volunteer Archives - Penn-Mar

Kelly Benefits Volunteers Join Penn-Mar at First Fruits Farm

ggorham — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:20:50 +0000

An updated volunteer model provides a shared experience for people with IDD and corporate volunteers.

A group of people supported from Penn-Mar, DSPs, and Kelly Benefits employees pose together at First Fruits Farm.

On a gorgeous fall day, corporate volunteers from Kelly Benefits in Sparks, MD joined a group of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who Penn-Mar supports for a gratifying experience at First Fruits Farm readying potatoes for shipment to those in need.

People supported by Penn-Mar have been volunteering at the 280-acre property every week from June through November. Interns from Kelly Benefits have also volunteered at the farm in the past, but this was the first time that employees from Kelly Benefits have participated in a volunteer event on the farm with Penn-Mar.

Ben Mortenson, Volunteer Engagement Manager at First Fruits, along with his wife Carissa, Director of Programming, were both delighted to have their daughter, Morgan, a participant at Penn-Mar Central’s Day Program, included in the group.

“Everyone had a blast, and it was a gift to watch the Kelly Benefits and Penn-Mar volunteers’ team up with our staff,” Ben said. “There were lots of smiles and great energy in the way everyone worked together. Whatever the task, they were ready with open hearts to get the job done.”

Ben and Carissa Mortenson stand beside their daughter, Morgan, at the farm.

Ben started the day by educating the group about the farm’s mission to provide fresh, nutritious food for the hungry through volunteer service and community partnerships.

Founded in 1998, First Fruits has harvested and distributed 31 million pounds of its fresh produce – the equivalent of 124 million servings – to food banks, shelters, schools, churches, and other organizations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Ben credits the farm’s success to the generosity of its 300-plus partners, many benefactors, and over 20,000 volunteers who help keep operations running and its mission sustainable.

The Penn-Mar group of 30 volunteers contributed to this mission by spending the morning transferring potatoes stored in large bins to smaller boxes where they were then loaded onto pallets for distribution to nonprofits in Tennessee and Kentucky.

All of this took place in a covered open-air barn structure where the people Penn-Mar supports worked side-by-side with Kelly Benefits volunteers. “Everybody was in great spirits and ready to work,” said Tina Chan Sweenie, Associate Director of Development and Penn-Mar’s corporate volunteer leader. “The smiles and laughter were infectious, and all the volunteers had the opportunity to learn about each other while working together which is really the most important part of our program.”

Since the inception of a formal volunteer program in 2022, Penn-Mar has not had a

traditional volunteer program with fixed weekly or monthly events. Most volunteer opportunities are based on the wants and needs of people supported. Corporate groups, like Kelly Benefits, would have only helped with projects involving landscaping and beautification in the past. However, Tina has learned that the most important parts of a volunteer event are the interactions between corporate volunteers and those we support.

Kelly Benefits employees and people supported by Penn-Mar worked side-by-side as they sorted potatoes into huge bins.

“We were looking to develop a shared experience between the people we support and our corporate volunteers,” Tina said. “The First Fruits Farm outing with Kelly Benefits was a creative solution for combining the two groups. We just loved the Kelly team. They were 100% on board for working at the farm and were eager to secure their next opportunity.”

Kelly Benefits volunteers were grateful for the opportunity to enhance Penn-Mar’s mission by working alongside the people the organization supports. Several employees from Kelly were in attendance at the farm, and everyone had positive feedback about the experience.

“At Kelly Benefits, we believe service is at the heart of strong communities,” David Kelly, President, Kelly Benefits Payroll said. “Partnering with Penn-Mar at First Fruits was a meaningful way for our team to live out that value — working alongside the people Penn-Mar supports to help feed those in need reminded us that when we serve together, we reflect the love and compassion that make our communities stronger.”

It was clear that people supported by Penn-Mar were also grateful for the opportunity to give back to their community and socialize with corporate volunteers. One person in particular impressed the group with his intense determination to expertly follow every step of the process. “He held his focus for the longest time his support team had ever seen,” Tina said.

More opportunities like volunteering at First Fruits Farm will be available to all businesses and corporate groups wishing to support Penn-Mar’s mission while giving back to the community.

“This is a ‘win-win’ opportunity,” Tina said. “The farm needs manpower for harvesting, packaging, and distribution, and it’s a great way for Penn-Mar to engage with our corporate supporters.”

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Angie Shaffer Loves Making a Difference in the Lives of the People She Supports

ggorham — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:58:39 +0000

“It energizes me and brings meaning to my life.”

Angie Shaffer

Angela “Angie” Shaffer first joined Penn-Mar in 2012 as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). She spent two years working in a residential setting before moving over to the Day Program where she was a DSP for a year before becoming a Community Coordinator. Angie’s extraordinary management skills were put to good use there. She created a new Day Program curriculum and developed a monthly calendar that allowed DSPs to slot in their activity preferences.

Angie also set up activity stations where participants could move from one area to another to refine their gross motor skills, seek employment training, or learn more about art, math, and reading.

After two years working in the Day Program as a Community Coordinator, Angie transitioned to the role of Program Specialist for the next four years. She handled a caseload of 28 people, handling all the responsibilities of a manager apart from having staff to manage.

In her sixth year, March 2020, she was given an offer to join the management team as a Program Manager. Angie declined the offer, knowing that her true passion was working directly with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and supporting their volunteer activities.

Chris, Alexis, and Miriam stand next to a horse in a field.

Today, Angie manages the schedules of four people supported who volunteer at a variety of local non-profit organizations.

Once a month, the group picks up and delivers meals at a Senior Center in New Freedom. Angie uses the experience to teach volunteers how to organize boxes, compare inventory against the delivery list, and practice data entry using the GPS for deliveries. Going to the Senior Center also provides opportunities for working on the group’s “people skills,” as Angie encourages them to smile and make eye contact with the seniors.

The Penn-Mar group also volunteers at Whispering Rise Farm and Animal Sanctuary in Freeland, helping care for the pigs and supporting the farm’s daily operations. Their time there is full of teamwork and connection, often ending with a shared lunch and conversation with the staff.

Angie’s group also volunteers at the annual York Fair, helping care for the rabbits and keeping their area comfortable.

“The volunteers I work with have come a long way,” Angie said. “When I first joined them, they had already been volunteering for two years, so now I work with them to build and maintain their skills. I’m so proud of all of them.”

Angie also introduced the group to “Vision Boards,” where they write down the things they want and hope to attain in their lives.

Tyler pats a pig at the pig sanctuary.

The people Angie supports are achieving their goals and living their best life every day! For example, Miriam landed her dream job by consistently performing her tasks working for Tropical Smoothie Café in Shrewsbury. Alexis embraced her love of animals which helped her obtain the perfect job taking care of dogs at Central Bark. Christopher is a kind and caring individual who has overcome many adversities and makes everyone he encounters feel welcome. Tyler does an outstanding job with the pigs at the Sanctuary and works one day a week at Mickey’s Pizza.

“I love making a difference in the lives of the people I support,” Angie said. “It energizes me and brings meaning to my life. The vision I have for my job is to expose, educate, and provide meaningful experiences. I want everyone in my group to be more active and open to possibilities. I would love to be able to take them outside York County to learn about other places and things that will inspire them to thrive and find meaning in their personal and work lives. Most of all, I want them to be happy.”

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Finding Purpose in the Service of Others

nvenn — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:31:56 +0000

By Robert Sacca, Director of Program Execution, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems

Volunteering will help you find joy and purpose in the service of others.

25 years of service in the Army, including three deployments to Afghanistan, and my current position as a Colonel in the Army Reserve have shown me the value of having a sense of purpose in life.

In 2008, I transitioned from a career in the military to working for a defense contractor Northrop Grumman, an organization where I found doing the right thing and giving back to the community to be essential elements of the company’s core values.

My first encounter with Penn-Mar Human Services was in 2021, when I was the site executive at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Sykesville, MD, responsible for managing some 500 employees at the site.

I became aware of the volunteer engagement activities at Penn-Mar and decided to revitalize the program with the assistance of my administrative assistant, Kathy Miles. She serves as my primary contact for all our community engagement efforts at our Sykesville location.

Kathy put me in touch with Tina Chan Sweenie, Penn-Mar’s Associate Director of Development and Volunteer and Donor Engagement, and together we created a more formal volunteer program that would ensure our employees participated in at least two events annually.

Our first project sent us to the organization’s community homes where Northrop Grumman employee volunteers did everything from mulching and cutting down trees, to putting in patios for various properties. Our goal is to bring at least 20 volunteers to each assignment, and at this outing several of our crew of engineers even brought along their own tools and tractors!

The spirit of the day was all about teamwork, service and giving back to others. It was heartwarming to see the great turnout of Northrop Grumman employees and the impact of their impressive accomplishments. We were as grateful for the experience as Penn-Mar was for the much-needed improvements.

When Tina called to say an organizer had backed out of a planned Car Wash for Penn-Mar Central’s fleet of vehicles that are used every day to transport the people they support to their appointments and throughout the community, our volunteers again came to the rescue. We rallied the troops and made sure that the day’s assignment went off without a hitch.

Most of our volunteer efforts are staged at community homes, but one time we decided to change things up a bit and invited 15 people who Penn-Mar supports to join us on a field trip to our factory in Sykesville.

While there, our employees told them about the equipment the plant produced for the Navy’s ships and submarines and answered questions from the enthusiastic group. After the tour, we treated our guests to lunch and a fun afternoon playing cornhole with our employees.

For me, organizing and participating in volunteer events such as these are incredibly fulfilling. It is so obvious that everyone we have met and worked with at Penn-Mar leads with their heart and truly cares about their mission to provide the people they support with everything they need to live their best lives.

The month of April has been designated National Volunteer Month to encourage individuals to engage in volunteerism and acknowledge the impact that volunteers have on communities. At Northrop Grumman, we believe being a good corporate citizen starts with the people we employ, the people in our communities and the people who may become part of our workforce. Our employees are committed to the communities where we live and work through generous contributions of time, talent and resources. By giving your time and talents to worthwhile causes like Penn-Mar, you are certain to find immense joy and purpose in the service of others – as much as we do.

To learn more about corporate or individual volunteering opportunities:

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April Spotlight on Penn-Mar Volunteers

ggorham — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:29:41 +0000

By Gregory T. Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer, Penn-Mar Human Services | Chief Executive Officer, Penn-Mar Foundation

Every volunteer hour on our behalf helps improve the lives of the people we support.

Gregory Miller President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

Back in 1991 President George H. W. Bush launched his “1000 Points of Light” campaign to praise volunteerism and individualism. He established April as National Volunteer Month to encourage individuals to engage in volunteerism and acknowledge the impact that volunteers have on communities.

As we celebrate the contributions of volunteers across the country, I would like to recognize those who give their time and energy throughout the year to Penn-Mar, as well as the people we support who are helping other community organizations fulfill their missions with the same spirit of generosity.

Penn-Mar Board of Directors

As the leader of this organization, I rely heavily on our volunteer Board members who give of their time, talent and treasure to a mission that has truly captured their hearts. They attend regular meetings to address current issues and future dreams and make themselves available any time I need to call on their valuable counsel. These are wonderful, selfless people who help our organization grow and prosper.

Annual Penn-Mar Gala Volunteers

Our 33rd Annual Gala in March raised over $575,000, supported by a loyal, experienced and passionate group of volunteers who worked behind the scenes and on the ground to make it a highly anticipated and impactful community celebration. Their in-kind contributions, along with ticket sales, sponsorships and auction item revenue provide the critical dollars we need for programs not supported by government funding.

Corporate and Local Business Volunteer Partners

Northrop Grumman volunteers formed a partnership with Change Inc., now part of Penn-Mar, that has helped us beautify our office spaces, grounds and community homes. With power tools at the ready, their enthusiastic and talented crews have transformed spaces, washed a fleet of cars, and hosted a workplace tour and luncheon at their offices for the people we support.

Bank of America volunteers have been giving their time and talent since 2023, committing to 3-4 projects each year. They too have helped with many landscaping and beautification projects as well as providing staffing for our Carnival. The company is looking to expand their volunteer activities in 2025, and we are grateful and excited to welcome them back again.

Hemisphere Financial reached out to us in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, delivering boxes of pizza for our staff working round the clock to support people in our community homes. Teaming up with the local community, they helped build a fence for a person we support, have pitched in for landscaping and beautification projects, and sponsored a Halloween event at our Far Hills facility.

Families and Friends of PMHS have been dedicated to volunteer events focused on appreciation gifts and Service Award Certificates for our hard-working team members. This enthusiastic group of family members and friends love the people we support and value the team members that care for their loved ones.

Some of the people Penn-Mar supports are also out in the community giving their time to worthy organizations.

In March, Barb Moore, Matt Wolk, and Melanie Fisher volunteered at the York County Food Bank.

For over a year, Mark Georgetti, Melanie Fisher, Jay Griffin, and Jimmy Dietrich have been volunteering at ReStore in Westminster for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity International, Inc.

Dave Peak volunteered stuffing envelopes for Caring Communities’ World of Possibilities Disabilities Expo! to be held on May 3. The organization offers disability-related training, education, publications and events for adults with disabilities, their families and caregivers.

Regardless of the activity or need in the organization, the bottom line is that every volunteer hour spent on behalf of Penn-Mar is directly helping to improve the lives of the people we support.

Every moment shared helps foster a sense of inclusion and community, whether it’s assisting with events, landscaping and beautification projects, working with our Customized Employment team, or hosting those we support at workplace events.

Please join me in giving a shoutout to all these volunteers for their heroic and selfless efforts as we close out this National Volunteer Month.

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Larry Miller: Once a fireman, always a fireman.

nvenn — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 20:39:56 +0000

Larry Miller always dreamt of becoming a fireman. His father was one and he started taking his son to the Delta-Cardiff Fire Company on Main Street in Delta, PA when Larry was a young boy. He recalls loving the sound of the fire sirens and would often run a mile to the station on his own or ride his bike there whenever he heard the familiar sound.

When he turned 16, Larry was invited to start training as a volunteer fireman and was only too happy to learn how to climb a ladder, slide down the firehouse pole and receive all the training he would need to safely and efficiently handle a fire scene.

The classes also trained him to work with traffic police to enforce traffic laws and manage traffic with the ultimate responsibility for preventing injury and loss of life on the roads.

Understandably, Larry’s mother was concerned about her son’s safety and initially did not want him to volunteer. In fact, she tore up his certification card when his training was completed to underscore her true feelings. But her love for her son and his passion for the job eventually led to a change of heart. He proudly tells the story of how it was his mother who gave him his very first fire monitor.

Larry is now 75 years old and struggles with bad knees. Last year the Fire Company awarded him his retirement badge and his Direct Support Professional (DSP), Minnie Morris, remembers how he struggled emotionally during the awards banquet knowing that the job he loved so much was sadly coming to an end.

Larry always worried about his father’s safety but learned from him that “if you’re afraid of the fire you don’t go into the building.” For many years he took refresher classes to hone his skills and at age 24 he traded in his yellow fireman’s hat for a black one that signified he was qualified to enter a burning building.

One incident he’ll never forget was when at just 24 years old, he instinctively ran into a burning building without wearing all of the required gear to save a baby on the second floor. He was suspended for that action but couldn’t restrain himself when he heard the cries of the baby’s mother. Minnie said they talk about that experience and Larry still wonders what happened to the little girl he rescued.

Working with the traffic police, he was trained to use the Jaws of Life and saw his fair share of grisly accidents and even death. But he is also credited with saving a life while on the job, pulling down one of his fellow officers to prevent him from being hit by a speeding drunk driver while they were directing traffic in a work zone. “I didn’t think about my own safety. I was just worried about my friend,” he said.

Larry lives in his own home in York, PA in a trailer that folks in the local Senior Center helped him purchase. He often volunteers at the Center for their yard sales and other daily activities, even though he now uses a walker.

Minnie and Penn-Mar have supported Larry for nearly five years, helping him to be as independent as possible. She works with him to support him in paying his own bills, schedules and drives him to appointments, and accompanies him on shopping trips.

She describes him as a “local hero” in the Delta community, known by nearly everyone who sees him out-and-about. “Larry has taught me so many things about what goes on with the fire calls and accidents,” said Minnie. “He still lights up when there is a call about a fire.”

Larry and Minnie go out together every day and she will sometimes drive him to the fire station when he hears a fire call on his monitor. She always notices that he won’t carry his phone with him, but the “reluctant retiree” makes sure he has a fire monitor with him everywhere he goes!

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Volunteer Spirit Soars: How the People We Support Are Giving Back to Their Communities

Penn-Mar Editor — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 18:37:36 +0000

Throughout the United States, organizations like Penn-Mar will be observing National Volunteer Week, April 21 – 27, designed as “a week-long celebration that places a spotlight on inspiring figures whose invaluable seeds of kindness through volunteering are bettering the community and our world in general.”

And while we are incredibly fortunate to have many volunteers who contribute their time and energy to support Penn-Mar, you may be surprised to learn that many of the people with disabilities that we support are also going out into their communities to make a difference in the lives of both people and animals.

Pictured during a volunteer day at Heart Sing Horse Journeys are (l. to r.) Jenna Zarfoss, Niki Jones Owner of Heart Sing Horse Journeys, Patty Groft, and Karen Harman.

Three ladies from the Penn-Mar North Day Program have been waiting all winter to return to Heart Sings Horse Journey in Spring Grove, PA with their Support DSP Tammy Naylor.

Senior DSP Maria Engler discovered this unique farm experience while searching for local volunteer opportunities over two years ago. The site promotes the care of mind, body, and spirit by using interactions with horses to help participants develop a deeper awareness of themselves and their relationships.

The first few times they visited the farm with Maria to get a feel for the experience they offered a donation. But soon the owner, Niki Jones, said “never mind that,” and invited them to come and help with the horses for a true volunteer activity.

Karen Harman, Patty Groft, and Jenna Zarfoss were then assigned chores grooming the horses, filling up their water buckets, and stocking hay in the barns.

Jenna, who had ridden horses before, mastered putting on the harnesses and leading the horses into the stalls and out to the pastures.

Karen admits falling in love with the horses at first sight and enjoys interacting with other animals on the farm, “especially the kitty cats.”

Patty‘s favorite horse is named “Tonto,” and she enjoys making friends at the farm and spending time with other volunteers.

Niki says the visit from the Penn-Mar volunteers is “her favorite hour of the week,” and the feeling is mutual. “They are kind, polite, loving and we are blessed to have them be part of our amazing barn family. It’s heartwarming to be with them.”

In the Fall of 2021, Maria Swift, Sr. DSP South East, was looking for volunteer and skill building opportunities for her Day Program Group. She reached out to the Baltimore Humane Society in Reisterstown, MD where she was immediately told, “come on down!”

When Sarah Maranto, Derek Long, and Lisa Hendrix were introduced to the site, they had a variety of impressions and reactions.

Sarah saw the potential for a place where she could work and socialize.

Derek admits to a lot of emotions and was a bit scared at first, but the guinea pigs eventually won him over.

Lisa didn’t have a moment’s hesitation and was anxious to get started helping.

And Mattie Gosnell, who would join the group later, easily partnered up with Derek and Lisa to take care of the guinea pigs.

The group started volunteering two hours a day every Monday in the Cattery, cleaning out the cat cages. Later they moved on to the small animal room, cleaning and caring for the guinea pigs.

A year later Sarah started working at the dog kennels and others in the group helped make cheese and peanut butter filled enrichment toys for the dogs.

Derek still loves seeing and caring for the guinea pigs with the help of Mattie and Lisa who make sure they have clean bedding, food and drink, blankets, and towels. Derek says the beautiful animals make him feel “good and grateful.”

DSP Program Instructor Nadine Gaetani works with a group of volunteers from Penn-Mar Central. They started visiting the Northeastern Senior Center in Mt. Wolf, PA six months ago. Nadine said from the moment they all leave the Center they are talking about how they can’t wait to return and how happy they feel.

Melanie Fisher shares a hug with her dear friend Joann while volunteering at Northeastern Senior Center in Mt. Wolf, PA.

Melanie Fisher enjoys meeting new friends there and seems to know everyone’s name. “Pass the Pig” is one of her favorite games to play with the residents.

Becky Nelson loves the socializing aspects and seeing familiar faces during their three hour visits every other week.

Carl Fleck has a great sense of humor and enjoys introducing himself to everyone and helping to pick up the trash.

Amanda Otto remarked that the residents look forward to seeing her and always greet her with a smile.

Sierra Ledford is a very popular game partner, always quick to give a hug and close by her coach, Nadine, who she refers to as “her grandmother.”

One of the highlights of their visit is playing “Now You Got It, Now You Don’t,” a game where everyone passes around beautifully wrapped trinkets that all of the residents will eventually win. Nadine has “upped her wrapping game” after seeing the amazing parcels other visitors bring to each visit.

“Penn-Mar people have been such a joy” said Melissa Adams, Assistant Director of the Northeastern Senior Center. “Both our members’ as well as Penn-Mar’s faces light up when they are together. Interaction for all has been a blessing. Our residents sometimes get upset when they have some other obligation and can’t be here to see them.”

Nearly all of these individuals participate in other volunteer activities, supporting food banks, crisis centers, church gift shops and cafes, and non-profit resale stores. And these groups represent just a small sampling of the many people supported by Penn-Mar who choose to spend some of their time giving back to their communities through volunteerism.

They are shining examples of “inspiring figures” who are “bettering the community and our world in general.”

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Feel good at the end of the day: Volunteer

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 19:20:32 +0000

By Jill Golueke, Penn-Mar Volunteer and Board Member

The month of April is dedicated to recognizing the importance of volunteering and honoring the significant contributions volunteers make by generously donating their time and talents to worthy causes.

I am one of those volunteers who does not seek, but certainly appreciates, the recognition. I salute all of my fellow volunteers who I have had the privilege of serving with in many capacities and at several organizations for the past 22 years.

Some people are passionate about a specific cause and find ways to support them.

Others, like me, are often drawn to a cause by happenstance and intrigued about an organization’s mission.

Back in the 90s, Penn-Mar purchased wine and liquor for their fundraisers from our family business, Cranbrook Liquors in Cockeysville, MD.

I happened to be at a Country Club where they were hosting a golf event when I noticed an illustration of a giraffe on a cork coaster with the Penn-Mar Human Services name on it.

All I said was, “I wonder what this organization does?” Before I knew it, my husband Steve and I were invited to tour their facilities and learn more about Penn-Mar’s mission.

Talk about a loaded question!

From there a mutual friend on the Penn-Mar Board reached out to me and asked if I could serve on their Gala Committee and once again, before I knew it, I was taking over the chair position from two people who were unable to keep their commitment!

Themed around on-board ship gambling, my first Gala was a far cry from the elegant Black Tie events we associate with Penn-Mar today. I was literally nauseous from stress the entire evening and the disappointing proceeds made me feel even worse. It was not my finest hour.

But I guess it was fine enough because I was approached to chair the Gala again in 2000. After speaking with my husband, I agreed to the daunting task with the stipulation that it would be an upscale Black Tie affair somewhere in Maryland (where all our contacts were) and feature a formal sit-down dinner.

So off to Maryland we went and through our connections at the Store, we introduced Breakthru Beverage to Penn-Mar, the distributor who has been donating the wine to the Gala for the past 22 years.

I stayed on as event chair for 19 years before training a new volunteer to take over my duties. During my time, the Gala evolved into a Must Attend Social Event. We upped the attendance, attracted first-rate sponsors, featured jaw dropping auction items and literally raised millions of dollars to support Penn-Mar’s mission.

My association with this remarkable organization led me to say “yes” yet again when I was asked to join both Penn-Mar Human Services Board and the Foundation Board of Directors.

I have met so many wonderful people through these opportunities. I would not hesitate to call on any one of them if I were ever in need. And it’s so gratifying to know that my ideas and input as a fellow volunteer are always appreciated and considered.

If you want to feel good at the end of the day, consider volunteering at Penn-Mar or any other deserving organization that speaks to your soul.

Touring Penn-Mar’s facilities opened my eyes to the amazing work the organization and their dedicated Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) were doing every day to support people with disabilities. It was total immersion and a great way to really see the mission in action.

I always say, “I wish I could do more.” Because there is always more to do for people who deserve our help.

To learn more about Penn-Mar Volunteer opportunities, contact Tina Chan Sweenie, Manager of Volunteer and Donor Engagement, tinachansweenie@penn-mar.org

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Corporate Partner Northrop Grumman Asks, “How Can We Help?”

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 20:09:09 +0000

When Tina Chan Sweenie started working for Penn-Mar in January 2020 as Manager of Volunteer and Donor Engagement, she could never have imagined that only two months later the COVID pandemic would bring her outreach efforts to a screeching halt.

With people and programs moving from in-person to online engagement, she needed to shift gears while continuing to foster relationships with Corporate Partners.

Mike Shriver, Director of Consulting at Penn-Mar, former CEO of Penn-Mar and Change, Inc., suggested that Tina connect with aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman to gauge interest in volunteering.

Tina contacted Kathy Miles, an Executive Administrative Assistant at Northrop Grumman’s Sykesville, MD facility, who briefed her on the many volunteer and donation initiatives between Change and Northrop Grumman. Tina would soon find out why Mike referred to Kathy as “a saint” and credits her with being “the glue that makes the partnership so successful.”

The partnership started with various activities, including painting walls inside and outside of the 16,000 sq. ft. Stoner Avenue facility, cleaning up and mulching gardens, and organizing a Christmas gift drive providing presents for the people Change supported in the Westminster, MD community.

That hands-on involvement was followed by a grant from Northrop Grumman to fund a staff recognition program. The program provided job training and expenses for Change employees to attend conferences, as well as gift card rewards for staff cited for going above-and-beyond to support people with disabilities.

Northrop Grumman’s community outreach to local organizations in Carroll County helped get Matt Superczynski, chief engineer at the Sykesville Northrop Grumman site involved in the partnership. “I was so impressed by Change, Inc.; both its mission to serve those with developmental disabilities and the people that work tirelessly to achieve that mission. I’ve been involved with Penn-Mar ever since I was first introduced to the organization through volunteering events and now I’m serving on the Board of Penn-Mar, which has been a great experience, “he explained.

When it became obvious that no volunteer activities would be possible during the pandemic, Northrop Grumman reached out to Penn-Mar with a grant that was used to purchase meals for the people Penn-Mar supports and their DSPs in the community homes who were taking on added responsibilities and working longer shifts to ensure the safety of the residents.

“One of our Northrop Grumman values is ‘We Do The Right Thing,’ said Bob Sacca, director and site executive for the Sykesville facility at Northrop Grumman. “Our partnership with Penn-Mar is just one example of how we are living our values.”

“Northrop Grumman has always been so caring and preemptive with our partnership,” said Tina. “They are always willing to go the extra mile, asking about our needs on a regular basis.”

All of the conversations about on-site volunteering had fallen by the wayside until the fall of 2021 when a group of some 20 Northrop Grumman employees came out to the Respite Inn in Westminster equipped with the right tools for the job. They tackled the landscaping, filled the planters with flowers, mulched the gardens, and dismantled a patio and walkway that was due for replacing.

According to Tina, they were so motivated and enthused that they kept asking for more assignments. That led to pruning trees and helping to dislodge heavy metal laundry clothesline poles and piling them neatly for the maintenance crew to haul away.

“It was pretty impressive,” remembers Tina. “In my 20 years working with volunteers, community members and partnerships, the Northrop Grumman team leads as one of the best groups of volunteers I have ever worked with.”

“Our employees were happy to help with such meaningful projects,” added Kathy. “When we spoke with the families at Penn-Mar Westminster they couldn’t believe our folks were sacrificing a Saturday off in the service of others. They were immensely grateful and it was so much fun and rewarding for Northrop Grumman employees, their children and spouses to help with these big tasks that needed to be done.”

In fact, before the day wrapped, the volunteer team confirmed that they were ready and willing to commit to a bi-annual day of service with Penn-Mar. A spring 2022 date is already on the calendar.

“It is absolutely amazing, and so important to Penn-Mar’s mission to support people with disabilities, when corporations like Northrop Grumman reach out and say, ‘We have people and financial support to offer. How can we help?'” said Tina.

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