FESP Student JeffreyNavarro

Melissa McKenna

NEWSLETTER JUNE 2019 NEWSLETTER JUNE 2019

In This Issue: LOP Graduation

Citizenship/Conversation Classes BeginKathryn Sklar Scholarship * Help Our Fiscal Year End Positively

Taste of Rockville at Hometown Holidays * News in Our CommunityElderly Ministries becomes Senior Reach

Worth Noting * Volunteer Opportunities

CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS ATLANGUAGE OUTREACH PROGRAM'S

2019 GRADUATION CEREMONY

Community Reach of Montgomery County's Language Outreach Program (LOP)celebrated the accomplishments of the students in English asa Second Language classes on Friday evening, June 21st atLiving Faith Lutheran Church. LOP students dressed up for theevening, and many family members joined them to share intheir success.

The keynote address was provided byMelissa McKenna, former Vice Presidentof Montgomery County Council of PTAs.She spoke of her experiences trying tocommunicate in a language she did not know well when shevisited a foreign country. Melissa shared some funexperiences and expressed her admira on of the LOP students,all they have accomplished and will continue to accomplish. Congratula ng the students as they came to the stage were

Montgomery County Council Member Sidney Katz, Rockville Council Members BerylFeinberg, Virginia Onley, and Mark Pierzchala, Meadow Hall Elementary SchoolPrincipal Cabell Lloyd, Board Chair, Paul Love and Executive Director Agnes Saenz. In addi on to marking the students' achievements, two awards were presentedon Friday evening. Out of a group of the most improved students, the winner of theMoore-Solorzano Family Prize is chosen. Deputy Director,Brenda Reid Jones helped LOP's Assistant Program

Paul Love, MonicaVescino, Kathy Sklar

Director Jessica Moore-Solorzano give this award to GinoMato. A new award, the Kathryn Sklar Scholarship, wasoffered this year. See below for informa on about thisaward. The last group to be recognized were the children whopar cipate in LOP's free tutoring and childcare. Proudparents stood in clusters to get photos of their childrenon stage. This year, children and parents received aspecial treat of snow cones at the recep on following theceremony compliments of a generous donor.

THE FIRST KATHRYN SKLAR SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

Board Chair Paul Love wanted to honor his wife who is a volunteer teacher'sassistant for LOP in a way she would appreciate. The two of them know it is difficultto move to another country with a different language and customs, and secure a jobthat pays well. Immigrants o en find low paying jobs because they did not have theopportunity to a end college, trade school or get cer fica ons. Others receiveddegrees and had professional jobs in their original countries, but their lack of strongEnglish skills or creden aling in the U.S. may mean they cannot directly enter theworkforce in an equivalent job. Mastery of English may only be the first step towarda career.

So in honor of Kathy and her love of volunteering at LOP -the Kathryn Sklar Scholarship helps an LOP student con nuelearning of any kind. To apply, students researchedopportuni es, and offered a wri en statement about thecourse they wished to take and their reasons for wan ng to doso. In this inaugural year with limited me to research, LOPwas delighted to have received five very good applications. The first year winner is a new LOP student. Monica Vecinotook Beginning A English this Spring. She had two concernsabout beginning these classes. First, she worked on Thursdaynights and thought she would only be able to a end theTuesday classes. Second, although her husband would be able

to care for their young daughter most class nights, he some mes had to work lateand therefore she might miss a class or two. Since child care is part of the program,that concern was easily removed. Ms. Vecino was so mo vated to learn English, sheasked her supervisor to change her schedule so she could a end both nights ofclass each week. The manager supported this education and did so. In order to be a more valuable staff member in the produce department atSafeway, Ms. Vecino will use this scholarship to pursue her food servicecer fica on, ServSafe which requires her to take a class and test at MontgomeryCollege. The test confirms those who pass understand safe food handling prac cesand rules of the state of Maryland. LOP is delighted Ms. Vecino will have theopportunity to take this step toward career advancement this year.

LOP CITIZENSHIP/CONVERSATION CLASSES BEGIN IN JULY

Each summer and winter, Community Reach ofMontgomery County's Language Outreach Program offersCi zenship Test Preparedness classes as well asConversa on classes to immigrants in the community. Bothcourses run concurrently at Millian Memorial Church onMonday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Ci zenship classstarts July 8th and class me is 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. eachevening. Conversa on class begins on July 15th, and class

me is 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Both classes will finish on August 8thand free childcare for children of the students will be

available for each class session. LOP's Ci zenship classes help prepare students to apply for naturalized U.S.Ci zenship, complete the interview and the Ci zenship test. In order to apply forCi zenship, a person must have been a permanent legal resident of the U.S. for fiveyears or more (some exemptions apply). To learn more, contact Cecilia Rojas.

FISCAL YEAR END DONATION REQUEST FOR MANSFIELD KASEMAN HEALTH CLINIC

It is the end of the fiscal year for Community Reach of Montgomery County. Likemany organiza ons, we make a fundraising request to begin our next year in healthyfinancial shape. We are asking for support for our Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinicwhich serves uninsured and under-insured adults with primary care and specialtyservices. Quality health care requires expensive medical equipment, laboratory tests,highly trained staff, and more. Each uninsured pa ent visit costs approximately$200. Pa ents and the Montgomery Cares program covers about $100. Would youhelp pay the balance of the cost of a pa ent visit? Or two...five...ten? In FY 2020, weexpect to provide over 3000 primary and specialty health care appointments. The access to health services impacts our patients' lives in many positive ways. Itlessens the me pa ents miss from work; allows them to be more present asparents; and provides more energy to be ac ve in our community. Healthy residentsgenerally require fewer government resources and usually pay more taxes than theirailing counterparts. These are some of the benefits that go beyond what theindividual patient receives through our Clinic.

To support the Clinic, please click here or send a check payable to the KasemanHealth Clinic, 1010 Grandin Avenue #A1, Rockville, MD 20851. Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic will mark 10 years as a permanent Clinic onSaturday, November 2nd with an Anniversary Dinner/Dance. Please save the dateand consider becoming a sponsor for this event. Please contact Andrea Kempner-Wink for informa on or watch our website, newsle ers, and social media. Tickets

available toward the end of summer.

TASTE OF ROCKVILLE - AN IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP

Please thank the Taste of Rockville vendors and the City of Rockville. This eventis organized by the Rockville Chamber of Commerce and Community Reach ofMontgomery County, and supported by the City of Rockville at the Memorial Dayweekend Hometown Holidays. While vendors market their cuisine to fes vala endees, they help support both Community Reach of Montgomery County and theRockville Chamber of Commerce as a li le less than half the revenue generatedbenefits these two nonprofit organizations. Please thank these businesses by having a meal at their establishment and letthem know the work they do in our community is important and appreciated:

Amici Miei * Armands Pizzer ia,* Bibibop Asian Gr il l * Amici Miei * Armands Pizzer ia,* Bibibop Asian Gr il l * Buffalo Wild WingsBuffalo Wild WingsCalifornia Torti l la * Cater ing by Pike Kitchen * California Torti l la * Cater ing by Pike Kitchen * Dawson's Market * Kusshi SushiDawson's Market * Kusshi SushiLa Tasca * La Tasca * Not Your Average Joe's * Pike Kitchen * Pinstr ipes * Saffron IndianNot Your Average Joe's * Pike Kitchen * Pinstr ipes * Saffron Indian

Spice X ing * Spice X ing * Thai Pavil ion * Trapezar ia * X i'an GourmetThai Pavil ion * Trapezar ia * X i'an Gourmet

Charles F. Lee PhotographyRichie Downs Photography

NEWS IN OUR COMMUNITY

Unitarian Universalist Congrega on of Rockville (UUCR) has been a strongsupporter of Community Reach of Montgomery County for many years. On June 9,Execu ve Director, Agnes Saenz spoke at the last service led by UUCR's outgoingpastor, Rev. Lynn Strauss. Rev. Strauss is retiring after 14 years at UUCR.

On behalf of all of Community Reach of MontgomeryCounty, Agnes thanked Rev. Strauss for her leadership andsupport. UUCR has provided classrooms for LOP classes;hosted community mee ngs and events in support ofCommunity Reach advocacy efforts; prepared meals for thehousing programs; hosted concerts to benefit RockvilleEmergency Assistance Program; invited us to partner in the UUImmigra on Film Fes vals; and supported all of our programsthrough volunteering, dona ons, and financial assistance. Rev.Strauss will be missed, but Community Reach or MontgomeryCounty wishes her a wonderful and well deserved re rement.

We look forward to our continued work with the congregation.

Nicki De La Rosa and her family, members of Rockville United Church (RUC),

have supported Community Reach of Montgomery County for many years. In May,Nicki lost a long ba le with cancer. As she was also the Montgomery County staffperson who ran the Holiday Coali on Program (among other responsibili es), thesafety net nonprofit organiza ons will strongly feel her loss. Our staff andsupporters will miss her kindness and caring of others. Many of our staff and theRUC congrega on felt a special connec on to Nicki. She had the ability of makingall around her feel cared for and that she valued their friendship. Before she passed,Nicki reached out directly to so many and said, "Goodbye, until we meet again."

Reverend Lisa Zaina was celebrated as the new Rector ofChrist Episcopal Church in Rockville this past Saturday, June 22. The church began in 1726 and she is serving as its 26th Rector. Christ Episcopal Church has supported Community Reach ofMontgomery County for over 30 years. The congrega oncurrently has a strong presence on our Faith AdvisoryCommi ee. Congrega on members volunteer in many ways. Annually, Christ Episcopal Church hosts the Na onalPhilharmonic Christmas Concert to benefit REAP and, with theschool, holds a cleaning supply drive for the Clinic. We look forward to working withReverend Zaina as we serve the vulnerable in our community.

ELDERLY MINISTRIES IS RENAMED TO SENIOR REACH

To go along with the organiza on's name change from Community Ministries ofRockville to Community Reach of Montgomery County, the organiza on's Boarddetermined it was me to change the name of one of our programs as well. Elderly

Ministries, the second program established under CommunityMinistries of Rockville has been renamed Senior Reach. The"Reach" es the program to the organiza on and "Senior" is anow more accepted term. Our website, built in complicatedcode many years ago, will con nue to show the program asElderly Ministries as we are unable to make that change. We

hope to have a new website, with all correct informa on, up and running at the endof the summer. Please see the first request under "Spotlight on VolunteerOpportuni es." For more informa on about Senior Reach, click here or contactSenior Reach Program Manager, Will Mohan.

Mark Your Calendar!

Saturday, November 2, 7pm10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONKASEMAN HEALTH CLINICTemple Beth Ami, 14330 Travilah Road, Rockville, Maryland

SPOTLIGHT ON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

WEB EDITOR at our Grandin Avenue office. We have the template, but need to build itout in Wordpress. Begin with hours at the Grandin Avenue office, then choose to workfrom your space or ours. This is a short-term (couple of months) project, but there is a lotto do in that time.

WRITER/EDITOR/INVESTIGATOR to help build out our procedures manual for eachdepartment and program. We have an excellent volunteer supervisor, but with so manyprograms and departments, he could use some help. Interview staff to determine howtasks are accomplished and who is responsible for what. Help them explain their work inlayman's terms and then put it in writing for them.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT at our Grandin Avenue office. Help identify potential newsupporters for our organization and our individual programs. Hours are flexible but sometime to stop in or communicate over the phone during regular office hours is required. No minimum or maximum number of hours required each week. CLIENT INTAKE COORDINATORS for Rockville Emergency Assistance Program (REAP). Areyou a compassionate, detail-oriented person with a desire to help those in need? Work afour-hour shi weekly during business hours (ideally from 9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm) to helpus assist Rockville residents facing evic on; provide County residents with referrals forlow-cost dental and other services; and much more. Training is provided.

FRIENDLY BILINGUAL (MANDARIN/ENGLISH) CALLERS for Elderly Ministries Program. Callthe same client(s) each week to check in, chat, and confirm that the client received homecare services. Listen for changes in cogni ve abili es, learn of any changing physicalcondi ons, and be a friendly, caring voice. Depth and length of each conversa on isbased on the desire of the volunteer and the client.

TRANSLATORS at the Kaseman Health Clinic are needed for four-hour shi s once eachweek between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Openings currently on Monday a ernoon,Wednesday a ernoon, Thursday and Friday. Help us ensure that our providers andpatients can communicate clearly. Confidentiality is required.

DONATIONS REQUESTED:For Kaseman Health Clinic:

C-Fold Paper Towels, Disinfecting Wipes, Dishwashing Liquid, Paper Towel RollsAntibacterial Hand Soap, Trash Bags, Bleach, Scouring Powder, Hand Sanitizer, Facial Tissue, Window Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Cleaner,

For more information about these opportunities and others, please visit our Volunteer Page or contact Andrea Kempner-Wink at 301-637-0172.

Thanks to Our Board of Directors!

Board Chair Paul Love, President and Executive Director Agnes Saenz,Vice Chair Judy Ackerman, Secretary Rae Pearl Canizares, Robert Dorsey, Angeline Lazarus,

Frank Molony, Rouzanna Oganissian, and Carrie YearickEx-Officio Mary Jane Joseph, Chair, Kaseman Health Clinic Board

Ex-Officio Jody Eccleston, Treasurer

STAY CONNECTED:STAY CONNECTED:

Community Reach of Montgomery County1010 Grandin Ave #A1, Rockville MD 20851

301/637-0730 | Info@CMRocks.org | CMRocks.org