Barna Group

"How can the activities in our church buildings matter more in building disciples? In this excerpt from Making Space for Formation—the third and final volume in the Making Space series, created in partnership with Aspen Group—we meet a new cohort, devoted Christians, and learn how this group engages with and practices their faith." Read more.

Monday, July 15 - 10:00 am - 11 am?

Tuesday, July 16 - 9 am - 1 pm

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

1253 Mt. Aena Road, Hagerstown

Micah's Backpack & WCPS are coordinating a mass food packing, preparing boxes of food to be delivered to families this summer who may not have access to other resources. 682 cases of food will be delivered to the gym at the Church of Jesus Christ LDS on Monday, July 15 as well as 450 boxes; volunteers are needed to help haul the food and boxes inside and stage them in the gym in preparation for packing on Tuesday. On Tuesday, July 16 volunteers will assemble boxes and pack them with food for families; we need plenty of volunteer help for this effort. If you can help, please contact Kathy at director@harccoalition.org or Michelle at TalbeMic@wcps.k12.md.us.

The Refugee Welcome Network (RWN), DSS, Children In Need and CASA are all working with a Kurdish refugee family who fled from Turkey due to persecution, then ended up in an abusive situation in Hagerstown. The family is a couple with four children, ages 3-10. CASA has put them up in a hotel for a week, and the RWN has committed to help them find housing, but we need more time to find something as they are asylum seekers with no income and no rental history. If you have a place they can stay temporarily OR if you have or know of an affordable apartment or home (or parsonage) the RWN can rent for them, please contact Jane at 240-469-5084 or jane.powell365@gmail.com or Kathy at director@harccoalition.org or 301-842-4272.

August 14-16, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Washington County Free Library Fletcher Branch

100 S. Potomac Street, Hagerstown

Small Hands - Big Hearts: Community Builders Summer Day Camp for 1st thru 5th Graders. "Be A Builder - At Home, At School, And In My Community." Free of charge, Community Guests, Cooking, Music, Games, Service, Arts & Crafts & Library Adventures! Directed by Hagerstown Area Religious Council. Volunteers are needed all three days; time slots 10-12:30pm or 12:30-3pm. For more information or to volunteer, contact Ashlee at jon2ash@gmail.com or text 801-860-1301.

Click Here to sign up and register for the camp by August 2. Poster. 

Governor Moore announced the launching of the Maryland Sun Bucks program. Washington County DSS is very excited to help administer this program, which will help families buy groceries during the summer.  Maryland Sun Bucks help families with school-aged children who receive free or reduced-price meals buy groceries during the summer break from school. Families who qualify will receive $40 for June, July and August (a total of $120) for each eligible student. For further information about the Sun Bucks program, you can click this link. I would also encourage you to read the Governor's full press release here. More information for Community Partners. Program Flyer (in English and Spanish).

HARC is once again compiling summer (June-August) calendars of free and low-cost VBS, camps, and other activities for children and families. Here is the new JULY calendar, and you can find the latest version + start of August on our website. VBS coming up the week of July 15: Valley Assembly of God, and Otterbein UMC "A Hero's Quest" (registration). If you have a program to include in the August calendar, please send info to Charlotte ASAP at harcnewsflash@gmail.com. Please include date(s), times, location, a brief description, ages served, and how to sign up.

Saturday thru Saturday, July 6 - 13, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Booksavers

13625 Pennsylvania Avenue, Hagerstown

Attention booklovers, parents, teachers, casual readers, etc: Week-long book sale to raise funds for mission and education programs worldwide. Find classic novels, kids books, paperbacks, thrillers, biographies, religious fiction, local history, and more. With thousands of books sold by the pound, you're sure to find something. For more information, contact: Heidi at (301) 665-1525, heidi@booksavers.org

Wednesday, July 10, 7:00 pm

Hagerstown City Park Bandshell

501 Virginia Avenue, Hagerstown

Free music series featuring the group Fertile Soil (Facebook). Hosted by Valor Ministries. Flyer.

Friday, July 12, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Hagerstown City Park Bandshell

501 Virginia Avenue, Hagerstown

Kick-off summer at City Park with the summer outdoor movie series!  BARBIE will be played for FREE at the band shell. Pre-movie festivities begin at 7:00 pm and the movie will begin at dusk (around 8:30 pm). Bring your own blanket or a lawn chair and maintain social distance between yourself and others at the event. Treat yourself to concessions, pre-movie entertainment, and a fun evening under the stars! Come early to save a spot! Presented by Maryland Physicians Care. Event hosted by Hagerstown Parks and Rec.

Saturday, July 13, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Hagerstown City Park Bandshell

501 Virginia Avenue, Hagerstown

Visit with Santa at the Train Hub. Kids can expect rides on Tommy 202, face painting, and Christmas-themed model train displays. Event hosted by Hagerstown Parks & Rec.

Monday, July 15, 7:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown

13245 Cearfoss Pike, Hagerstown

ANDY’S BACK!!! Beloved locally and among story lovers round the world, Andy Offutt Irwin come to us from Compton Georgia – a singer songwriter, award winning symphonic whistler, master of sound effects and a diversity of voices, past writer-director-actor of SAK Improv Theater at Disney World, director of the Georgia Cracker Crumble (of the GA Press Association), regular at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro TN since 2005, whistler of Dvorak, Thelonius Monk, Duke Ellington, Romanian pan flute concertos and pop classics. This will be his 5th packed-house appearance with Stories In The Round – get your tickets early! $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Children 12 & older welcome when accompanied by a parent or group leader. Contact: Fanny Crawford, 301-730-1638 or fanitsky@hotmail.com.

Tuesday, July 16, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Otterbein United Methodist Church Parking Lot

(Corner of E. Franklin and N. Locust)

108 E. Franklin Street, Hagerstown

This is a one-time, food “drop” for our neighborhood. Suggest you bring sturdy grocery type tote bags to carry your food/produce home. Recommended especially for those who fall within the WIC Income Guidelines - (Example: Family of 4 with income less than $40,793). For More Information Call Maryland Food Bank – Western Branch, 301-733-4002 OR Otterbein United Methodist Church, 301-739-9386. Flyer.

Tuesday, July 16, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Public Safety Training Center

18350 Public Safety Place, Hagerstown

The Washington County Public Safety Training Center will host a blood drive for the Red Cross on Tuesday, July 16. Blood donations play a vital role in emergency situations, surgeries, cancer treatments, and other medical procedures. By donating blood, you become a real-life superhero, providing patients with the gift of life. Please RSVP to Megan Nokes at menokes@washco-md.net or Chris Amos at camos@washco-md.net.

Friday, July 19, 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Unity of Hagerstown

meeting at The Fellowship Hall at St. Mark's Episcopal

18313 Lappans Road, Boonsboro, MD

Bob Sima is an award-winning singer-songwriter, spiritual teacher, and musical mystic. With no musical training, he has creatively channeled award-winning albums and built a national following. The music that comes through him will vibrate with your spirit exactly where you are. He is a troubadour, a way-shower, a guide, an awakener, and a musical mystic through the medium of melody. Universal spirituality sure to uplift the heart and get toes tappin'! For tickets visit-https://www.facebook.com/events/481218164386007. Tickets are $25 advance or $30 at the door. Info: 240-409-5940 / unityhagerstown@gmail.com.

Friday, July 26, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (or until supplies last)

Soul Haven

119 E. Antietam Street, Hagerstown

Fresh Produce Food Drop on Friday, July 26, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (until supplies last). Info: 301-790-5054. Flyer.

Friday, July 26 & Saturday, July 27, 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

The Maryland Theatre

21 S. Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD

Step into a summertime sugar extravaganza at CandyFest, hosted by the Maryland Theatre! Design your very own delectable candy crafts, compete in an oversized Maryland-themed candy board game, challenge a friend to a candy-style lawn game or embark on a thrilling candy scavenger hunt. Don’t forget to snap some selfies at Insta-worthy photo ops throughout or explore the sweetest local artisan marketplace, where you can shop to your heart's content. With its vibrant atmosphere, delectable treats at every corner, and unexpected surprises awaiting, CandyFest promises to be an enchanting journey for candy enthusiasts of every age! Poster. Website. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit mdtheatre.org, email boxoffice@mdtheatre.org  or call the local box office at 301-790-2000.