As we welcome the change of seasons from winter to spring, we are also immersed in another season… Lip Sync Season! It’s the tenth year of this uber-fun event, and in that time, it has become part of the fabric of TIS, and more significantly, part of the fabric of the Mid-Shore. Lip Sync is an outward celebration of what we see at TIS every single day of the year: people from all walks of life and every corner of our community coming together to lift up our neighbors in need. Keep an eye out for lots of Lip Sync references in this month’s newsletter, and make sure to join us on April 18th at the Talbot County Community Center to see what all the fuss is about.
But first… Scroll down to see what YOU made possible for our guests this month!
Letter from the Executive Director
In her March letter, Julie discusses the impact of our Lip Sync Battle, and the importance of coming together as a community.
It has been an incredible month at Talbot Interfaith Shelter, thanks to your support. The theme of the month seems to be looking toward the future. One of our guests is a full-time student who is currently pursuing a career as a doctor! Phillip received his forklift certification, adding an in-demand skill to his resume that will help him excel in the workforce.
A guest from Evelyn’s Place and another from Easton’s Promise began full-time jobs at Teddy Bear Fresh. Two people were able to get their vehicles back on the road, which means they will now have reliable transportation to and from work – an important milestone on the path to self-sufficiency.
Speaking of cars, two of our program participants purchased their own cars! One of them is Harold, who we introduced you to a few months ago. His new work truck is sure to help his painting business take off. Harold also moved from the shelter into TIS transitional housing this month! We will continue to update you on his journey through the S4 Program (Shelter, Stability, Support, Success).
We have another entrepreneur in our midst, as well. This month, Stacey took the first steps toward getting a license to launch her own cleaning company!
Please also join us in congratulating two of our couples on their recent engagements! This is very special news – it indicates that they have reached a certain level of stability, are receiving the support they need, and are making enough progress that they feel ready to begin planning their futures together.
Case Manager DeWayne Camper is currently facilitating our TIS Core Values class, which he developed using the blueprint of Character Counts. During each session, guests engage in conversations sparked by key words that may be valuable during their time at TIS and when they move on from our program.
We recently shared that we asked our guests to recommit to our program and our “every 30 days” approach to achieving milestones. They have been making great strides ever since. As of the publishing of this newsletter, 100% of our guests now have their birth certificates. 95% are employed, and the other 5% are receiving disability income. The future looks bright for the 65 neighbors you have helped on the road to Success this month. We – and they – could not be more grateful!
Every success, big or small, is made possible by YOU! We are proud to partner with you in the fight against homelessness in our community!
We begin this month’s Team TIS Spotlight by shining a bright light on our incredible volunteers! This amazing crew of hundreds gives of their time and talent to help supervise our shelter homes, provide comforting and nourishing meals for our guests, and so many other activities. We would not be able to fulfill our mission without the help of these extraordinary souls. Thank you for your tireless commitment to our neighbors and our community!
We also want to send a special shout out to the Tidewater Rotary for donating crock pots and meals through their F.O.L.K.S. (Feeding Our Local Kids and Seniors) Program, and to the TCY Swim Team for their wonderful donation of supplies!
TIS Gets A Period Pantry
Another Honor For The 'Shelter' Film
Congratulations to artist Anita Groener and documentarian Matt Kressling, whose film, ‘Shelter’ is being featured in the Maryland International Film Festival this weekend! ‘Shelter’ debuted last summer at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, and features Anita’s art and audio of TIS guests sharing their stories. Click here to watch ‘Shelter’ on our website!
All Lip Sync, All The Time!
Lip Sync came in like a lion this March, and our teams are roaring their way to our live show on April 18th at the Talbot County Community Center! It has been a jam-packed schedule of fundraisers and event promotion. Thank you to Roberto’s Pizza, Playa Bowls, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe for hosting Dine and Donate events for Team TIS and the Talbot Young Professionals. The Market at Dover Station’s decorative egg silent auction benefitting Team TIS continues until April 2nd. The Cash Queens also held a pit beef fundraiser.
There are lots of opportunities coming up to support our amazing Lip Sync teams. Click here for the full calendar.
Several staff, board members, and Lip Syncers headed to the Easton St. Patrick’s Day Parade to promote the most joyous night of the year. While they were there, they filmed our annual Lip Sync “commercial,” and got the community in on the fun! Scroll down for some Team TIS photos from the month, and then turn the volume up to watch our commercial and get into the Lip Sync spirit!
Click here for more information about this year’s Lip Sync Battle.
We hope you are loving this wonderful series by Sheila Buckmaster as much as we are! This month, Sheila sat down with Jayme Dingler, who launched our Lip Sync Battle fundraiser as a TIS board member in 2017, and has been the cheerleader behind your annual dose of joy ever since.
Click the button below to read Sheila and Jayme’s discussion about the evolution of the event from its fun beginnings to the community phenomenon it has become!
Lip Sync Battle Raises Nearly 10% Of Our Annual Operating Budget
Our annual Lip Sync Battle fundraiser is important to the community for many reasons. It’s an opportunity for our community to share music, laughter, and joy together. It’s a whole lot of fun, but it also helps us ensure that our neighbors have a safe home and the support they need to get back on their feet.
We have set an extremely ambitious goal for this year’s event! $150,000 is a big number, but it only accounts for just under 10% of our $1.6 million annual operating budget. With 2 shelters, 22 transitional apartments, our Vine Street facility, and an ever-growing number of homeless neighbors, it takes a lot to provide uninterrupted services to those who need it most, when they need it most.
While we have served 65 men, women, and children this month, well over 100 people remain on our waiting list, hoping for the opportunity you make possible – to regroup, restart, and rebuild.
As you can see, from the thermometer above, we are well on our way to reaching our goal, but with your help, we can reach or even surpass that amount and ensure that every guest in the S4 Program has the resources and tools they need to achieve Success!
How Can You Help Us Reach Our $150,000 Lip Sync Goal?
Our teams are vying to see who can raise the most money in support of our mission. YOU help choose our 2026 Lip Sync Champions by voting with your dollars. There are lots of ways to do this:
Purchase tickets to join us for our live Lip Sync extravaganza on Saturday, April 18th at the Talbot County Community Center! Only 5 tables and approximately 100 general admission tickets remain… Reserve your spot for the best night of the year TODAY!
Make a donation on behalf of your favorite team(s).
Order awesome Team TIS t-shirts and hats from our event store.
Become an event sponsor. In addition to fantastic advertising benefits at every level, you’ll be able to direct your sponsorship dollars towards the team of your choice.
Support our teams at one or more of the events in our calendar below.
For more information about sponsorships, contact Laura Richeson at lauraricheson@talbotinterfaithshelter.org. To meet our teams, buy tickets and merch, and vote, click the button below!
Select artists from The Market have volunteered to decorate, paint, and design genuine ostrich eggs, each transformed into a one-of-a-kind work of art. These extraordinary pieces will be featured in a silent auction beginning March 4. The proceeds from this egg-cellent fundraiser will benefit Team TIS in the 2026 Lip Sync Battle!
100 W Dover Street
Easton, MD 21601 United States
Support the Latin Honors SLAYciety in their bid to become this year's Lip Sync Battle champions! Get your tasty treats on Saturday, March 28th at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton from 10 am to 2 pm.
605 S Talbot Street
St. Michaels, MD 21663 United States
It's the last Trivia Night of the season at Eastern Shore Brewing in St. Michaels, and they are pulling out all the stops to raise money in their bid to be this year's Lip Sync Battle champions! The evening will feature a Cheers Trivia round - a nod to the team's masterful Lip Sync video submission.
101 E Dover Street
Easton, MD 21601 United States
Hunter's Tavern is donating 10% of their proceeds from food and beverage when you dine with them on April 9th! The money will go towards Team TIS' fundraising total for our Lip Sync Battle fundraiser, and will support our mission!
206 S. Talbot St
St. Michaels, MD 21663 United States
Visit us at the TIS booth while you're shopping!
10028 Ocean Gateway
Easton, MD 21601 United States
Tickets for this incredible night of joy will go on sale in mid-February! In the meantime, if you would like to compete in our Live Show or Video Competition, CLICK HERE to sign up before January 31st!
Thank You Lip Sync 2026 Sponsors!
Hall of Fame Presenting Sponsor ($15,000)
Platinum Performer Sponsor ($10,000)
*Only ONE Available!
Sponsorship Benefits
Sponsorship Level: $10,000
- Business featured on the inside front cover of the official event program
- Recognition in the quarterly Sedlack Society newsletter (sent to top donors)
- Complimentary table for eight (8)
- Two (2) complimentary drink tickets per guest
- Your logo on commemorative cups given out at the bar
- Large logo featured on four (4) large banners placed throughout Talbot County
- Verbal recognition during the event
- Prominent placement in half-page thank you ad in the Star Democrat
- Framed mission impact story for corporate display
- Invitation to the annual Sedlack Society Appreciation Event (December)
- Large clickable logo on the Lip Sync Battle webpage and TIS Business Partner webpage
- Large clickable logo in all event emails and e-newsletters (nearly 5,000 subscribers)
- Logo displayed on the big screen before the event and during intermission
- Social media posts promoting your business and partnership
Rock Legend Sponsors ($5,000)
*Only ONE Remaining!
Sponsorship Benefits
Sponsorship Level: $5,000
- Logo featured in the official event program
- Recognition in the quarterly Sedlack Society newsletter (sent to top donors)
- Complimentary table for six (6)
- Two (2) complimentary drink tickets per guest
- Your logo on a product in swag bags given to tables of 6 or 8
- Your logo featured on four (4) large banners placed throughout Talbot County
- Verbal recognition during the event
- Business logo in half-page thank you ad in the Star Democrat
- Framed mission impact story for corporate display
- Invitation to the annual Sedlack Society Appreciation Event (December)
- Medium clickable logo on the event webpage and TIS Business Partner webpage
- Medium clickable logo in all event emails and e-newsletters
- Logo displayed on the big screen before the event and during intermission
- Social media posts promoting your business and partnership
Gold Mic Sponsors ($2,500)
Sponsorship Benefits
Sponsorship Level: $2,500
- Logo featured in the official event program
- Recognition in the quarterly Sedlack Society newsletter (sent to top donors)
- Complimentary high top table for four (4)
- Four (4) complimentary drink tickets
- Your logo featured on four (4) large banners placed throughout Talbot County
- Verbal recognition during the event
- Business logo in half-page thank you ad in the Star Democrat
- Invitation to the annual Sedlack Society Appreciation Event (December)
- Clickable logo on the Lip Sync Battle webpage and TIS Business Partner webpage
- Clickable logo in all event emails and e-newsletters
- Logo displayed on the big screen before the event and during intermission
- Social media thank you
Standing Ovation Sponsors ($1,000)
Sponsorship Benefits
Sponsorship Level: $1,000
- Logo featured in the official event program
- Recognition in the quarterly Sedlack Society newsletter (sent to top donors)
- Four (4) General Admission tickets
- Four (4) complimentary drink tickets
- Verbal recognition during the event
- Business logo in half-page thank you ad in the Star Democrat
- Invitation to the annual Sedlack Society Appreciation Event (December)
- Clickable logo on the Lip Sync Battle webpage
- Clickable logo in all event emails
- Social media thank you
Groupie Sponsors ($500)
Sponsorship Benefits
Sponsorship Level: $500
- Business name listed in the official event program
- Two (2) General Admission tickets
- Two (2) complimentary drink tickets
- Business name listed in half-page thank you ad in the Star Democrat
- Clickable business name listing on the Lip Sync Battle webpage
- Clickable business name listing in all event emails
Your Business HERE!
Roadie Sponsors ($250)
Sponsorship Benefits
Sponsorship Level: $250
- Small business listing in the official event program
- Two (2) General Admission tickets
- Small business listing in half-page thank you ad in the Star Democrat
- Business name listing (non-clickable) on the Lip Sync Battle webpage
- Business name listing (non-clickable) in all event emails
BCO Home Services
Bright Title & Settlement Services, LLC
My Eastern Shore Wedding
PepUp - A Subsidiary of TriGas and Oil
Your Business HERE!
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