We help people help themselves … one individual, one family at a time.
FY2002 (September 1, 2001-August 31, 2002)
2004 Annual Report
Who We Are & What We Do
Community Assistance Network
"Helping people. Changing lives."
CAN
From the Executive Director’s Chair
Board of Directors
HOUSING
EMERGENCY SERVICES AND OUTREACH
ADVOCACY
EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING
WEATHERIZATION
YOUTH SERVICES
annual report
Sources of Income
"Thanks for all your assistance with the holiday food baskets for my clients. It is so reassuring to know that this resource is available. All the staff at CAN is so pleasant even when you are stretched to the limit of trying to meet the needs of so many people. Thank you for being so
helpful.”
M iss io n
C A N’ s m iss io n is to w or k in pa rt ne rs hi p wi th th e co m m u ni ty to de ve lo p,
o pe rat e, an d su p p or t pr og ra m s th at re d uc e vu ln er ab ilit y an d pr o m ot e
pe rs o na l gr o wt h, st ab ilit y, an d sel f su ffi cie nc y a m o ng lo w in co m e re si de nt s.
T he C o m m u ni ty A ssi st an ce N et w or k, In c. is de di cat ed to cre ati ng a str o ng er
co m m u ni ty an d a be tte r w ay of lif e fo r all re si de nt s of th e Ba lti m or e Re gi o n.
CAN’s mission is to work in partnership with the community to develop, operate, and support programs that reduce vulnerability and promote personal growth, stability, and self sufficiency among low income residents. The Community Assistance Network, Inc. is dedicated to creating a stronger community and a better way of life for all residents of the Baltimore Region.
Community Assistance Network Inc. (CAN) is the legally designated community action agency for Baltimore County. We are also the largest general purpose, private non profit agency in the County providing services to low income families and individuals. During FY2004 our staff of 35 full time and five part time people assisted thousands of people experiencing a crisis. I know you’re now asking yourself “How could that small crew do so much?” The easy answer is greater efficiency coupled with a heartfelt desire and commitment to helping others. But that would not be the complete answer. Our “secret” is buried in CAN’s 39-year history. Throughout that span our success in “helping others, help themselves” has been due to the connections and partnerships we have nurtured over time. No one organization can truly be a onestop shop for assisting low income families and individuals. The crises, barriers and hurdles they face are too numerous and varied for any one agency. Therefore, the only rational approach is to extend your program reach by collaborating with others. CAN recognized this very early and, in fact, made it explicit in our Mission. It begins: “To work in partnership with the community…”
Mission Statement
The rest is elsewhere in this book so I won’t repeat it, but our intent is clear. CAN is fulfilling the promise of community action; HELPING PEOPLE. CHANGING LIVES. through our own efforts and resources and those of more than 500 partners with whom we collaborate. Some are government agencies. Others are non profits like us. Many are businesses, foundations, civic organizations, and countless individuals.
The largest group though, is made up of faith-based organizations. Often these are individual churches that provide funds, food and/or other in-kind donations we use to help people become economically and socially stable. Some churches offer their own programs where we can refer those in need for a specialized service. Other churches have stopped doing their own projects, banded together to pool their resources, pass those resources on and refer people directly to CAN so they can take advantage of our more holistic set of services and collaborations we have readily available. There are three ministers on CAN’s Board of Directors.
Thanks . . .
Our website, www.canconnects.org says exactly what I mean. CAN connects people and resources. Yes, we are efficient – our Management and General Expenses have been between 12 and 13% for the last two years. Yes, we are truly in this business to help others – our staff is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure a successful outcome. Most important though, is our history of partnering with others. These connections expand our reach and enable Community Assistance Network to serve Baltimore County’s most vulnerable citizens.
Incorporated in 1965, the Community Assistance Network, Inc. (CAN) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) human services organization and serves as the legally-designated community action agency for Baltimore County. Established in response to President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, CAN’s purpose is to offer no-cost or low-cost programs and services for at-risk and low income people. When Baltimore County residents lack sufficient resources or face barriers to maintain economic and social self sufficiency, CAN is there to help. We advocate for the rights of all low income people and serve as their voice to local, state and
Federal policymakers. Agency programs and services include:
Food, overnight shelter, utilities assistance, clothing, prescription assistance, transportation, basic household items, community connections and referral services
13,063 households served; 1,956 households received a specially-prepared food basket during the Holiday Season.
(Project Self-Sufficiency – PSS & Living Independently ForEver—L.I.F.E.)
Job counseling, training and placement; job retention/upward mobility and wage progression services, and re-employment support
172 persons served
Rent eviction and mortgage foreclosure prevention, mobility and
relocation counseling, family stability counseling
647 households served
After School programs for middle school youth (grades four through eight) and preschool care for children ages two to five
40 households served through CAN’s After School program; another 30 households served through the Learning Garden Childcare Center
Residential energy saving activities and income maintenance program for low income residents
217 households served
Advocating for the rights of all low income people and serving as their voice to local, state and Federal policymakers and the communities we serve (key issues include living wages, affordable housing, affordable and quality childcare, universal health care and improved public transportation) In partnership with hundreds of faith-based groups, businesses and private corporations, other service providers, civic and social clubs, charitable foundations, and countless individuals, CAN enthusiastically works to expand and build on our services to improve the quality of life for not only low income people but also for the community-at-large. Annually, CAN’s network of more than 500 community partners contributes considerable time, energy, financial and in-kind resources in recognition and support of our agency’s mission of working on behalf of Baltimore County’s low income residents.
CAN is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors— not to exceed 21 members and equally representing Baltimore County’s private, public and community sectors. The Board is primarily responsible for establishing policies and procedures and for monitoring the agency’s management, fiscal and program performance. In each of their respective roles, Board members are highly qualified to speak on behalf of low income residents or are themselves a member of the low income community. The Board oversees the management and cost effectiveness of existing programs and evaluates the merits of launching new services for low income people. Both Board and staff work to ensure that programs are internally coordinated to avoid costly duplication of valuable resources. Whether services address short-term emergency needs or longer-term barriers to self-sufficiency, our task is to help individuals and families take the necessary steps to achieve economic security.
CAN’s Board during the annual retreat held at Marshy Point Nature Center.
Board
PRIVATE SECTOR
Deborah Harris
Baltimore Gas & Electric
Paul Fitzmaurice
IMRE Communications
James Gardner
The Council on Quality and Leadership (term began 1/2005)
Christine Jones (Board term ended 12/2004)
Bank of America
Janine Smith
Provident Bank
(as of 1/2005 began serving as Interim Board Treasurer)
Wade Brown
Unilever
PUBLIC SECTOR
The Honorable Congressman Elijah Cummings
United States House of Representatives
Alternate: Trudy Perkins
Janice Evans
CCBC – Dundalk Campus
Terri Kingeter
Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation
Marci Van De Mark
Baltimore County Department of Social Services
Officers and Board (as of FY2004-FY2005)
COMMUNITY SECTOR
Jason Frank, Esquire (term ended 12/2004)
Law Office of Jason A. Frank
Dashiell “Shelly” Gross (term ended 12/2004)
Dundalk, MD
Lisa Kernes (term ended 12/2004)
Essex, MD
William Kladky
Greater Baltimore Community Housing Resource Board
Richard T. Montgomery II
CCBC – Essex Campus
Rev. Joseph Skillman, Jr.
Christus Victor Lutheran Church
Rev. Jansen String
St. George’s & St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Frederick Weimert
Calvary Baptist Church
Officers
Rev. Joseph Skillman, Jr. Christine Jones (term ended 12/2004)
President Treasurer
Richard T. Montgomery II Janice Evans
Vice President Secretary
CAN Management Staff (FY2004-2005)
Richard Doran, Executive Director
Jack VandenHengel, Assistant Executive Director
Lydia Mayo Brown, Director of Weatherization
Donna Cook, Office Manager
Michelle Hruz, Fiscal Officer (through January 2005)
Phyllis Johnson, Director of Services
Renee Keaton, Director of After School Program
Amanda Morgan, Shelter Coordinator (through November 2004)
Vincent Pilgrim, Program Director, Mobility and Relocation Counseling (through Jan. 2005)
Rob Quigg, Shelter Coordinator (FY2005)
Anne Marie Smith, Director of The Learning Garden Child Care Center
Judy Stauffer, Development Officer/Volunteer Coordinator
The Community Assistance Network is a member of the statewide Maryland Community Action Partnership (MCAP) and the national Community Action Partnership (CAP). The Community Action Partnership is the national organization representing the interests of the 1,000 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) working to fight poverty at the local level. Its mission is to be a national forum for policy on poverty and to strengthen, promote, represent, and serve its network of member agencies to assure that the issues of the poor are effectively heard and addressed. CAN is also a member of the National Community Action Foundation and several dozen community organizations and boards.
- In October 2003, Community Assistance Network began its 38th year of serving low income residents in Baltimore County.
- CAN officially opened its 5th outreach office located in Lansdowne. Serving residents at Riverview Town Homes and the surrounding neighborhoods, staffer, Amy Lipstein, supervises the activities of an after school program and assists residents with accessing our emergency services (utility assistance, rental eviction prevention services, emergency food support) and making connections with other community resources.
3. CAN offered assistance to more than 14,000 households in Baltimore County with over 40,000 instances of services provided.
Kids from the after school program in
Hillendale enjoy Holiday Marketplace
sponsored by Unilever!
CAN's YEAR IN REVIEW
School supplies donated by East Point Mall and patrons.
- CAN was awarded the contract to operate two overnight shelters for homeless men, women and children in Baltimore County. Located at the Eastern Family Resource Center in Rosedale and on the grounds of Spring Grove Hospital in Catonsville, an average of 170 persons was provided comfort and security per night. From November 2003 till May 2004 nearly 44,000 meals were served.
- CAN responded quickly to provide assistance to the many residents and local communities impacted by Hurricane Isabel. Our food pantry distributed more than 1,100 emergency food boxes during the first week after the storm to the Baltimore County Department of Social Services, the Baltimore County Department of Aging, several churches, and affected individuals to help with relief efforts.
- CAN was awarded a grant from the Community Assistance Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation to assist low income Baltimore County residents with outstanding gas and/or electric bills.
- Baltimore Gas & Electric continued to support CAN’s employment program, Project Self Sufficiency—a program dedicated to helping unemployed, under-employed and other at-risk workers in Baltimore County. For 20 years, BGE and CAN have been collaborating on this very important program to support the employment needs of Baltimore County residents.
- For a second year, CAN was awarded a grant from the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. People’s Emergency Fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation for providing cash assistance to individuals and families to help solve a short-term crisis.
- The Dundalk Area Ministerial Association (DAMA) sponsored its first annual Spaghetti Dinner to benefit the Community Assistance Network. DAMA represents a coalition of churches organized to address the needs of the Dundalk community. DAMA members provide significant financial and in-kind support to our agency and we, in turn, directly assist residents seeking help.
10. CAN was contracted to operate a mobility counseling program to assist 240 families living at Villa Gardens Apartments in Middle River. As a result of the planned demolition of Villa Gardens to build middle and upper income housing on the site, residents were required to move. In partnership with Baltimore County, the developer of the property, and several other organizations and agencies, residents of Villa Gardens were able to secure affordable and better quality housing units of their choice, and in a location suitable to the families’ needs.
Volunteer Services
Each year CAN receives immeasurable support from hundreds of volunteers dedicated to helping improve the lives of Baltimore County’s low income residents. Some volunteer projects are ongoing and others are one-time only activities. The equivalent of at least three fulltime staff persons was donated to CAN in the form of volunteer hours during FY2004. Volunteer activities include serving on CAN’s Board of Directors and Board committees. The Board meets the fourth Tuesday of each month, except August and December, for one to two hours per meeting. Standing committees include: Program, Membership, Fundraising, Personnel and Finance. Special Events and By-Laws Committees are established on an as-needed basis. Board meetings are open to the public and interested citizens are welcome to attend. Hundreds of volunteer hours are donated to food pantry operations (sorting and packing product, food drives and collection activities); client services (meeting and greeting clients, telephone contact, managing client files and other clerical duties); after school program (mentoring); child care services (serving as aides); and, especially to CAN’s overnight shelters. Without the generous support of many concerned and compassionate citizens, CAN could not reach the large number of people we serve each year. Volunteers support CAN’s mission by “HELPING PEOPLE. CHANGING LIVES” resulting in a stronger Baltimore County for all its citizens. We extend out heartfelt thanks to the many individuals who reach out and make a difference.
Members of the Baltimore Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association take time for pictures after packing Holiday food boxes for CAN’s food pantry.
All Saints St. Vincent De Paul Society
Assistance Center of Towson Churches
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Camp Chapel United Methodist Church
Catonsville Emergency Food Ministries
Catonsville United Methodist Church
Christian Life Church
Community Crisis Center
Concord Baptist Church
Covenant of Grace Presbyterian Church
Faith Christian Fellowship
Gethsemane Bible Baptist Church
Holy Family of St. Vincent De Paul
The Board of Directors and staff of the Community Assistance Network gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the hundreds of faith groups, businesses and corporations, social and civic clubs, foundations and many individuals, who faithfully contribute to and support our work with their financial and inkind gifts. To those whose names do not appear in the above list, your gifts are no less valued. For without your willingness to provide support, CAN could not fully serve our mission. We extend our sincerest thank you to all donors and contributors who help make CAN’s work possible. We are encouraged by your unwavering support. Lastly, every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the above donor list. Please contact us if you believe the information is in error.
St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
St. Mark’s Conference St. Vincent De Paul Society
St. Rita’s Special Needs Account
St. Vincent De Paul of All Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Empowerment Temple
Union Bethel AME Church
United Churches Assistance Network (UCAN)
United Methodist Church Conference
Wayland Baptist Church
Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church
(CAN serves as the Fuel Fund Agency for Baltimore County)
In Fiscal Year 2004, more than 14,000 households received direct assistance from a host of programs and services designed to strengthen families’ social and economic stability. Most services were free-of-charge (childcare services are provided on a nominal fee-basis) and were available to one individual or to the entire family. Thousands of individuals received indirect support through telephone consultation and in-person referrals. Overall, CAN’s staff, Board of Directors, and community partners touched the lives of residents in excess of 40,000 times.
… She took it upon herself to call BGE and
have my bill extended. In other words, she went above and beyond the call of duty. Because I am in Customer Services myself, I know how much a good employee like Ms. Weaver can mean to a company. I thought you should be made aware of my appreciation for her actions.
Good customer service . . .
Words cannot express my gratitude for your help with my eviction. Your guidance and genuine caring are a rarity in this world. You have a truly wonderful and compassionate spirit which makes people feel cared for when they feel lost and alone. I feel your dedication goes beyond ‘the call of duty.’ I hope you will be truly blessed for your efforts. I will never forget your kindness and friendliness. Thank you so much for everything!
Genuine caring . . .
Click here for a photo and list of CAN's full staff . . .
Click here for board member bios . . .
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Affiliations
I would like to take this moment and tell you “thank you” for going to bat for my family and (me) by paying the additional $488.80 to BGE so our gas could be put back on. Ms. Peggy
told me that you approved this. I was really worried. I will try to stay on top of it now. So, thank you very much!
Going to bat for families . . .
On behalf of the faculty and staff at Deep Creek Elementary School, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation for your participation in our recent Family Self-Help Night. We thank you for the time and effort that went into planning your display, as well as all the time spent that evening. I’m pleased to let you know
that the event was a huge success in that we had over 300 people in attendance. We met one of our goals in terms of increasing parent involvement in our school. And we could not have done it without you!
Thanks for participating . . .
Click here for more information . . .
Faith Groups/Organizational Sources - Client Services
(SEPTEMBER 1, 2003 – AUGUST 31, 2004)
New Antioch Baptist Church
New Psalmist Baptist Church
New Shiloh Baptist Church (Baltimore)
St. Clare Church St. Vincent De Paul Society
St. Clement Roman Catholic Congregation
St. Francis Xavier Church St. Vincent De Paul Society
Liberty Assistance Center
Morning Star Baptist Church (Baltimore County)
Mt. Pleasant African Methodist Episcopal Church
Mount Lebanon Church (Baltimore)
Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church
Immaculate Heart of Mary St. Vincent
De Paul Society
Jewish Family Services
Perry Hall United Methodist Church
Reisterstown Baptist Church
Reisterstown Seventh Day Adventist Church
Sacred Heart Church St. Vincent De Paul Society
Southwest Emergency Services
St. Charles St. Vincent De Paul Society
St. Gabriel Church St. Vincent De Paul Society
$2,000 and above
Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce
Dundalk Area Ministerial Association
East Point Mall
St. Ursula St. Vincent De Paul Society
Unilever
$1,000 and above
Catonsville Recreation & Parks Council
Christus Victor Lutheran Church
Church of the Good Shepherd
Dundalk Lions Club
Dundalk United Methodist Church
Eastern Savings Bank
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Campbell Foundation
$500 and above
Dundalk Church of the Brethren
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Inverness Presbyterian Church
Linden Heights United Methodist Church
Morton & Sophia Macht Foundation
New Shiloh Baptist Church (Turners Station)
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Catholic Church
Woodbrook Baptist Church
$300 and above
Ateaze Senior Center Council
Gray & Son
$200,000 and above
Fuel Fund of Maryland
$75,000 and above
Community Assistance Fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation
$30,000 and above
BGE, a Constellation Energy Company
$10,000 and above
St. Agnes St. Vincent De Paul Society
The Baltimore Sun
$5,000 and above
Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. People’s Emergency Fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation
Our Lady of Hope RC Church
Workplace Campaigns
Combined Charity Campaign
Combined Federal Campaign/Central Maryland
Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area
Maryland Charity Campaign
United Way of Central Maryland (Private Sector)
(SEPTEMBER 1, 2003 – AUGUST 31, 2004)
$3,000 and above
Hiss United Methodist Church
Prologue Homeless Outreach
St. Marks Conference St. Vincent De Paul
Wal*Mart Foundation/Wal*Mart Stores
$200 and above
Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church
Canton Railroad Company
County Seal Democratic Club
Fairlawn Apartments
First Church of God of Middle River
Kappa Upsilon/Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority
Knights of Columbus #2942
Waldron of Maryland
$100 and above
Academy Mortgage LLC
BD Diagnostic Systems
CTIA/The Wireless Foundation
Greater St. John Baptist Church
Morning Star Baptist Church Ministries
Northeast Energy Services
Oella Company
St. Joseph’s Texas RC Congregation
St. Timothy’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Sacred Heart Church St. Vincent De Paul Society
Thompson Lincoln-Mercury
Union Baptist Church Discovery
Women’s Traffic Club of Baltimore
House with a Heart Foundation
Nottingham Properties
Rotary Club of Woodlawn-Westview
Three Church Committee
Woolford Memorial Baptist Church
Private contributions and inkind donations are vitally important to the work of the Community Assistance Network. Please send your tax deductible gift to CAN at 7701 Dunmanway, Baltimore, Maryland 21222. Your check should be made payable to the Community Assistance Network. If you are interested in our Adopt-A-Family program, donating food or in volunteering, please call (410) 285-4674.
Gifts to CAN are tax deductible within the limits of the current Federal and State laws. CAN is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. A copy of our current financial statement is available on request by contacting us at (410) 285-4674. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland, Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 are available for the cost of copying and postage.
Note: Independent Auditors’ Report on Statements of Financial Position, Statements of Activities. Cash Flows and IRS Form 990
prepared by Ellin & Tucker, Chartered, Certified Public Accountants and Business Consultants.
Click here for the location of all CAN programs . . .
Income & Expenses
Click here for the location of all CAN programs . . .
