gaithersblog.net

The good people at Gaithersburg HELP asked if I could post the following. Please do what you can to help them out; they are a critical part of the safety net in Gaithersburg:

Gaithersburg HELP, which in 2008 is celebrating 40 years of “Neighbor Helping Neighbor”, provides emergency food, prescription and transportation assistance to Gaithersburg area residents. HELP is an all volunteer organization with no paid employees. A significant increase in the number of families seeking assistance, coupled with the increased cost of food, is causing a strain on the resources of Gaithersburg HELP. Through May 31, 2008, food assistance to residents is up 42% compared to the same period in 2007, with over 5,200 people in 1,300 families receiving assistance so far this year. The organization greatly appreciated the Food Drive conducted by the Diamond Farms Post Office in May, 2008, which resulted in the donation of over 130 Postal bins of food. All of the canned goods collected by the Postal Service have already been distributed to needy families.

At present HELP is purchasing increased amounts of food to meet the extraordinary demand for food assistance caused by current economic conditions. With the school summer vacation, additional need is anticipated since low income children will not be receiving the subsidized breakfast and lunches that they get in school on a daily basis. Donations of non-perishable food and money are especially needed during the summer months as there are fewer church and business sponsored Food Drives.

Businesses interested in holding a food drive or individuals who wish to donate food can call 301-216-2510, ext. 4 for information or email GaithersburgHELP@yahoo.com.

Donations by check should be mailed to:

Gaithersburg HELP
431 N. Frederick Ave, Suite 105
Gaithersburg MD 20877

• Chris Robinson writes, Pricey perks on the chopping block

  As Gaithersburg debates a new travel policy, a Gazette review of submitted travel expenses over the last five years has found that city taxpayers have paid a number of costs that could be deemed extravagant, including one $95 meal for which for Assistant City Manager Fred Felton left a $70 tip in 2005.

  I have to say that I continue to have difficulty working up any ire over this issue. While I don’t think that anyone thinks there shouldn’t be an explicit policy on travel and reimbursement, I also don’t belive that the Mayor and Council have been compensated out of proportion to the value of time and effort they, as a group, contribute to the City.

• Steve Berberich writes, MedImmune to stay in Gaithersburg

  After the deal closes in June, AstraZeneca will provide MedImmune employees a ‘‘one-time retention grant,” stipulating salary and other compensation, said Emily Denney, an AstraZeneca spokeswoman.

  MedImmune will keep its name and remain headquartered in Gaithersburg, Denney said. The company’s recent commitment to build manufacturing plants in Frederick was a key provision of the deal with AstraZeneca.

  Another key provision is to ‘‘retain MedImmune employees and its culture,” said Denney, who did not elaborate.

• Chris Robinson writes, Asbury Methodist looks expand its Gaithersburg campus

  The Planning Commission unanimously approved a preliminary site plan April 18 allowing a low-density development of courtyard-style duplexes on Asbury’s north end near Odendhal Avenue between Lost Knife and Goshen roads.

  A final site plan is expected to be submitted in June or July and then heard by city officials, said L. Andrew Morgan, Asbury director of sales and marketing.

• Janel Davis writes, Community Ministry celebrates 10 years of giving

  Camilla O. McRory and Thomas M. Sherman say the countless hours they put in with Community Ministry of Montgomery County do not make them heroes, simply everyday citizens helping people who have fallen on hard times.

  Community Ministry begs to differ, and on Friday morning the nonprofit will honor McRory and Sherman at its 10th annual corporate breakfast. McRory will receive the agency’s Humanitarian of the Year award, and Sherman will be named Volunteer of the Year.

  Through the work of the staff and volunteers, Community Ministry operates programs such Sophia House, an emergency women’s shelter services in Silver Spring; clothing centers in Rockville and Gaithersburg; and a ‘‘Friends in Action” mentoring program. The programs earned the organization a four-star, or exceptional, rating for the third consecutive year from Charity Navigator, a national independent charity evaluation group in New Jersey.

  I will put in a small plug here for the Community Ministry; for the past few years most of my clothing donations have gone to the Interfaith Clothing Center (part of the Community Ministry) in Gaithersburg. Their address is 620 East Diamond Ave; it’s in the small industrial/commercial campus on the northeast corner of E Diamond & Girard. They accept donations Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

In my post about the stabbing at JC Penny a few weeks ago, I asked if anyone had set up a fund to help the victim’s children. Now, it appears that one is available, organized by the Montgomery County Latino Lions Club and administered by BB&T Bank. Chris Robinson reports the details in the Gazette:

A fund has been set up to benefit the children of the 35-year-old Germantown woman stabbed to death at Lakeforest mall earlier this month.

Donations can be made at BB&T banks under the name Domingo Mejia for the three children of Ana Elisa Mejia Avila. She was mother to two daughters and one son, ages 15, 10 and 2-and-a-half, respectively.

Mejia was pronounced dead at an area hospital shortly after the stabbing. Dupree was arrested after being treated for his injuries.

His motive and relationship with Mejia remains under investigation, but an assistant state’s attorney has suggested the crime might have been a random act.

‘‘This appears to be a crime with no reason,” Assistant State’s Attorney Damon Bell said during Dupree’s Nov. 9 bond hearing.

[Lions Club chapter president Grace] Rivera-Oven also said the incident was the result of a ‘‘person not in his total senses.”

I do not see in the online version of the story the contact information on how to donate that was provided in the print edition:

TO CONTRIBUTEFor more information about making a donation to the fund for Ana Elisa Mejia Avila’s children, contact BB&T Multicultural Market Coordinator Angela Franco at 202-835-9338.