As we settle into the new school year at Talbot Interfaith Shelter, we’re reflecting on all that our incredible community made possible this month—from our youngest guests heading back to school ready and confident, to guests reaching major milestones in employment, housing, and education. Team TIS showed up in every way imaginable, and your generosity continues to create hope, stability, and opportunity for our neighbors. Thank you for standing with us and believing in our mission.
Scroll down to see what YOU made possible for our guests this month!
Letter from the Executive Director
Homelessness hits kids the hardest — disrupting the safety, school routines, and sense of normalcy every child needs to grow. Read Executive Director Julie Lowe’s letter as she shares how TIS wraps families and their children in a circle of support, and thanks the community whose generosity makes that possible.
Every milestone our guests reach reflects real hard work, resilience, and a determination to build something better. Through our S4 Program, guests are continuing to move forward, step by step, toward lasting stability.
Employment continues to be a major focus for many of our guests this month. Darby and Rebecca secured jobs at Dollar General and Grace Street Recovery, while Candy was offered a position at the Detention Center. Amber found employment at Pines Elder Care, Tracy started a new job at Avenues Recovery, and Tamara joined the team at Walgreens.
We’re also celebrating exciting housing milestones! Dawn and Karen were both informed that they’ll be transitioning into their own places soon—a huge step forward on their journey to independence.
Progress continues on other fronts too. Another guest is set to graduate from the Intensive Outpatient Recovery Program, and several young adults connected to our program are beginning their higher education journeys, heading off to Bowie State, Morgan State, and Arizona State Universities.
None of this happens without you. To our donors, volunteers, and partners: your belief in our mission and investment in our neighbors’ lives makes all the difference. Your generosity provides more than shelter—it creates opportunity, removes barriers, and turns moments like these into reality. Every success we celebrate, we celebrate together.
Back to School
Thank you for helping their transition and setting our youngest guests up for a great year ahead
A Snapshot of Youth Homelessness on the Shore
Did you know? Nearly 1,000 children across the Mid-Shore experienced homelessness last school year. According to the most recent data available from the Maryland State Department of Education, 987 students across Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Dorchester, and Kent counties were identified as homeless during the 2024–2025 school year under the federal McKinney-Vento Act—a definition broader than what most people picture. It includes kids living in shelters, motels, cars, or doubled up with relatives or friends because of housing loss, not just those literally living on the street.
And even this number likely doesn’t tell the whole story. It only reflects students identified by public school systems, meaning infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children not yet enrolled go uncounted—along with families who don’t disclose their housing situation or who move frequently between counties. The true scale of childhood homelessness on the Mid-Shore is almost certainly greater than the data alone can show.
This is the reality behind our mission at TIS, and it’s why the work of providing stability for kids and families matters so much.
Ann Davis has been part of Talbot Interfaith Shelter since before it had a building—from early planning meetings at the Easton library to years of hands-on Board service, playing with shelter kids and helping guests find the support they needed. Nearly two decades later, she’s still showing up, living out what she calls the heart of TIS: “every act of generosity helps us provide more than a safe place to sleep.
Click the button below to read Sheila’s profile!
Team TIS is powered by the people who show up for our mission, day after day. This month, our volunteers, staff, and community partners were there in every way imaginable—preparing meals, house-sitting at our shelters, delivering donations, and lending a hand behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly.
From the small tasks to the big ones, every hour given helps create a place of hope and hospitality for our guests. We are deeply grateful to everyone who gave their time, talents, and compassion this month. Thank you for being an essential part of Team TIS!
If you are volunteering at our shelters, be on the lookout for TIS staff, who may ask if they can take your photo. We hope you’ll say, “Cheese!” Sharing your volunteer experience can help us recruit others who might be interested in donating their time in support of our mission. On that note, if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about TIS volunteer opportunities, please contact us at 410-690-3120!
Easton, Maryland
There are so many ways to partner with Talbot Interfaith Shelter to fight homelessness on the Mid-Shore. With your help, we provide Shelter, Stability, Support, and a path to Success for our neighbors in need. Scroll down to explore opportunities to help and choose those that speak to your heart. No matter how you participate, we are so grateful to have you on Team TIS!
We are incredibly fortunate to operate in a community that supports us in so many ways. Our local business community is no exception. Many amazing business partners help us to fulfill our mission. There are partnerships at various financial levels, each with benefits that help our partners maximize their advertising dollars while changing the lives of families and individuals in our community.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a business partner, or need information about how to return your application, contact Laura Richeson at lauraricheson@talbotinterfaithshelter.org or 443-786-6962 or simply fill out the form below.
Our Business Partners
Keys to Success Partners
Raise the Roof Partners
Home Builder Partners
Open Doors Partners
Foundation Partners
Eastern Shore Title Co.
Scossa Restaurant