During the COVID-19 pandemic, GEDCO’s services are needed more than ever
Here is how GEDCO is providing compassionate support and critical services during the crisis:
– Volunteers are preparing and delivering bags of non-perishable foods every week to 280 residents of Stadium Place, Epiphany House, and Gallagher Mansion.
– More than 95 older adults are eating at our daily Eating Together program – a 150% increase since March.
– More than 750 people are visiting the CARES Food Pantry each month for perishable and non-perishable groceries – a 45% increase since the virus outbreak and now available twice a month rather than once a month.
– CARES Career Connection is assisting 20 people a week with their job search via phone.
– GEDCO staff is making personal calls every day to 80 older adult residents to make sure they are safe and determining if they have any immediate needs, such as food or medication.
– GEDCO is providing mental health, addiction prevention, and stress reduction assistance to 59 residents of Homeless Services at Harford and Micah House.
– More than 150 older adults are participating in weekly virtual activities (such as line dancing, gentle yoga, knitting, and Tai Chi) led by GEDCO’s Senior Network of North Baltimore
More than ever, we need your support. As you look for ways that you can help those in need, please consider supporting GEDCO’s work. Click here for more information: https://gedco.org/2020springappeal/
GEDCO CARES and Career Connection and COVID-19
Modified COVID-19 Procedures
March 13, 2020
Until further notice, CARES programs will be limiting operations to keep participants, staff and volunteers safe during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The following new procedures will start immediately to ensure the health and safety of our community.
ACCESS to the CARES office will be limited to staff and key volunteers.
Food Distribution: The food pantry will be open normal hours, Mondays and Thursdays, 9:00am—11:00am, and Saturdays, 10:00am—noon, but participants will stay outside and be given prepacked food bags. We will put chairs outside for participants who cannot stand while waiting, but the wait time should not be long.
Volunteers and staff will be required to wash their hands every 15 minutes. We will sanitize all surfaces that we touch with disinfecting wipes every hour.
Financial Assistance: Eviction prevention, prescription, and miscellaneous financial assistance are suspended. Fuel Fund assistance will continue by email and phone. We will honor all outstanding promissory notes for rent, but not start any new cases. Volunteers who work on Fuel Fund cases can do so at CARES or from home. To apply for Fuel Fund assistance, go to fuelfundmaryland.org or , if you don’t have access to email, call CARES at 410-532-7117.
Job Search Assistance: In person job search assistance is suspended. Staff will continue to help by phone and email as much as possible. 410-532-7117.
Volunteers who feel sick should stay home and not come into the CARES office. Volunteers who are in high risk categories (underlying health conditions, smokers, over 60 years of age) are encouraged to stay home, and should let Rachael know what their plans are.
Thank you for your patience during this trying time.
Thanksgiving Tribute – November 14
GEDCO’s Annual Thanksgiving Tribute is a yearly fundraiser in which we gather our various networks of supporters, including our corporate sponsors, individual donors, community stakeholders, volunteers, neighbors, and friends, to raise awareness of our organization. The event also highlights the significant accomplishments of our programs throughout the year through various formats, including personalized, inspirational testimonials from our residents and clients. The evening featured a cocktail reception, a seated dinner, a key note speaker as well as master of ceremonies and a silent auction. Valet parking will be provided.
Our featured nominees:
John Heller – Reverend John “Jack” Sharp Award
Dr. Rev. Heber Brown – Vision Award
Amy McClain – Tenacity Award
Deborah Bena – Compassion Award
Rev. Jennifer DeFrancesco – Spirit Award
Enterprise Homes – Leadership Award
https://gedco.org/2019tribute/
Member Organization Breakfast – Sept 26
Twenty-one members attended a GEDCO Breakfast on September 26th in the Community Room of our Ednor ll Apartments to learn about what is happening at GEDCO as well as discuss ways in which GEDCO and the community organizations can better serve the community.
Volunteer Appreciation Day – Sept 14
GEDCO showed appreciation for all of its volunteers by hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Day on September 14th at Saint Matthew Church in Baltimore. GEDCO volunteers were served lunch that consisted of chicken, potato salad, garden salad, hamburgers/cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and delicious desserts. Residents from our very own Micah House and CARES assisted in cooking the food as well as helping set up for the event. At the end of the event, certificates were given to all of the volunteers. We couldn’t be the GEDCO we are today without every single one of our volunteers.
Congressman Cummings Visits Stadium Place – Aug 1
We had a special visitor at Stadium Place on August 1st. On Thursday we had Congressmen Elijah Cummings come to Ednor II Apartments to talk to our seniors about legislative updates and updates about Baltimore since the conversation with President Donald Trump. Our seniors were very thankful for Congressman Cummings to make an appearance and to take the time out of his busy schedule to talk to them.
Congressman Cummings “tweet” featuring Stadium Place
2019 GEDCO Golf Challenge – June 17
On Monday, June 17, 2019 we had our 6th Annual GEDCO Golf Challenge at Eagle’s Nest Country Club. Pete Gilbert, Sports Anchor from WBAL TV 11, will be hosting this event! We had almost 100 golfers to support this worthwhile cause.
We congratulate our winners of our skills tests:
Blue Ocean Realty Social Day with Stadium Place Seniors – April 11
On April 11, Blue Ocean Realty came out to be social with our Stadium Place Seniors! They provided lunch, bingo, as well as raffle and bingo prizes! We hope to see them again soon at more events!
See more photos from the event HERE
About Blue Ocean Realty: Blue Ocean is a property management company in Baltimore, MD that is active in syndicating, purchasing and managing investment grade real estate assets in the multifamily, office, hospitality, retail, and industrial sectors. The Company was founded in 2004. Since that time Blue Ocean has grown its portfolio to over 27 properties valued at over $425,000,000. The Blue Ocean portfolio consists of approximately 3,700 apartment homes and 2,000,000 square feet of commercial space.
Nichole Battle, CEO, speaking on WYPR! – April 3
From their website:
“On this episode of Life in the Balance, guest host, Jamyla Krempel, explores getting by in Baltimore in 2019. Why are so many working families struggling to pay their bills? We’ll meet a housekeeping manager and local activist, Doreen Hicks. She’s worked up to four jobs just cover basic necesssities. Are we solving the root causes of poverty or just responding to it’s symptoms? We’ll discuss the 2018 ALICE report (ALICE stands for “Asset limited, Income Constrained, Employed”) with the President of the United Way and learn more about GEDCO, a local non-profit trying to fill in the gaps for families in need. “
Listen to it HERE
Frank Robinson Street Dedication – April 2
A ceremony was held at 10 am on Tuesday April 2, 2019 at East 33rd and Stadium Place to celebrate the installation of ceremonial street signs in honor of Frank Robinson.
“Frank Robinson Way” signs were be located at East 33rd Street & Ellerslie Avenue, 962 East 33rd Street and East 33rd & Ednor Road.
They honored Frank Robinson as one of the greatest baseball players in history, recognized as one of the most feared baserunners of his era, who played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1966 to 1971, managed the Orioles from 1988 to 1991 and during his career played 2,808 games, hit 2,943 and batted 10,006 times.
2019 Annual Meeting – March 5
On March 5th we recently had our Annual Meeting at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen where we elected new board members and celebrated our accomplishments throughout the past fiscal year!
Congratulations to our winners of our awards St Pius X, Schneider Electric (not pictured), and Jason Jesner!
January Mission in Action Tour
If you would like to volunteer, donate or get more involved with GEDCO, but would like to learn more about the organization, consider taking one of GEDCO’s Mission in Action Tours.
Come out and visit one or more of our programs such as CARES, Micah House, Stadium Place, Harford House, Epiphany House and the Senior Network of North Baltimore.
For more information on the Mission in Action Tours, contact Melodie Cunningham at 410-433-2442, ext. 15 or email her at mcunningham@gedco.org.
