on the state’s sales and property taxes.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) discusses his fiscal 2026 budget, which would give tax cuts to two-thirds of Maryland taxpayers but significant increases for those making $500,000 or more. (Photo by Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters) 

Maryland has not touched the sales tax since it was raised from 5% to 6% in 2008, and the tax rate for properties other than utilities has remained at 11.2 cents per $100 for nearly two decades.

For the most part, Democrats in the legislature praised the plan.

“We appreciate that the governor’s budget takes steps to solve the structural deficit with revenues not just cuts,” House Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel) said in a statement. “The problem before us is one the House saw coming last year and we proposed long-term solutions then. We are going to work with the governor to uphold our commitment to lower the cost of living for Marylanders.”

Barnes and his committee will get a first crack at the budget this year before sending it to the Senate.

Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Chair Sen. Guy Guzzone (D-Howard) called Moore’s proposal “thoughtful.”

“There are a few parts that I know that will cause some concern to some of our members,” Guzzone said during a meeting with reporters. “We’re going to work through those just like we do every year.”

Among those concerns are cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration and for crime victims.

Republican reaction ranged from praise for a focus on growth to opposition to tax increases. A small group of hard-line conservatives had harsh words for the proposal.

“Maryland families will face additional fees on grocery and Amazon deliveries, as well as higher emission inspection fees, further increasing the already high cost of living in the state,” the House Freedom Caucus said in a statement. “This budget isn’t balanced — it’s a deceptive scheme dressed up as reform that shifts the burden onto average residents.

“Marylanders will reject this plan. They deserve real relief, not a gaslighting budget designed to mislead and overburden families,” the caucus statement said.

Republicans make up less than one-third of the 188-member General Assembly.

The “growth agenda”

Moore talked as much about the budget’s spending as its cut, including a proposed $128 million in targeted spending on “industries of the future.”

That includes $27.5 million for a joint venture with IonQ, a cutting-edge computing technology firm and $15 million to redevelop a 168-acre parcel at Tradepoint Atlantic into a container terminal, a project expected to attract $1 billion in private investment. It also includes $25 million for the state’s “sunny day” fund, focused on attracting businesses to the state — the state used that fund in 2016 to provide forgivable loans to Northrop Grumman in what was the largest deal of its kind in the history of the state.

Money for the initiative comes from a proposed 1% surcharge on capital gains for households earning more than $350,000 annually. The administration proposed a  sunset provision to end that tax after four years.

Moore also called for reducing the state’s corporate tax rate from 8.25% to 7.99% over a two-year period. The reduction would be “beginning of fiscal 2028 commensurate with closing the combined reporting loophole,” Grady said.

Moore proposes tax cuts, increases

Moore said his plan targets tax relief to low- and middle-income families with an eye toward growing the state economy and solving a crippling budget deficit. Grady said the aerage family would see a tax reduction of about $173, money that Moore said they would use “to continue to energize Maryland’s economy.”

“They’re going to go and buy things for their families. They’re going to go out and maybe spend an evening out,” Moore said in an interview with Maryland Matters. “They’re going to go out and maybe take a vacation in our state. They’re going to go out and do things. That’s going to continue to harness a measure of activity for both small businesses within the state and the entities that call the state of Maryland home.”

The plan would eliminate itemized deductions on state income taxes, but double the standard deduction. It would also compress the lowest four tiers of taxpayers and create two new upper-income tax brackets: Individuals earning $500,000 would pay 6.25% and those earning $1 million or more would pay 6.5%%

Grady said the state would raise more than $800 million from what some Republicans were already calling “the half-millionaire’s tax.”

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) said raising the tax on high-income earners could drive people out of the state.

“There are states south of us that have much better tax climates, and it is not too difficult for people that have the means to be able to leave Maryland because of tax policies, and move to other states,” Hershey said. “So, it’s very concerning, because a lot of times those individuals bring jobs with them, and we again want to make sure that if we’re making some efforts to stimulate the economy, we’re also not seeing a negative result and losing jobs as a result of the budget too.”

The budget’s plan for combined reporting and capital gains surcharges pull, in part, from last year’s Fair Share Act, which had the support of House Democrats but stalled in the Senate.

Benjamin Orr, president and CEO of the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, said Moore’s proposals would “create equity and fairness” in the state’s tax structure.

“Maryland’s tax system has been upside down with working families bearing too much of the responsibility for funding public services,” Orr said in a statement. “Gov. Wes Moore’s proposed budget moves toward righting how we pay for what we value in our state and communities.”

The plan also met with the approval of House progressives who have previously backed parts of Moore’s proposal. Del. Vaughn Stewart (D-Montgomery) said he and other House progressives are pleased the governor is keeping struggling Marylanders top of mind in his budget.

“The Democratic Party should be a party that prioritizes the needs of working people over more successful people,” he said. “We have a structural deficit — are we going to balance it on the backs of people who have been struggling to afford their basis needs? Or are we going to do it on the backs of people who have gotten more wealthy, even during the pandemic?”

Transportation gets a revenue bump

The budget calls for $420 million in new revenue to bolster the state’s flagging Transportation Trust Fund. Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said that funding will allow the state to leverage federal funds and add $695 million annually to transportation needs.

That includes seeking federal funding to improve Baltimore City’s light rail, beginning work on highway safety projects on Interstate 81 and Route 15 in Western Maryland, and continuing work on the Route 90 Bridge in Worcester County.

“We were going to basically have to defer any planning, environmental, and utility work projects across the state, so that allows us to move that project back into that phase of development over at (Route) 90 so it will be back in from that perspective,” Wiedefeld said.

The transportation proposal would be funded through a 75-cent fee on retail deliveries that would only be imposed on companies with annual earnings of $500,000 or more “so you’re not impacting small businesses.”

Among other revenues that would be dedicated to transportation, Wiedefeld is seeking a reduction in the trade-in allowance on vehicle purchases. Currently, if a motorist has a $10,000 trade-in on a $50,000 car, the tax is figured on $40,000. Wiedefeld wants to limit that allowance to car sales costing no more than $15,000.

The department will also seek permission to impose a surcharge on motorists who opt to pay their registration fees annually instead of every two years. When lawmakers last year imposed new registration fees on electric vehicles and higher fees on gas-powered vehicles, they allowed owners to pay once for the two-year renewal or divide it over two years.

 Senate Budget and Taxation Chair Sen. Guy Guzzone (D-Howard) said lawmakers are likely to be concerned by proposed cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration and programs for crime victims. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Guzzone, the Senate budget chair, said the intent was to ease imposition of the fee on motorists and that he is “uncomfortable” with the surcharge plan. He told Maryland Matters he is considering a proposal to do away with the two-year option altogether.

Tough pill to swallow

Moore repeatedly stressed a need for a deficit solution that included a tough look at government spending.

“We need to rein in spending,” he said. “We need to tighten our belts. We need to spend wisely.”

Included in those cuts are $50 million in “efficiencies” in state fleet and real estate management, information technology. The state will also trim more than $100 million from the University System of Maryland, which Grady said has seen “significant growth in state funding” since fiscal 2022.

“It is not sustainable for the general fund to continue to support these levels of growth going forward, and we are proposing just a slight bending of the cost curve next year that we believe is fair and reasonable for the institutions to manage,” Grady said.

Moore’s plan also relies on pulling money from reserve funds. He would double money earmarked for climate change, to $180 million, with funding from the Strategic Energy Initiative Fund. That fund would also be used to offset expenses including rising Medicaid costs.

The budget would cap enrollment in the expanded child care subsidy program, which offers financial assistance for more than 43,000 children. The program has grown exponentially, and administration officials said that in addition to a freeze on enrollment, the state will also prioritize aid to low-income families and those in job-training programs.

Possibly the hardest pill to swallow is a proposal to cut millions from the Developmental Disabilities Administration, which provides support and services to help those with disabilities go about their day-to-day lives. Grady said spending “has grown significantly from $850 million in fiscal 2023 to nearly $1.5 billion over just two years.”

The fiscal 2026 budget calls for a $200 million reduction in DDA funding, which Grady characterized as “cost containment” that would bring the agency’s budget back to fiscal 2024 levels. She said it was “one of the most difficult proposals in the budget.”

Guzzone told reporters Wednesday that some senators will likely struggle with those cuts and others to programs helping crime victims.

“We’ll look at those very carefully,” he said. “We know how important that is to a number of constituencies, and we’ll do our very best to see if we can help accommodate some of those cuts.”

The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition said the cuts would be devastating to Marylanders with disabilities.

“While we appreciate the thoughtfulness behind these deliberations … we are deeply concerned about the extensive proposed budget cuts that threaten vital services for people with disabilities and their families,” according to a statement Wednesday. “The proposed FY 26 budget, combined with proposed cuts to the current year operating budget, will devastate supports for Marylanders with developmental disabilities, and impact family stability, and the Direct Support Professional workforce that has never fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, with continuing healthcare staffing shortages.”

Mat Rice, executive director for People on the Go of Maryland, said in a statement that a $200 million cut would “risk turning back the clock on the civil rights gains that Marylanders with disabilities have made due to access to community supports.”

Moore taps hospitals and health insurers for $100 million

The governor’s proposal would increase the Maryland Deficit Assessment fund and charge Maryland hospitals and health insurers more to help fund Medicaid, the joint federal-state health care plan for low-income households and other vulnerable populations.

Maryland’s hospitals and insurance companies already collectively contribute hundreds of millions to the fund, according to documents from the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission. Moore’s proposal taps hospitals and insurer for an additional $100 million in both the current budget year and in fiscal 2026.

The Maryland Hospital Association did not provide an immediate opinion what the proposed increases to the deficit assessment means for the association, but it appears to have resisted assessment increases in past budgets under the previous CEO.

“We received the Governor’s budget but haven’t had time to discuss it with our members,” hospital association spokesperson Amy Goodwin said in an email Wednesday.

 

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by Bryan P. Sears and Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters
January 16, 2025

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: [email protected].

On Tuesday, December 3rd, Mid-Shore Community Foundation hosted Mid-Shore Gives 2024, an online Giving Day Event to benefit nonprofit organizations in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties. 355 donors joined together to support 68 participating organizations and raised a total of $101,748 in 24 hours!

Thanks to generous sponsors, time-based challenges and incentives boosted fundraising efforts throughout the day. This year’s sponsors include Easton Utilities, Envision Wealth Planning, Mason Investment Advisory Services, Nagel Farm Service, Queenstown Bank, RBC Wealth Management, Shore United Bank, The People’s Bank, and The SRPA Group at Baird.

“Mid-Shore Gives is a way for us to support our nonprofits, while engaging the community,” said Buck Duncan, President of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. “It is a fun event for both donors and nonprofits, and 100% of all gifts go to local charities.”

Since inception in 2022, Mid-Shore Gives has raised a total of $252,000 for local charities. To learn more about Mid-Shore Gives, visit www.midshoregives.org.

Delmarva Community Services (DCS) in Cambridge seeks compassionate people to serve as paid shelter monitors for the Dorchester County Cold Weather Shelter from December 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025, at the Salvation Army Site at 200 Washington Street in Cambridge. Weeknight and weekend evenings and overnight shifts are available.

To support the Cold Weather Shelter in Cambridge, the Cold Weather Shelter Committee is holding a 50/50 raffle fundraiser. Tickets are $5 each and are being sold at the Delmarva Community Action Center at 2450 Cambridge Beltway in Cambridge, the Chesapeake Grove Intergenerational Center at 108 Chesapeake Street in Cambridge, and the DCS Hurlock site at 6210 Shiloh/Church Hurlock Road in Hurlock. A drawing for the raffle winner will be held on Sunday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Shelter Site at 200 Washington Street in Cambridge.

“DCS is partnering with the Salvation Army, the City of Cambridge, and Dorchester County community volunteers to provide this critical service during the winter months. Many of our neighbors in Dorchester County require the shelter’s support. We hope the community will help us make this happen by serving as a shelter monitor or buying a raffle ticket,” comments Michelle L. Nichols, Community Action Program Director, Delmarva Community Services, Inc.

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For further information contact Michelle Nichols at 410-901-2991 or [email protected].

Delmarva Community Services Inc. (DCS) is a multi-service organization founded in 1974 that serves individuals with developmental disabilities, seniors, and individuals living in poverty, as well as provides childcare and transportation services. Donations can be made at www.dcs.org by clicking the Give to DCS link. For services, please call 410-221-1900.

Mr. Davis, a 69-year-old resident of Cambridge, walked almost three miles on one of the hottest days in July to seek assistance with a utility bill. Seeing his obvious discomfort from the walk due to severe arthritis in his feet, an outreach worker from Delmarva Community Services (DCS) introduced herself and offered Mr. Davis a ride back home. It was during the ride to his house that the worker learned he was struggling because the landlord had increased his rent from $750 to $910 a month soon after his life partner had passed.  With his income at only $1029 per month, he could no longer meet his other monthly bills of utilities, food, and household items.

DCS’s Community Action Center team has been working to connect Mr. Davis with resources to relieve some of his financial burden, including more affordable subsidized housing options, food items from its food pantry, Maryland Energy Assistance through Dorchester Social Services, Electric Assistance, Water and Gas Assistance through DCS Homelessness Solutions Program, participation in its Senior Day Program which includes breakfast and a hot lunch two days a week, and medical transportation.

“We conduct a comprehensive intake with each new client and do a yearly income verification for each household. We don’t impose ourselves on people, but we allow them to understand what we have to offer that may benefit them and their families to help empower them to be more independent,” comments Michelle Nichols, Community Action Center Program Manager at DCS.

DCS takes a 2GEN approach to service delivery. The goal of 2GEN is to serve the entire family and assist them in navigating roadblocks to permanent economic security.

“We don’t just work with a grandmother who is coming in for food, but also make sure that the grandchild is meeting their developmental milestones and their educational goals with the school system and that the mom has the supports that she needs to thrive and be able to be self-sufficient on her own with her child,” Nichols adds.

Needing help with food or housing are the most frequent entry points for clients at DCS. The DCS Food Pantry helps individuals and families once a month with a grocery-style shopping experience which allows them to pick up food items that meet their individual preferences and needs. The Food Pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. The Food Pantry also has a volunteer nutritionist who prepares recipe cards based on the items that are available to assist families in coming up with different ideas and strategies for the food items they get.

In the area of housing, DCS offers short-term rental assistance, home foreclosure assistance, and help for first-time homebuyers – all while guiding clients with budgeting and financial literacy tools. For those individuals experiencing homelessness, the agency offers two shelters in Dorchester County – one for men and one for families. Residents usually stay from six to 12 months in the shelters while working toward permanent housing.

Free income tax preparation is also offered to low-income citizens who make less than $60,000 a year. Tax preparers are trained by the IRS and offer their services without fees.

Maryland is up against barriers in fighting poverty and homelessness. As of 2022, 39% of households in Maryland were below the ALICE threshold (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), and there remain over 23,000 homeless individuals in the state. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in 2022 there were 116 homeless people on any given night in the Mid-Shore region and 237 in the Lower Shore counties — the second-highest rate in the state.

While DCS’s Community Action Center programs combat poverty and homelessness in Dorchester County through a range of services, many of these services require emergency response funding. Emergency client costs related to hunger, eviction prevention, medical bills, and other needs are critical for helping families regain stability after a crisis. These costs can include transportation to jobs and medical appointments, a cell phone, and work clothing – all gap needs that occur when people are in crisis.

“With the growing needs we are seeing in the community, we have to greatly increase donations for an emergency fund for Community Action Center clients experiencing poverty and unexpected crises like eviction, job loss, and medical emergencies,” comments Andy Hollis, President/CEO of DCS.

“We’re seeing increases across the board, in particular with housing needs, and in particular with homelessness and with rapid rehousing. In these areas, we have probably seen a 25 to 30 percent increase in our numbers due to the current affordable housing shortage in our area,” shares Nichols.

Having been with DCS for 19 years, Nichols is well-versed in the challenges of doing this kind of work. She comments, “So often we take so much for granted. And when someone comes in, and there are sweet pastries in the food pantry for that day from Bay Country Bakery and you see their gratitude – that’s what’s rewarding. This work is challenging because of all the various obstacles that we face. We genuinely care about our clients’ well-being. This team cares about the people we serve and is always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that they get what they need and in some instances, what they deserve. Knowing the difference that it makes in their lives, it’s gratifying.”

She adds, “Because of the work of the DCS Community Action Center team, Mr. Davis is making the necessary connections to resources that will allow him to continue to live an independent and happy life and maintain his dignity.”

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Delmarva Community Services Inc. (DCS) is a multi-service organization founded in 1974 that serves individuals with developmental disabilities, seniors, and individuals living in poverty, as well as provides childcare and transportation services. Donations can be made at www.dcs.org by clicking on the Give to DCS link. For services, please call 410-221-1900.

he YMCA of the Chesapeake is pleased to announce the return of its annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28. The 2024 event will be hosted virtually and in person at seven locations across the Eastern Shore.

“We invite our neighbors across the Eastern Shore to bring their family and friends and join us for this Thanksgiving Day tradition,” said Robbie Gill, YMCA of the Chesapeake CEO. “The Turkey Trot is a guaranteed healthy way to start your holiday and do something good for your community.”

Proceeds from the Turkey Trot are dedicated to the YMCA’s Annual Fund, which supports a multitude of programs for all ages across the Shore. This includes local food drives, youth sports, Enhance Fitness (an exercise program for seniors), LiveStrong (a program for adult cancer survivors), Rock Steady (a program for those battling Parkinson’s Disease), child care, swim lessons, mentoring programs, before and after school care, and the YMCAs Open Doors Program, which ensures that no member of the community is turned away from a Y facility or program due to an inability to pay.

Those participating virtually can walk or run a 5K (3.1 miles) route of their choosing whenever it is convenient between Sunday, November 19th, and Saturday, November 25th. The virtual Turkey Trot is an ideal option for those who travel for the holiday, but still want to support their local Y and its programs.

Each in-person Turkey Trot will be a 5K (3.1 miles) course held on Thanksgiving Day at 8:30 AM. Participants can run or walk as a team, with family (including their dogs), or on their own. All ages and abilities are welcomed and encouraged.

In-person Turkey Trots are being hosted by seven of the eleven YMCA branches across the Eastern Shore, including the Queen Anne’s County Family YMCA in Centreville, Easton Family YMCA at Peachblossom, the Richard A. Henson Family YMCA in Salisbury, the Cecil County Family YMCA in Perryville, the Pauline F. and David Robbins Family YMCA in Cambridge, the Kent County Family YMCA in Chestertown, and the David Landsberger Family YMCA in Chincoteague, Virginia.

Adult registration is $43 through the end of October, with prices increasing next month. Youth and pet registrations are also available. To register, please visit www.ymcachesapeake.org.

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About the YMCA of the Chesapeake
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits and the largest Human Service organization on the Eastern Shore; strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the Shore, Ys engage 40,000 members and their families, regardless of age, income or background, to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the Shore’s health and wellbeing, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. The YMCA of the Chesapeake operates facilities in Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Talbot, Queen Anne’s and Wicomico Counties in Maryland and on Chincoteague Island in Virginia. Last year, the YMCA of the Chesapeake provided over $1,750,000 in assistance to over 16,000 community members, turning no one away due to inability to pay. Additionally, the Y spent $200,000 on outreach efforts and programming in the communities it serves.  

On Tuesday, December 3rd, Mid-Shore Community Foundation will host Mid-Shore Gives 2024, an online Giving Day Event to benefit local nonprofits in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties.

“Mid-Shore Gives is a way for us to support our nonprofits, while engaging the community,” said Buck Duncan, President of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. “Last year’s event was a success, with 77 participating organizations, the event raised $86,564 for local nonprofits! We hope to make an even greater impact this year.”

Nonprofit organizations, including those under fiscal sponsorship, serving Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties, are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Participants are provided with the tools and resources needed to have a successful charitable campaign, including best-in-class fundraising technology, and there is no cost to participate.

Businesses are invited to join the Mid-Shore Community Foundation in sponsoring this year’s event.  Thanks to generous sponsors, prize money and incentives are awarded throughout the day.

Individuals are encouraged to participate in fundraising. If your favorite nonprofit is participating in Mid-Shore Gives, you can raise funds on their behalf or you can fundraise for the Giving Day in general. Simply, create a fundraising profile and invite your friends, family, and colleagues to join you in giving back.

The giving begins on Tuesday, December 3rd at midnight! Donations will be accepted online at midshoregives.org. All donations go to the designated nonprofits. The minimum donation is $10.00, and all donations are tax-deductible.

For additional information or to get involved, visit midshoregives.org or contact Heather Pickens at [email protected].

www.midshoregives.org

The Bay Bridge Run will take place on Sunday, November 10. The participants will run or walk the 6.2 miles from Northrop Grumman on the western shore, across the eastbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, along Pier One Road and up Route 8 to the finish line in Chesapeake Bay Business Park.

The eastbound span of the Bay Bridge will be closed at 12:00 am Sunday morning to prepare for the runners and is expected to reopen by 2:00 pm Sunday afternoon. During this time frame, the westbound span will be in two-way traffic operations, carrying both east and westbound traffic.

The southbound lane of Route 8 will be open this year from Main Street to Thompson Creek Road, but the exit to westbound Route 50/Bay Bridge located on the Route 8 overpass will remain closed.

For residents that typically access Route 50 WB/Bay Bridge from the exits on the Route 8 overpass, you will be able to access Route 50 WB/Bay Bridge by turning on Main Street and accessing Route 50 from Duke Street.

The business park in Stevensville will once again host the post-race festivities, which are open to the public, race participants and spectators. Law enforcement will have a temporary cross walk set up for pedestrians needing to cross Route 8. Last call for the festivities is set for 1:30 pm, and the event area will close at 2:00 pm.

Plan for delays and a heavy police presence in the area. The race is dependent on weather. If there is weather that prevents Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) from conducting two-way traffic, the event will be cancelled.

For more information go to www.thebaybridgerun.com or https://www.qac.org/1580/Bay-Bridge-Run