Talbot Spy, January 25, 2023
As a volunteer at the Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) with my wife Mary Lou, I’m thinking about how lucky and blessed we are to have the luxury to help this important service evolve. I write now because I am so impressed by the work that Executive Director Julie Lowe and Director of Operations Fran Doran have done to create, sustain and manage this incredible opportunity for our citizens who have fallen on hard times. Everyone on the Eastern Shore should be aware and supportive of TIS. For those who not familiar with TIS, TIS was created through a partnership among people from different walks of life, all of whom have one major goal – end homelessness on the Mid-Shore and integrate folks back into society.
Volunteers, donors, and supporters share in carrying TIS’s mission to guide men, women, and children from homelessness to Success. TIS has developed a so-called “S4 Program” (Shelter, Stability, Support, Success) – a long-term program designed to guide guests from homelessness to self-sufficiency. To be accepted to TIS, these folks must commit to the S4 Program. Through TIS, guests receive personalized case management, help navigating local service providers, educational opportunities, and subsidized transitional housing. Finally, I want to highlight the reality that TIS is a voluntary-based service that relies on income from contributions and grants for over 90% of its operations and capital costs.
We owe a great debt of thanks to Julie and Fran for their dedication to this important, compassionate contribution to the health of our community. Thank you!
Tom Malone, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Horn Point Laboratory
Easton