The writer H. Jackson Brown, Jr said that “the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” If that’s case (and I believe it to be true), then there are a whole lot of Y volunteers and associates who should be feeling very happy right now!

Honoring Martin Luther King’s call for service and extending the celebration of his life and legacy beyond the annual memorial breakfast at the Druid Hill t at the Druid Hill Y, more than 125 volunteers worked together to donate and distribute hundreds of care bags (containing socks, gloves, water, hand warmers, toothbrushes, toothpaste and hand warmers) for the homeless. ​ An amazing 720 bags were collected by the generous and kind-hearted employees of Horseshoe Casino who participated by preparing the bags onsite at their property as part of their HERO Citizenship program. With their help, Y associates and other volunteers hand-delivered the bags last week, complete with handmade cards to the homeless in Baltimore city, including those served by Paul’s Place, My Sisters Place, and Healthcare for the Homeless, and House of Ruth.​

To help kickoff the initiative, volunteers of all ages contributed to the “I Serve” message wall at the Druid Hill Y shown below to reflect on why each participant serves others.​

Thank you to our partners at Horseshoe Casino and the families, mentors and mentees from Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y, Y associates and community members who made up an unstoppable Y volunteer force.  Your deep commitment to the highest ideals of community and service is an inspiration to us all.

All the best,

John

John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland