FCC Is In America’s Giving Challenge

Our Facebook cause just entered in America’s Giving Challenge, which gives us a chance to win $50,000!

Please donate today:

To win, between now and November 7th we have to get the most donations to our cause (every person can donate once per day and have it count as a unique donation). We can also win daily awards of $1,000 and $500 if we can get the most people to donate in any 24-hour period. The great thing about this Challenge is that it doesn’t matter how much you give, but instead how much you do to encourage friends and family to get involved in our cause. We all need to come together and start promoting the cause if we want to win.

Each of us has tons of friends on Facebook who we can ask to donate to our cause. But let’s think big too—can you put our cause in your email signature, can you throw a party and get people to donate through the cause when they enter, can you organize other people to go out and fundraise from all of their friends? As you reach out to your friends be sure to tell them why this cause matters to you.

I think we can do it! But it’s going to take all of us.

Donate right now by going to here.

Let’s win $50,000 for our cause!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October has been the month where nationally we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  This year, President Barack Obama has made an official proclamation:

A Proclamation

Domestic violence touches the lives of Americans of all ages, leaving a devastating impact on women, men, and children of every background and circumstance. A family’s home becomes a place of fear, hopelessness, and desperation when a woman is battered by her partner, a child witnesses the abuse of a loved one, or a senior is victimized by family members. Since the 1994 passage of the landmark Violence Against Women Act, championed by then Senator Joe Biden, our Nation has strengthened its response to this crime and increased services for victims. Still, far too many women and families in this country and around the world are affected by domestic violence. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recommit ourselves to ending violence within our homes, our communities, and our country.

Gifts Made To Center in Memory of Marguerite Jackson

The Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County recently lost one of our long time supporters, Marguerite Jackson. As an active member in the Hunt Manor Women’s Club, Marguerite was involved with many Family Crisis Center fundraisers over the years, and brought fruits and vegetables to the Safe Shelter. The shelter staff was always happy to see her come by.

Shelter Director, Rebecca Foster, stated, “The Family Crisis Center joins with the Hunt Manor Women’s Club in wishing Marguerite’s family and friends our sincerest condolences. She will be very much missed by the Family Crisis Center, it’s residents, and staff.”

Donations were made, in lieu of flowers, to the Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County in Marguerite’s memory. As of today, the Family Crisis Center has received over $2,500 in memory of Marguerite.

Donations Needed: School Clothing for Children

As the new school year approaches, the Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County is in need of donations of clothing for the children who are staying at the Safe Shelter. We are looking for new and gently used school clothing for both boys and girls. All sizes are needed (Girls 4T – 16, Boys 4T – 18). If you can help, please call the shelter at 410-285-7496 and ask for Tina.

Volunteer Needed – Are You Handy?

The Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County has a new volunteer opportunity for those who are handy around the house.

We are seeking an individual, or group, to come by the Family Crisis Center to do some general “handyman” tasks. So, if you are feeling the urge to help out the Family Crisis Center, and know how to use a screwdriver, drill, and hammer, give us an email or contact Doug Murphy at 410-285-4357.

Opening Ceremony Held for Renovated Building

FCC Executive Director Douglas Murphy and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith

The Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County took part in an opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday for it’s newly renovated building.  Speakers at the ceremony included Mary Harvey, the Director of the Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, Sally Wingo who represented Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator Norman Stone, County Councilman John Olszewski, Sr., State Delegate Joseph J. Minnick, and State Delegate John Olszewski, Jr.  Following the ceremony, the speakers and FCC supporters took a tour of the new facility.

Executive and Clinical Director, Douglas Murphy stated, “The is the finest celebration and gift that the Family Crisis Center could receive during it’s 30^th year of offering services for those experiencing domestic violence and family conflict in our community.”

Visit our website for pictures from the event.

Shelter Counselor Moves onto Peace Corps

Ivy Walker, a Shelter Counselor at the Family Crisis Center has recently been accepted in the United States Peace Corps.  Ivy will be headed to the Republic of Benin, on the west coast of Africa for 27 months.  She will be working in the areas of community development and education, focusing on working with young woman and girls.  Since high school, Ivy always had the dream of going into the Peace Corps.  After a long application and interview process, she was finally accepted.

Ivy stated, “Everyone at the Family Crisis Center has been supportive of me going to the Peace Corps.  It’s almost like an extension of what we do here, but on an international scale.  Of course you get a few jokes like ‘Oh, you could do the same thing here’.  But, the difference is for me, from what I see, is that the scale and level of poverty in Baltimore County and in Maryland is much less than what is the current state of Benin and West African countries that suffer from poor infrastructure.  Their people don’t get resources, and there is homelessness, and disease, and economic disparity. It’s much greater.”

Rebecca Foster, The Shelter Director at the Family Crisis Center stated, “I was sad to accept Ivy’s resignation.  But, once she explained to me where she was headed, I had to let her go.  Farewell Ivy.  I’m excited you have the opportunity to serve others in need in a foreign country.”

Get Your Tickets – FCC Benefit Concert

A concert benefiting the Family Crisis Center is being held on August 4^th at 7:30 PM in Columbia, Maryland.  “Family to Family – A Concert to Benefit the Family Crisis Center” is being put on by pianist and composer Robert Hitz, who has been an important Family Crisis Center supporter.

This annual concert features Robert along with many other talented musicians who will be playing piano, guitar, flute, and singing.  You can order tickets online by visiting www.familytofamilyconcerts.org, and can also learn about the composers, get directions, or order a compilation CD.

Tickets are $10, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the Family Crisis Center.  Join  us!

FCC Hires Food Service Manager

The Family Crisis Center is pleased to announce the hiring of a Food Service Manager to take control of the shelter’s recently renovated, state of the art kitchen.  Christopher Sharp has signed onto the position and will be making dinner for the shelter residents 7 days a week, as well as preparing lunches.  Having someone on staff to make sure the kitchen and pantry are stocked properly to serve the families staying at the shelter is essential to making the Center run smoothly.

Take a virtual tour of the new kitchen.

New Kitchen – Virtual Tour

MOMS Club of Perry Hall/White Marsh Donate To Center

MOMS Club of Perry Hall/White Marsh and FCC Counselor Yolanda Moody

Members of the MOMS Club of Perry Hall/White Marsh came by the Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County’s administrative offices this past Friday to make an in person gift to the Crisis Center.  Wendy Chaney, Kelly MacDonnell, Tasha Gibson, and Debi Mikolowsky, along with their families, delivered bags filled with essential care items that were on the Family Crisis Center’s wish list.

The tote bags contained diapers, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brushes, umbrellas, deodorant, skin care products, first aid supplies, Tylenol, grocery store gift cards, and more.  Yolanda Moody, a shelter counselor, accepted the donations on behalf of the Family Crisis Center and thanked the MOMS Club of Perry Hall/White Marsh for their donations.

The Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County was happy to be the recipient of these gifts from the MOMS Club and hopes to develop a long lasting partnership.  For information on how you can donate to the Family Crisis Center, visit our donation page.