TIS June 2026 Newsletter – Strengthened by Community, Moving Forward Together

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This month at TIS began with an unexpected challenge as we announced a deficit that threatened our ability to sustain the support and services our neighbors rely on every day. Immediately after the announcement, this community – our community – showed just how much TIS means to them. TWO anonymous donors stepped forward with gifts of $100,000 each and launched the Team TIS $200,000 Match Challenge, inviting others to join them in strengthening our mission. Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters like you, we reached our $200,000 Match Challenge goal! While this milestone is worth celebrating, the work of providing Shelter, Stability, Support, and a path to Success continues every day. Keep an eye out for our Summer Appeal in July and learn how you can help us continue changing lives in our community.

Scroll down to see what YOU made possible for our guests this month!

Letter from the Executive Director

When TIS shared news of a significant budget deficit, our community answered the call in an extraordinary way. Read Executive Director Julie Lowe’s heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped strengthen our mission and ensure hope continues for the neighbors we serve.

A Step Toward Permanent Housing

For many families experiencing homelessness, receiving a Housing Choice Voucher (commonly known as Section 8) is a life-changing opportunity. The federally funded program helps eligible low-income families, older adults, veterans, and individuals with disabilities afford safe housing in the private rental market by assisting with monthly rent payments. Because demand far exceeds the number of available vouchers, applicants are often selected through a lottery and may spend months – or even years – on a waiting list before receiving assistance.

This month, several TIS guests were selected through Maryland’s Housing Choice Voucher lottery and earned a place on the waiting list for permanent housing assistance! Even more exciting, Leloni, a mother at Easton’s Promise, received her voucher and will soon be moving into her own place – another important step on her journey toward long-term housing stability.

Moments like these remind us that homelessness is not the end of the story. With the right support, resources, and opportunities, our guests continue taking meaningful steps toward independence and a brighter future.

June has been a month of growth, achievement, and new beginnings for our guests. Manizh at Easton’s Promise has officially graduated from our program and moved into her own home—a wonderful milestone on her journey to independence. In our Transitional Apartments, Tamara is embracing every opportunity, recently securing two new jobs, while Wendy picked up an additional part-time position. They are truly putting in the work and making the most of every opportunity!

Three guests in our Transitional Apartments just graduated from Easton High School this month. Congratulations to Paige, Semia, and Sany’e on this incredible accomplishment!

After graduation, Semia and Sany’e sat down with us to reflect on their time at TIS and what the program has meant to them. Their words beautifully capture the heart of our mission, and we’re honored to share them with you.

More Than a Place to Stay

During one of the most challenging seasons of our lives, this program became more than just housing—it became a place of comfort, stability, and hope.

My sister and I never imagined we would face the possibility of homelessness. Like many families, we learned that hardship can come when you least expect it. Yet in the midst of uncertainty, we were given an opportunity not only to survive, but to grow.

This space allowed us to feel safe, comfortable, and at home while navigating a difficult chapter. It gave us room to evolve into the young women we were becoming and the chance to focus on our futures with dignity.

“Young, Black, and Gifted” and “Black, Educated, and Pretty” became more than just quotes to us—they were daily reminders of our worth, our potential, and our resilience.

Most importantly, this experience taught us the power of community. No one should have to face hardship alone. When people come together to support one another, lives can change.

This program is more than a resource. It is a community. It is proof that even in difficult times, people can find hope, belonging, and the opportunity to build a brighter future.

Your support continues to create stability, hope, and opportunity for our neighbors in need, and we cannot thank YOU enough for standing beside us.

This month, Sheila sat down with Derek, a guest at Evelyn’s Place who joined the program just one month ago. In this month’s guest spotlight, Derek shares a little about his journey to TIS and what his experience has been like so far.

Click the button below to read Sheila’s profile!

Though Volunteer Appreciation Month was in April, this month we hosted our annual Team TIS Volunteer Luncheon. TIS volunteers enjoyed camaraderie and a delicious lunch prepared by Chef Seth at VFW Post 5118 in Easton. Staff was grateful for the opportunity to show our volunteers just how much they mean to our organization. Since June 2025, Team TIS volunteers have contributed more than 1,500 hours of service to support our mission!

At the Luncheon, several volunteers were recognized for their outstanding commitment to TIS. Aubrey Burris was honored for his volunteer work in our Development Office. From weekly cleanings to representing TIS at weekend events, Aubrey does it all with a smile on his face! Bill Wilson was recognized for going above and beyond as both a volunteer and an overnight supervisor – not just at TIS, but with other organizations throughout our community as well. Susan Kolakowski was recognized for logging the most volunteer hours, contributing more than 220 hours since December 2024!

We’re also thankful for the community partnerships that helped us celebrate our volunteers. Gift cards were donated by Allure Nails and Blackwater Restaurant, Tuckahoe Hardwoods donated a beautiful cutting board, TIS Board Members supplied raffle prizes, and the VFW let TIS use their space at no cost.

We were thrilled to celebrate the volunteers and teamwork that make this organization possible, and we look forward to another year 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!

Community in Action

On June 13th, Board Member Ann Davis and volunteer Aubrey Burris represented Talbot Interfaith Shelter at Delmarva Pride. As an inclusive shelter committed to serving all individuals with dignity and respect, TIS was proud to stand alongside our community in celebration of love, identity, and belonging. Events like Pride are an important reminder of the value of visibility, acceptance, and creating safe spaces for everyone.

Staff member Jesse also represented TIS at the Academy Art Museum’s Juneteenth Celebration. This meaningful community event honored freedom, resilience, and Black history and culture. We are grateful for opportunities to engage with our community beyond the shelter walls and to show our support at events that reflect the values of equity, justice, and unity!

A Legacy of Partnership

St. Mark’s United Methodist Church has been a faithful partner of Talbot Interfaith Shelter since the very beginning. As one of the first congregations to open its doors as a host site during our rotating shelter years, St. Mark’s has consistently answered the call to serve our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Their TIS volunteer team – first led by the dedicated Barbara Friedman – committed to providing supervision shifts and meals twice each month at Easton’s Promise, demonstrating what compassionate community looks like in action.

Last week, Pastor Meredith West visited TIS to meet with Executive Director Julie Lowe and reaffirm St. Mark’s commitment to our mission in an extraordinary way. The church pledged to donate $50,000 annually for three years, investing in the future of Talbot Interfaith Shelter and the families and individuals we serve.

To Pastor Meredith, the congregation of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, and everyone who has faithfully supported TIS over the years, thank you. Your generosity, compassion, and unwavering partnership continue to provide hope, stability, and opportunity for our neighbors in need.

The Reality Behind the Mission

Did you know that more than 300 families and individuals in our community are currently on the waitlist for services at Talbot Interfaith Shelter? The need for safe, stable housing continues to far exceed our current capacity.

Did you also know that less than 1% of TIS funding comes from government sources? The vast majority of our support comes from individuals, foundations, grants, and local businesses who make this work possible every day.

Because of this community-driven support, we are able to provide shelter, case management, and pathways to stability for our neighbors in need—but the need is still great. Your support helps us close that gap and move more families off the waitlist and into safety and stability.

There is no Event

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.