It’s a time of transition and reflection as we bid farewell to 2025 and prepare to usher in a new year full of promise – both for our guests and for our organization. We cannot thank you enough for your steadfast support, generosity, compassion, and encouragement this year. It is because of YOU that our neighbors have a place to call home and the resources to get back into a home of their own. We are so grateful for the incredible Team TIS community and the way you wrap your arms and hearts around the families and individuals we serve.
Scroll down to see what YOU made possible for our guests this month! Together, we will continue the fight against homelessness on the Mid-Shore in the year ahead!
Letter from the Executive Director
In her December letter, Executive Director Julie Lowe reflects on what we have accomplished together in 2025, and where we are headed in 2026.
Many of our guests ended the year on a high note by reaching exciting milestones on their journeys to self-sufficiency!
During a recent event in partnership with Doverbrook Apartments, one of the moms at Easton’s Promise received a voucher so she and her family can move into an apartment in the newly rebuilt development!
We also invited some of the folks on our waiting list to this event, and several of the larger families were also able to get housing and avoid homelessness!
Lane, a guest at Evelyn’s Place, graduated from the Responsible Fathers Initiative 24/7 Dad program. This was a big commitment – Lane attended 2 semesters of classes, where he learned the tools to be a responsible, accountable, and engaged father. We are so proud of the hard work he put in to this program, and the great dad he is becoming!
Please help us celebrate two of our guests who obtained employment this month. Congratulations to Harold, who is now working part-time at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, and Eva, the newest employee at Delmarva Community Services. This is a monumental step forward in their journeys to self- sufficiency!
Five of our guests are also getting ready to explore a new career path, signing up to participate in BAAM’s upcoming welding certification program, led and funded by David Irbey. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn a highly sought-after trade, and a meaningful expansion of our partnership with BAAM!
Speaking of partnerships, many of our guests have continued with Financial Literacy and Job Readiness training at the Neighborhood Service Center. Our moms and dads have also been attending our Parenting Workshop with the Talbot County Department of Social Services. Shore Legal Access paid a visit to the guests at Evelyn’s Place. They had an informative discussion about a number of topics that can cause barriers to Success, including debt maintenance, evictions, expungements, divorces, and bankruptcy. Some of the residents signed up to begin working with the attorneys that same day!
Holly and Jolly!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who made this season merry and bright for those we serve.
Our TIS Kids attended a joyous holiday party at Easton’s Promise. They had a jolly time making crafts, sharing smiles, and soaking up the holiday magic. Their faces lit up as they met Santa and Mrs. Claus (special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Champion). They had a blast chatting with “the Clauses” and asking hard-hitting questions such as, “Where did you two meet?” and, “Is that beard real?”
Our deepest gratitude goes out to each and every supporter who adopted a guest for Christmas. Thanks to you, every guest in our program had gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. The real gift wasn’t the presents – it was the knowledge that our community truly cares, and that they are not alone while they are going through this challenging time.
Take a look at some of the holiday highlights below!
Your extraordinary support makes all of this possible. We are so grateful!
It has been an incredibly active month for Team TIS! As always, we are so grateful to our amazing house sitters and daily meal providers who help keep our operations running smoothly. Volunteers also helped stuff and mail our year-end appeal, organize presents for 56 guests, and represent TIS at For All Seasons’ Frosty’s Village event.
We want to give a special shout out once again to all of our Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month partners from November. With their help, we not only spread awareness about the homelessness crisis in our community, but we were able to restock many of our most-needed supplies, and they helped raise nearly $4,000 in support of our mission! We are also incredibly grateful to the American Legion and Miles River Yacht Club for making sure all of our guests had wonderful Thanksgiving meals.
Thank you to Janika Batson from Next Home Realtor for collecting warm winter coats for our guests, and to Dana McGrath and Londonderry for donating stunning Christmas trees for our shelters as part of Talbot Hospice’s Festival of Trees event.
Honoring Our Very Own Julie Lowe
Our Executive Director, Julie Lowe, was presented with the Rotary Club of Easton’s 2025 J Howard Anthony Community Service Award. J. Howard’s son, Jack Anthony, presented the award, saying this about Julie:
“Julie is one of the kindest, most caring people that I have had the privilege of knowing… [She] was one of the first at Christ Church to step up and answer the call to help those who were suffering. Her presence in her care receiver’s lives was profound.
“Several years later in 2008, she answered our community’s call when she saw a growing homeless problem within Talbot County. She was one of several individuals who began Talbot Interfaith Shelter and has been instrumental in its success ever since. As Executive Director, she has led its growth from overnight winter sleeping quarters in various churches in Easton to an Eastern-Shore-wide program with two permanent homes that seek to address the root cause of the problem, rather than applying just a quick fix.
“Julie has done so much for Talbot County in such a quiet way. She is always there to help those in need, and that’s why it is such a privilege to present the Rotary Club of Easton’s highest award to her.”
Congratulations, Julie! This is so well-deserved, and TIS is so fortunate to have you at the helm!
A Visit From RBC's Flaherty Group
Big thanks to the Flaherty Group from RBC for hosting a lunch and learn at our Vine Street Building. They shared informative information about Retirement and Estate Planning, including topics such as Required Minimum Distributions, Donor Advised Funds, Legacy Giving, and more. They have offered to return in 2026! If you are interested in attending a future information session, contact Laura at lauraricheson@talbotinterfaithshelter.org.
Celebrating The Sedlack Society
The Sedlack Society was launched in 2022 to celebrate those donors who give $1,000 or more annually in support of our mission. The Society was named in honor of our Founder, Evelyn Sedlack, whose tenacity and compassion were the driving forces behind the formation and early history of Talbot Interfaith Shelter.
Evelyn was in attendance as our largest Sedlack Society group yet gathered on December 11th. The Tidewater Inn generously provided the venue and delicious food, and attendees were treated to holiday music by the Allegra! Women’s Choir. Santa (Jeff Champion) returned to visit with the crowd and take photos at the Foto Berry photo booth.
Our Board Chair, Larry Neviaser, Director of Development and Marketing, Laura Richeson, and Executive Director, Julie Lowe, gave an update on the victories made possible by Team TIS this year, and the challenges we face in the year ahead. It was a beautiful evening, full of celebration and hope. Many thanks to all who attended!
Thank you to the Sedlack Society, and to all of our generous donors at every level. Every dollar you give transforms the lives of our neighbors right here on the Mid-Shore!
Watch Team TIS In Action This Month!
We Are So Incredibly Fortunate To Have Such An Amazing Community! Watch As Some Of Your Fellow Team TIS Members Share What Inspires Them To Support TIS And Our Guests!
We hope you are loving Sheila Buckmaster’s “Meet Team TIS” series as much as we are! This month, Sheila is sharing a touching profile of Jasmine, a guest who, along with her daughter, has come through our family shelter, Easton’s Promise, and now lives in one of our Transitional Housing units.
Jasmine’s story is one of strength, self-discovery, and resilience. We hope you will take a few moments to read about the impact your support has had on her life!
The Tax Deadline For 2025 Donations Is December 31st!
We are so grateful to everyone who has already given a year-end donation in support of our mission! Not only have you helped us unlock our $50,000 match, but each day, we get closer to our $250,000 year-end fundraising goal! We are overjoyed to receive your support any time of year… However, if you have not yet given in 2025, there may be reasons why making a gift before December 31st makes sense for your personal financial situation.
There are a number of ways to donate to TIS, some of which may have tax consequences for the current tax year.
For instance, giving appreciated stock or other securities can help avoid the capital gains taxes associated with selling your securities in order to make a cash donation. Contact Laura at lauraricheson@talbotinterfaithshelter.org or 443-786-6962 for our account information.
Do you have to take a Required Minimum Distribution from your IRA before the end of the year? If the answer is yes, but you do not need that income, consider taking your RMD as a Charitable Donation directly from your IRA to Talbot Interfaith Shelter. This may eliminate the need to pay income tax on the donated funds.
Finally, tax laws surrounding Charitable Donations are changing in 2026. While there are some positive changes coming, in other cases, it may be more beneficial for you to give this year, depending on your preferred giving method.
If any of these examples apply to you, contact your accountant or financial advisor as soon as possible to ensure that you can make your donation before the December 31st deadline.
In addition to these potentially time-sensitive giving methods, there are also some more unconventional ways that you can help support our mission. Many employers offer a charitable donation matching program, which could allow you to double the impact of your donation. If you have a vehicle or boat collecting dust in your garage, consider donating it to help our neighbors overcome homelessness.
Scroll down for a full list of giving opportunities.
Make a One-Time Online Donation
Mail a Check
Become a TIS Promise Keeper
Take Your RMD as a Charitable Distribution to TIS
Make a Gift of Appreciated Stock/Securities
Donate Through Your Donor Advised Fund or Personal Foundation
Employer Match
Leave a Lasting Legacy
Donate Your Vehicle or Boat
Thank You For Your Extraordinary Support! You Are Our Heroes!
Unfortunately, due to the snow storm on December 14th, we had to postpone Bingo with Santa. But never fear… Although St. Nick will be back at the North Pole, we’ll still be having a bingo blast on January 9th at the Easton Fire Hall. This family fun event is hosted by our Director of Operations, Sadé Howard!
Also… The holiday season might be coming to a close, but Lip Sync Season is just getting started! Save the date for Saturday, April 18th to join us at a brand new location for our 10th anniversary extravaganza! More details will follow, but in the meantime, if you would like to compete in this year’s Live Show or Video Competition, click here to sign up by January 31st!
Unfortunately, due to the snow storm on December 14th, we had to postpone Bingo with Santa. But never fear... Although St. Nick will be back at the North Pole, we'll still be having a bingo blast on January 9th at the Easton Fire Hall from 6-9 pm.
We're back for the 10th anniversary of our Lip Sync Battle event - a highly-anticipated annual event where we gather as a community to fight homelessness through the power of joy! Stay tuned for details for this year's event... In the meantime, if you would like to compete in our Live Show or Video Competition, visit talbotinterfaithshelter.org/lsb to sign up before January 31st!
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.
Blue Heron Coffee
Scossa Restaurant
Blue Heron Catering
Sentry Management