We were due for an upgrade. and so at the beginning of this year we signed up for the Frederick Garden Tour and forced ourselves to re-think our rear garden.

Over the years the rear garden at Federated Charities building has been planted, bricked, and excavated and mined for archaeological treasures. In the mid-1970s one of the building caretakers planted a grouping of heirloom roses in the space and even during our major renovation in 2000, those roses have remained in place. Lovely as they are, they did not lend themselves to anything other than admiration (because they look and smell lovely).

At the beginning of this year, our current board of directors committed resources to a sweat-equity garden renovation that would makeover the space so our tenant-partners could better enjoy it and we could start to rent it out for small events in the community. Our business model is based on the premise of the more money we can raise, the more we can give back to our nonprofit tenants for their own mission-based services.

In April, a small crew of intrepid volunteers moved 8 rosebushes to other parts of the front and rear garden and dug out a square courtyard to lay sod. Generous people in the community donated vintage metal outdoor furniture which we painted a festive aquamarine color and we planted a variety of traditional and colorful plants along the building walls and in pots that are clustered around the space.

Today our tenant-partners can use the space to gather, we can use it for events and we have one more spot in our historic building that draws people in to share our legacy. We would like to thank our Board of Directors, countless volunteers, Comprehensive Tree Care, Inc. and the generosity of the Frederick community for helping with our 2018 Garden Renovation project.

When local artist and business owner, Anthony Owens asks if he can install a mural in your building, the only real answer is “Yes.” Anthony and his crew of artisans have installed 15+ public murals all over Frederick and late last year we took him on a tour of the Federated Charities building and we became the lucky recipient of one of his pieces. We are scheduled to re-dedicate the Ramona Remsburg Wing and unveil the mural on Tuesday June 5th to kick off our week to celebrate The Art of the Dog.

2017, courtesy Jason Turner

People ask us all the time if we provide services for dogs because we have chosen to highlight our iconic dog image…and the answer is no…but the iconic dog image that graces our front portico is a symbol for us of the work that goes on behind our doors. Our 14 nonprofit tenant-partners benefit from our low and reduced cost space that allows them to put more of their own resources toward mission-based human services. The solid, iron dog statue on the front steps that has stood there for years is a part of that foundation of programming that we have offered in Frederick since 1911 so we embrace the image…and sometimes the confusion that goes along with it.

The mural, built and installed by Anthony Owens, Kathryn Hale, Tony “Ghost Dog” Woods and Stephen Parnes is made up of 3, 6×2 foot panels arranged as a triptych and is a combination of paint and mosaic tiles. In addition to our dog, it also features several recognizable Frederick elements, such as a Frederick key, the spires skyline and Baker Park. Mr. Owens has installed interior and exterior murals at a variety of locations, including the Housing Authority of the City of Frederick, Heartly House, The Boys and Girls Club. Each project brings together local artists to work on each piece as a collaborative effort.

The vision of Federated Charities is to create collaborative partnerships among agencies by sharing backbone infrastructure and so the creation of this public art piece fits right into our vision. Our public space inside the building is passed by countless people every day who need something from one of our nonprofit partners and we want to be able to offer them beautiful space. The German artist Gerhard Richter said, “Art is the highest form of hope,” and our partnerships in the community provide hope and services and opportunity to individuals and families every day.

The mural unveiling is open to the public but does require an RSVP. Please contact us at info@federatedcharities.org if you would like to attend.

We were pleased to accept a grant award from the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek this morning in support of the Community Table Project, a joint initiative between Federated Charities, The Housing Authority of the City of Frederick, The Common Market and Pleasant Hill Produce.

According to The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, produced by HHS and USDA, healthy eating patterns, along with regular physical activity, have been shown in many studies to help people reach and maintain good health while reducing risks of chronic disease throughout their lives. Additionally, healthy eating patterns can be adapted to an individual’s budget, taste preferences, traditions, and culture. The Community Table Project helps meet the need to develop healthy eating habits in a neighborhood that also experiences a lack of grocery/food store resources and where residents have transportation, budget or other limitations that restrict their access to nutritious, locally grown/produced food.

As participants in the Community Table in 2016 indicated, a critical factor in whether or not they use fresh produce has to do with its accessibility and affordability and as any working parent knows, an additional factor influencing meal preparation is time and energy so for our second year of participation in the program, we focus on not just the provision of the vegetables but also the ability to prepare nutritious family meals with less effort.

The program offers a monthly cooking demo and shared meal, weekly vegetable distribution as well as a free crockpot to participants who attend at least 4 sessions. This year we have served 12 families and over the course of the past two years we have facilitated the distribution of more than 400 pounds of locally grown produce to the participants and other nonprofit agencies in Frederick. And while our board of directors likes to refer to the project as, “that vegetable program we do,” Federated Charities is committed to bringing together families and local farmers at the same table to promote healthy eating in all our communities.

Thank you to the Carroll Creek Rotary and all our partners for supporting this project!