This year’s Make a Difference Day Nov. 2nd, is the 6th annual event hosted by multiple state and county agencies and volunteers donating their time and skills to help those most in need, said Michelle Marshall, of QAC’s Dept. of Community Services who is helping to organize the event. “We have a wide range of people in our community that give freely of their time and talents,” Marshall said, highlighting the services to be provided that day.
- We will have two dental vans from Robert Mantoni, Mobile Dentist. We currently have, local dentist, Dr. James Pochran of Chesapeake Dental who will be donating his services free of charge. We hope to have a second dentist at the event in order to better serve our attendees. We do ask, since it is a popular event, that attendees who may need dental work done arrive by 9:00 AM, so that way they can get signed up to be seen by the dentist. Children’s Dental Health Program will also be available to provide cleaning and fluoride treatment for children.
- The NAACP, in addition to Mid-Shore Pro Bono and Maryland Legal Aid, will be returning this year to provide expungement assistance. Please bring any court documents, charges/case numbers/dispositions and you will have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with an attorney for free. Arrive early so you will be able to participate in other event activities as well.
- We will have one hairdresser and one barber who will be donating their time to provide haircuts free of charge.
- Representatives from the QAC Health Department, Social Services, and Upper Shore WIC Program will be available to provide essential resources and services such as: free flu shots; blood pressure screenings; vouchers for birth certificates; apply for food stamps, the WIC Program, cash assistance, TDAP, and TCA; family planning resources; child support assistance; and other health related information.
- Other groups who are providing health care information and resources are AMERIGROUP, Priority Partners, and University of Maryland Clark Comprehensive Breast Center.
- Kent Island Lions Club will be providing vision screenings and eyeglass assistance.
- For All Seasons and Mid-Shore Behavior Health will provide mental Health Resources.
- QAC Goes Purple and QAC Health Department’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services will be able to provide information and resources on substance abuse.
- League of Women Voters will be onsite registering voters.
- Providers assisting with Energy Assistance are Choptank Electric, Delmarva Power, and Social Services.
- Haven Ministries will be assisting with Homeless Shelter information and food pantry information.
- Queen Anne’s County Division of Housing and Community Services will be available to provide assistance with eviction prevention, rapid re-housing, home ownership, and home rehabilitation.
- Child Care, provided by The Judy Center, will be available during the event for attendees. Other Children related resources will be provided by The Parent’s Place, MD Coalition of Families, and Mid-Shore Healthy Families.
- Other resources attending the event will be Chesapeake Helps, Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center, Community Mediation Upper Shore, Eastern Shore Crisis Response, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Department, Queen Anne’s County Area Agency on Aging, and Queen Anne’s County Library.
- Lunch will be provided as well as toiletries, baby items, and warm coats that have been donated.
- Returning this year will be food from the Maryland Food Bank.
- As in the past, this event is free to residents of Queen Anne’s County who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. To better serve you, please bring all personal identification, birth certificates, social security cards, W-2, DD-214 or other pertinent documentation in obtaining services.
- This event is made possible due to grant funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development as well as The Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County, The May Foundation, Choptank Electric and Delmarva Power, and the generosity of our donors.
- If you would like to volunteer, donate goods, provide services, or need more information regarding this event please contact: Michelle Marshall, (410) 758-3977 or mmarshall@qac.org; or Jone Taylor, (410) 758-8026 or jone.taylor@maryland.gov.