Proceeds from the event will directly support the mission of End Hunger In Calvert County.
On Saturday October 19, 2012 The Calverton School in Huntingtown will host the 4th Annual 5K RUN to End Hunger In Calvert County.
Registration for the run is $30 until October 1st and $35 after. Registration costs includes race admission, a swag bag and race day t-shirt. Runners can register online at endhungercalvert.org and same day registration is available.
Walkers are welcome! All proceeds for the event go to benefit End Hunger In Calvert County. Walkers are Welcome!
“The Run to End Hunger is a great way for people to do what they love and make a difference while they do it,” stated Staci Lagana, Run Coordinator. “ October is officially End Hunger Month and this is a perfect fit to have the race proceeds support End Hunger In Calvert County. We have been so blessed by the our pouring of support from the community and are so excited to partner with End Hunger and help people in our own backyard!”
The race is 3.2 miles and will be held on The Calverton School’s beautiful cross-country trail. In addition to the 5k, there will be a Kids Fun Run for children 6 and younger and their course will stay right on The Calverton School’s campus.
CASH PRIZE Awards for the overall top male and female will be given as well as awards for the top male and female runners in each age bracket. Race time for the Kid’s Fun Run is 8:15 am and the 5k beginning at 8:30am.
Participants have a 90-minute time limit with timing provided by the Chesapeake Bay Running Club. The course is a fast, mostly flat, outback course. We ask that you please not bring any pets, bicycles, or rollerblades/skates. For more information and to register, visit endhungercalvert.org.
About End Hunger In Calvert County:
EHCC is an association of over 50 businesses, 11 county food pantries, 26 churches and community groups united behind the goal of ending hunger in our county. For more information visit us online atwww.endhungercalvert.org

On Saturday and Sunday, September 7 and 8, the Calvert County Fairgrounds hosted the Southern Maryland Blues Fest for Calvert County’s End Hunger. The weather, although a little on the warm side, cooperated with sun and no rain.
Attendance each day reached approximately 1,000 but if you included the volunteers, closer to 1200. There were lots of vendors on the grounds selling food, beverages, clothing, jewelry, candles, cars, cosmetics and many non profits offering literature on a variety of subjects. For the younger set, there was face painting and a moon bounce. Brew’s Alley had sampling of America’s leading craft beers and one of Calvert own, Mully’s Brewery.
Soon it was time to hear what the crowd was waiting for, the performers. The stage show opened with a prayer by Rev. Robert Hahn from End Hunger and the Calvert High NJROTC posting the colors. Andre Jones sang the National Anthem and then the sounds of the blues filled the air, as the Sam Grow Band took the stage. Attendees were dancing and singing along as each act came on stage. The Patty Reese Band was another crowd favorite, with Tommy Lepson, Dean Rosenthal and Ursula Ricks. New Orleans’ Bonerama was crowd pleasing with their funk rock along with guitarist Walter Trout with his hard core blues roots. Ana Popovic and Mo’ Better Love with their horn section, reminded people of the great blues in New Orleans. And rounding out the day was Canned Heat with their boogie blues from over the past 40 years.
Speaking with Sam Grow after the concert, I asked him why he decided to be a part of the event and he said “I am honored to be a part of it and share the stage with so many talented musicians. I am blessed to do this for others.”
Ripley on the Rocket was there and chatting with him, I asked him what his thoughts were on the event. He told me “I’m glad to have another rock and blues base in Southern Maryland, where people can get together and have a good time and help raise money for local charities and End Hunger in Calvert County”.
Sunday started with the duo Swampcandy, Joey Mitchell and Ruben Dobbs, who wails the blues. The Daryl Davis Band with Kingfish (young blues phenom) and Del Puschert (former sax player with Elvis Presley), Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys and their bayou Creole music, Mark Hummell, Billy Boy Arnold and Sugar Ray Norcia all playing harmonicas in tribute to Remembering Little Walter and the Trampled Under Foot group of three siblings from Kansas City, who were influenced by their parents blues gave the crowd their money’s worth. The final act was the Marshall Tucker band who brought the house down and ended the fest.
“Not all the performers and vendors donated their services”, said Rev. Hahn. “Some did and others made contributions, or gave reduced fees. We have to remember that for many performers and vendors, this is in their income base and we respect that. What’s important is that all the performers and vendors included us in their schedule-they all have many choices about where to perform or sell, but they wanted to support our cause by helping us have a top notch event.”
I asked Rev. Hahn how much was raised over the two days and he said it was too soon to tell as there are invoices and contributions that keep coming in for several more weeks. He added that he expected to do well, but it was not just about money-because community awareness and involvement have high value as well.
Rev. Hahn continued, “My own last thoughts-I was very proud of the End Hunger volunteers who came out and served tirelessly for two days. They don’t do it because they like doing big events and the young volunteers rarely listen to blues. They served because they believe in the cause with a driving passion-that’s inspiring. The young volunteers, in particular, are the generation of leaders in our country-for that we should all be proud”.
Margit Miller / Staff Writer / Editor

Local jewelry store donates over $3,000 and 890 pounds of food to local food pantry
Dickinson Jewelers, with locations in Dunkirk and Prince Frederick, hosted a food drive in conjunction with their first ever jewelry auction, Get It or Regret It! The auction and food drive lasted only three days in early August and the store was extremely moved by how giving their customers were.
This summer, the store partnered with End Hunger in Calvert County (EHCC, www.endhungercalvert.org) for the third time. For each food donation customers brought in, they received a chance to win one of six prizes donated by designers that work with the store. At the end of the three day sale, the community had donated 890 pounds of food to the organization. The store distributed bags around the entire county for the community to fill and drop off at either Dickinson Jewelers location. Kathy Dickinson, owner, commented that “having the bags around the entire county was a great way to encourage donations. Even if someone in the community wasn’t aware of the auction, they were able to contribute to the food drive. I love being able to witness how much people care for others.”
In addition to the food drive, Dickinson Jewelers pledged to donate $5 for each registered bidder and 10% of the auction sales. The store was able to donate $3,200 to End Hunger in Calvert County. Jacqueline Miller, Director of Awareness at End Hunger, commented that “because of [their] relationship with the Maryland Food Bank, End Hunger in Calvert County will be able to purchase roughly $32,000 worth of food with the money Dickinson Jewelers donated. Here at End Hunger in Calvert County we always say #givewhereyoulive – well, this is what giving where you live looks like! We are making a real difference for real people right in our own backyards.”
Dickinson Jewelers is located in Prince Frederick at 916 Costley Way and in Dunkirk at 10286 Southern Maryland Boulevard. Store hours at both locations are Mon-Fri 10 am to 7 pm; Sat 10 am to 5 pm. Visit them online www.dickinsonjewelers.com. Both End Hunger and Dickinson Jewelers are very active on social media – it’s easy to keep tabs on their upcoming events!