No Rally in August -- see you in September!
School Supply Drive!
In August, we will not be holding a Rally but we WILL BE COLLECTING new school supplies for the Kirk P. Gaddy Youth & Community Center, Inc., on the eastside, Unified Efforts, Inc., a free summer and afterschool program on the westside, and Federal Hill Preparatory School, a public school in south Baltimore.
From July 21 to August 29 you can drop off donations at Stony Run Friends Meeting: 5116 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210. The Meetinghouse is just south of Northern Parkway on the grounds of Friends School. The Meetinghouse has a long porch in the front (with a horseshoe shaped driveway in front). There is a large plastic, marked box next to the door where you can donate your new supplies. If you have a check or cash, ring the doorbell during business hours Monday through Friday. (on Fri . only until 3 pm). You can also make a secure online donation through Stony Run Friends Meeting (look for the drop down menu -- "Give to School Supply Donations").
Needed items: Three-ring binders, backpacks, boxes of tissues and disinfectant wipes, white board markers, filler paper for binders, folders (especially plastic), pencil boxes, stickies, in addition to the "usual" items such as pencils, pens, crayons, markers, colored pencils, spiral and marble bound notebooks.
Our families in Baltimore City are facing rising costs and school supplies are also becoming more expensive. We appreciate your support!
Reflections on our July 2025 Rally
July 20th was hot but we came out anyway to stand in solidarity with our neighbors who are being targeted in Black and Brown communities throughout the US.
As we were getting organized on all four corners of the intersection at the entrance to Patterson Park, a Latino man walking by in the heat looked at our signs. A smile lit up his face as he made eye contact with us and said, "gracias."
A little while later, a car stopped before the traffic light in front of the bus stop bench. A man hopped out of the car and brought an umbrella over to a member of our group sweltering in the hot sun. With a wave he got back into his car and drove away.
Towards the end of our rally, the owners of the little restaurant on the corner, Taqueria el Sabor del Parque, hurried out to all four corners handing out ice-cold bottles of water.
Many days we may feel overwhelmed. We may question if what little we can do really matters. But on this hot Sunday, we were where we needed to be, doing what we can to stand up for all God's children.
After our rally, we gather in the shade drinking cold water offered to us from our new friends at Taqueria el Sabor del Parque while our friend from University Baptist Church offers a prayer to sustain us in our work.
IC4BL joined the Sierra Club, Justice Outdoors, Latino Outdoors and 130 other organizations:
IC4BL joined the Sierra Club, Justice Outdoors, Latino Outdoors and 130 other organizations:
IC4BL joined the Sierra Club, Justice Outdoors, Latino Outdoors and 130 other organizations:
IC4BL joined the Sierra Club, Justice Outdoors, Latino Outdoors and 130 other organizations:
IC4BL joined the Sierra Club, Justice Outdoors, Latino Outdoors and 130 other organizations:
Children need to feel safe in the places where they learn and grow. This includes the outdoors. When we ensure the safety of children in parks, forests, schools, and community centers, we make a vital investment in our future. #ProtectKidsOutdoors
Olivia Lomax and Turner Station
Many of us know Olivia Lomax (left) as the guiding force at Our Community Serving Others, a food pantry in historic Turner Station run by St. Matthew UMC. Turner Station in Baltimore County was the home of the largest African-American community when redlining prevented Black families from living in Dundalk. But, did you know that Ms. Lomax and her granddaughter are also involved in addressing climate change in their community? Watch this wonderful movie produced by the Nature Conservancy highlighting what Ms. Lomax is doing to improve the resiliency of her community for generations to come!