By Tammy Showalter Staff Writer
With working long, late hours into the night and covering assignments after the sun has set, one important thing comes to mind, and that’s my own safety. Although, I’ve never had any run-ins that required me to defend myself, an invitation to take a self-defense class sounded great.
The great staff at Calvert MMA Academy Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Lineage BJJ in Sunderland extended the invitation and I’ve always been curious about martial arts and the world of self-defense.
It was great information to have in my tool belt and if you know me, you know that I built my own home with tools from my very own tool belt, so I was all-in to gain more hands-on experience.
Calvert MMA owner Jim Thrift, who is a self defense and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach who has his Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Grand Master Relson Gracie taught the class with Ray Ostenso and Aimee Reynolds, who is a Muay Tai kickboxing instructor. Thrift is certified by the state of Maryland as a law enforcement defensive tactics instructor and has 21 years in federal law enforcement. He’s also a United States veteran, so I felt like I was in good hands, totally.
By the end of the class, I had learned how to take down an aggressor, while breaking their arm in the process, as well as how to get out of a choke hold. I felt empowered for sure. I think enough muscle memory was stored so that I could use the techniques should I ever need. I think I may even look into taking a Muay Tai kickboxing class with Reynolds.
The one thing that was really amazing was just how giving Calvert MMA and its staff was, of their time, talents and out of their prosperity.
All proceeds went to End Hunger of Calvert County, a non-profit organization that serves Calvert County residents. I was inspired to know that 80 families were fed because of the $1,600.00 that was raised by Calvert MMA and the self-defense class.
End Hunger representative Jacqueline Miller spoke to the class. She said that the organization helps not only with food distribution, but with job training and free tax preparation to those who qualify.
“Behind all that is a person that we’re working with and changing their lives.” Miller said. “Aimee [Reynolds] is a captain for our annual dragon boat festival and she said that Calvert MMA was hosting this class. We are like a distribution warehouse. We have a facility on Route 231 in Prince Frederick. We work with the Maryland Food Bank, Capital Area Food Bank and Farming for Hunger.
“How it started was we became the middle person between those food banks and the local food bank, When a big bulk order comes in, we sort it out and the local food banks come to pick it up when they’re ready for it and they distribute it out to families.”
End Hunger also has a culinary arts training school. They offer training to unemployed or under-employed, teaching them the necessary skills to work in a commercial kitchen.
“Seventy percent of our graduates are now employed full-time, some with benefits for the first time,” Miller said. “It’s not only about the food, it’s about getting people back to work. I wake up every day and I love what I do. The most important part is how much this community embraced it.”
Northern High School graduate Ahna Turley participated in the class. She’s also on staff at End Hunger.
“It was great to see so many people come out to support End Hunger and not knowing much about it,” Turley said. “I’ve learned so much about how the community really wants to give.
“I don’t think I’m going to remember everything today, but I think the wrist holds were great, simple. It’s not a multi-step move. I would love to come back for a refresher of the class, because you don’t want to forget but I thought it was awesome.”
Thrift can be reached via Calvert MMA and Reynolds can be reached via AR Studios in Huntingtown.
To contact End Hunger, send emails to info@old.endhungercalvert.org.
It always makes you feel good when you do something for the betterment of someone else, especially during this time of the year. Hope you find time to learn a new skill, maybe even a self-defense skill or a way to give back to your community this Christmas.
tshowalter@somdnews.com

Communities Unite in the Spirit of Giving to Help Local Food Pantries Win Part of $1.5 Million in Grants from Walmart
On Monday, December 15, 2014, Walmart announced the 75 food pantry winners of the Food Pantry Holiday Makeover campaign that will each receive a $20,000 grant for facility makeovers. Over the past two weeks, communities nationwide came together to vote at walmart.com/holidaymakeover for their local food pantry to win a grant. The grants are being made to help the winning food pantries, such as the Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry in Huntingtown, MD, renovate their facilities and purchase essential equipment such as new refrigerators, ovens, stoves, storage units, and even refrigerated trucks to help them better serve families in need.
“We are humbled by the turnout of support Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry has received throughout the campaign, and we’re so excited to be able to use the funds to expand our facility. It will help us improve the food distribution area to make it much easier for people in need to access food. We’ll also be able to expand our food storage area, allowing us to provide healthier foods so more families can eat nutritious meals,” said Rev. Robert P. Hahn, Senior Pastor Chesapeake Church, Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry. “We thank Walmart for their generosity and their commitment to reach out to local food pantries, the people who are on the front lines of this fight. Every food pantry in the running was worthy and we all stand shoulder to shoulder in combating the truly solvable problem in our country: hunger.”
The Food Pantry Holiday Makeover campaign launched at a time when food pantries across the country are preparing for their busiest time of year and facing high rates of need, with more than 49 million Americans experiencing food insecurity in 2013. Meeting this need requires food pantries to not only have food on hand, but be well-equipped to safely store, prepare, and transport the food that will ultimately end up on a family’s table.
“We are so thankful for everyone who voted and for the communities that came together to support their local hunger relief agencies,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation and senior vice president of Walmart Sustainability. “Today, the dedicated food pantry staff and volunteers who work so hard to fight hunger can start making plans for the purchase of new equipment and renovations. We hope that these grants will help make the holidays a little brighter not just for the food pantry staff and volunteers, but also, most importantly, for the families served by these organizations.”
The campaign is part of Walmart’s recently announced commitment to create a more sustainable food system, with a focus on improving the affordability of food by lowering the “true cost” of food for both customers and the environment, increasing access to food, making healthier eating easier, and improving the safety and transparency of the food chain. This commitment includes a goal of providing four billion meals to those in need in the U.S. over the next five years. To learn more about Walmart’s work to fight hunger, visit www.foundation.walmart.com/our-focus/hunger/.

Huntingtown, MD – An ongoing campaign to aid the nation’s food pantries is garnering votes all across the country. Currently leading the pack—by a relatively big margin—is a Calvert County facility, Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry.
The coast-to-coast competition is being conducted by Walmart as part of its Food Pantry Holiday Makeover campaign. The 75 food pantries garnering the most votes will receive a $20,000 grant from the national retailer’s charitable foundation. The grant cash may be used to expand and/or renovate facilities and purchase new equipment.
“Food pantries play a vital role in providing healthy meals to their communities,” stated Walmart Foundation Kathleen McLaughlin in a press release. “As they face great demand this winter, we’re working to make a positive impact by ensuring that they have the infrastructure to safely prepare and store food so more families can have access to healthier meals.”
The Walmart Foundation launched its Food Pantry Holiday Makeover campaign Tuesday, Dec. 2. The day was universally proclaimed “Giving Tuesday” as an altruistic alternative to the more familiar, commercially focused Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
As soon as Giving Tuesday arrived, the tallies for Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry and other similar facilities began streaming in via social media.
“It’s really affirming to see the number of votes,” said Chesapeake Cares spokeswoman Jackie Miller. “It shows the community is excited. The grant will help us expand.”
The 10-day campaign will conclude Friday, Dec. 12 at 11:59 p.m. Between now and then the public can visit www.walmart.com/holidaymakerover and cast one vote per day.
Miller said Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry has been promised a matching grant from the State of Maryland.
While Christmas season is perhaps the time when most people consider charitable giving and demonstrate concern for members of the community who are struggling, Miller said Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry stays busy on daily basis. “Our numbers don’t fluctuate at all during the year,” Miller stated. “I think there’s more attention this time of year.”
Miller said the goal is to obtain the foundation’s $20,000 grant. Being number one in the nation doesn’t have any fiduciary perk attached to it. However, to be the most popular food pantry in the U.S.A. would bring quite a measure of fame and pride to Calvert County. Chesapeake Cares is the only Maryland-based food pantry involved in the campaign.
For more information on the Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry, visit www.chesapeakechurch.org/foodpantry
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com

Huntingtown High School Boy’s Soccer Donates Over $4,000 to End Hunger in Calvert County From Kicks for Cans Project
Team continues tradition of embracing #givewhereyoulive spirit
“Part of being a soccer player on this team means participating in our Kicks for Cans service project for End Hunger In Calvert County. Its just part of who we are,” explained Community Service Coordinator Jonathan Reid.
Now in it’s second year, the Huntingtown High School’s Boys Varsity Soccer Team rolled out its “Kicks for Cans” service project during their 2014 Fall Soccer Season. “Kicks for Cans” is a project in which players collect pledges from friends, family, and people in the community for every goal that is scored throughout the season. This year they raised $4,039.
“Participating in this program raises our players awareness of the needs of others and gives them an outlet to help,” says Varsity Head Coach Charles Russell. “ As a result the community has been very supportive as you can tell by the amount of money the team has raised.”
In addition to raising money, “Kicks for Cans” was developed to provide players with leadership, teamwork, and community awareness experience.
“As a high school coach, we are an extension of the player’s learning experience,” says Russell. “Opportunities like this give us a chance to show how the skills they learn on the field – teamwork, leadership, etc., can be used in real life situations. “
Senior Phil Brown comments, “Kicks for Cans taught me leadership and organizational skills that will benefit my future. Also, helping with underprivileged families and raising money for others bound our team together.”
A cornerstone of the project is that “Kicks for Cans” is led and executed by the players. Each year, a group of players are chosen take on the task of motivating players and collecting pledges for that year’s project. In addition, they arrange a day for the entire team to volunteer together harvesting produce with Farming 4 Hunger. These responsibilities are handed down to new student project leaders every year.
“It was a great opportunity to see all of the boys on the team come together and help the community out, whether that was scoring goals and raising money, or donating their time to pick crops at a local farm,” says Senior Jake Stevens.
Senior Reis Richardson was this year’s Project Lead, Senior Phil Brown was the Varsity team’s Pledge Lead, Senior Jake Stevens oversaw incoming donations as well as the Farming 4 Hunger harvest day, and Freshman John Osborne was the Junior Varsity team’s Pledge Lead.
“It is admirable what the Huntingtown High School Soccer program is doing for its players,” says Jacqueline Miller, President of End Hunger In Calvert County. “Soon their players will never know soccer at Huntingtown High without End Hunger In Calvert County. It will just be part of their DNA … that’s great leadership!”
To ensure the project’s continued success, the team is already planning for next year’s “Kicks for Cans”. Tom and Dawna Johnson are taking the lead as the new Community Service Coordinators as previous Assistant Coach and Community Service Coordinator Jonathan Reid will be relocating. In the future, the team is hoping to expand their vision to other sports teams within Huntingtown High and potentially to other sports teams throughout the county.
To learn how you, your team, or group can get involved with End Hunger In Calvert County, visit their website at endhungercalvert.org or email info@old.endhungercalvert.org.

Donation will provide meals for 360 Calvert County Families

Bayside Auto Group in Prince Frederick donated $7,200 to End Hunger In Calvert County. This donation came from their month long fundraiser to support the organization. For every car sold during the month of October, the dealership donated $50 to feeding local families.
This donation will provide 360 meals for Calvert County families.
“Back in July, End Hunger In Calvert County purchased over 3,000 turkey’s for the upcoming holiday season,” says Rev. Robert P. Hahn CEO of End Hunger In Calvert County. “At the time we didn’t know how they would get paid for but we knew that families would need them. This donation just answered the question, and now families will be able to have dinner together – not a soup kitchen – but in their own home.”
“Over the years, community involvement and participation has been one of the biggest motivators for myself as well as our entire team at Bayside Auto Group,” says Andrew Wanamaker Controller for Bayside Auto Group. “Our team was extremely excited to partake in End Hunger in Calvert County month because we not only understood that every car we sold represented a local family, but we got a chance to show how passionate we are for our community in Calvert County. We are very proud to be in this community and love being able to make a real difference for real people.”
About End Hunger In Calvert County:
EHCC is an association of over 50 businesses, 23 Feeding Organizations, 26 churches and community groups united behind the goal of ending hunger in our county. For
For more information visit us online at www.endhungercalvert.org.

On Monday evening, October 13, End Hunger In Calvert County graduated its fourth Culinary Training Program class and celebrated the one-year anniversary of the program.
Since its launch in 2013, the End Hunger Culinary Training Program has graduated over sixty students. While prior to enrolling in the program the majority of its students were unemployed. Now 70% of graduates are working in restaurants across the state, some with benefits.
“End Hunger In Calvert County is about more than providing food – it’s helping people attain productive lives,” says Rev. Robert P. Hahn CEO of End Hunger In Calvert County. “That’s what we’re striving for – the changed life. Bernie Fowler, Jr. and Farming4Hunger are following that model as well. It’s more than produce – they’re working with those inmates to change lives.”
President of the Board of County Commissioners, the Honorable Patrick Nutter, was the evening’s keynote speaker. In his remarks he challenged graduates to decide that this was “the moment in your life when things would change. Take this opportunity and training you have been given to make your life different.”
“The End Hunger Culinary Training Program changed my life,” says Renee Moss graduate of Monday evening’s class. “But more importantly, it will change the course of my family’s future for generations to come. Poverty will no longer be part of our story.”
The Calvert County restaurant community has begun adopting the End Hunger Culinary Training Program as a resource for qualified kitchen staff. They not only provide internship opportunities for students that give them hands-on-kitchen experience, but local restaurant’s head chefs are also guest teachers for the program, often teaching a certain technique or how to prepare a signature dish.
The End Hunger Culinary Training Program is a FREE nine-week program that runs four times a year. The program’s funders, PNC Bank and The Weinberg Foundation completely underwrite all costs associated with tuition, uniforms, and books needed for each student. Graduates of the program receive ServSafe National Restaurant Association Certification and their own set of knives. The next class begins October 20, 2014.
At the time of press, the following establishments are partners of the End Hunger Culinary Training Program: Anne Arundel Medical Center, Asbury Solomons, Blondies, Countryside Grille and Deli, Dreamweavers, Filomenas, The Greene Turtle Herrington Harbor/ Honey’s Harvest, Jerry’s Seafood, JT’s Kitchen, Maryland Country Caterers, Nick’s of Calvert, No Thyme to Cook, Outback Steakhouse, Patrice and Associates, Rod n’ Reel, Smoky Joes, Solomon’s Pearl, South County Café, and Sweet Sue’s.
For more information about to program or to apply, visit their website at endhugnercalvert.org or email Mary LaBorie and mlaborie@old.endhungercalvert.org.

For the third year, nonprofit organization End Hunger In Calvert County hosted its FoodStock event, distributing fresh produce and non-perishable foods to families and local pantries.
End Hunger In Calvert County relies on donations and volunteers to keep its operation running. Staff and family members of Bowie- based IT company Plan B Technologies Inc. (PBT), spent a day packing boxes of potatoes in preparation for FoodStock.  PBT allows one community service day each year, in addition to regular personal time off, for employees to volunteer at a nonprofit or charity organization.
At FoodStock there’s no list of recipients and nobody is turned away. The amount of food each person receives is based on the size of their family. Established in 2008, End Hunger In Calvert County is dedicated to moving individuals and families from dependency to self-sufficiency.
According to End Hunger’s website, over 10,000 families in Calvert County rely on local food pantries to provide their next meal.
Read more: http://thedailyrecord.com/2014/10/22/tech-firm-volunteers-for-foodstock-event/#ixzz3LOqZlAPJ

The Live Out Loud End Hunger Obstacle Run took place on Saturday September 20th at Chesapeake Church in Huntingtown.
That morning, 486 runners took on 2.5+ miles of mud-laden trails and obstacles to prove that hunger in our community can be overcome.
This year’s Live Out Loud Obstacle Run was a new partnership between End Hunger In Calvert and County and Chesapeake Church’s Peake Youth Ministry – a group of a hundred plus middle and high school students. In it’s first year and after expenses, the event generated over $2,000 to help feed hungry families in Calvert County.
“End Hunger In Calvert County’s motto is “Give Where You Live”, and that’s one thing we at Peake Youth want to instill into our teenagers,” says Deborah Bertolaccini Race Director and Peake Youth Staff Assistant. “To not only make a difference in the world, but to inspire them to make a difference in their corner of the world. We want them to understand that when you “Give Where You Live” the lives that you impact are your family, friends, and neighbors.”
“The best part of the morning was watching our teens, the future of Calvert County, embrace the vision of ending hunger in our community,” says Jacqueline Miller, President of End Hunger In Calvert County. “Forty-percent of food pantry clients are under the age of 18. Whether they realize yet or not, our teens are running for their peers!”
The Live Out Loud End Hunger Obstacle Run was used to launch our community into October, and kick-off End Hunger In Calvert County Month.
A highlight of the month is the County-wide Food Drive. Every year, the entire public school system, local business, churches, and community groups rally together to restock the shelves of our local food pantries.
This year, End Hunger In Calvert County is attempting to set a new countywide record and have the largest food drive to date. They will strive to collect ONE MILLION pounds of food in just ONE MONTH.
To accompany the food drive, End Hunger In Calvert County is launching a countywide texting campaign. When individuals text FEED 20222 a $10 donation is made straight to the organization – ten dollars equals 100lbs of food. A running tally will be kept throughout the month.
In 2013, the Better Business Bureau recognized End Hunger In Calvert County as an accredited Charity, awarding us its Wise Giving Designation for meeting all 20 Standards of Charitable Accountability. During this process, they found that $0.93 of each dollar donated goes directly towards programming. When people donate to End Hunger In Calvert County they can do so with confidence!
The Live Out Loud End Hunger Obstacle Run will be an annual event being held at the end of September. For more information about the run or End Hunger In Calvert County Month, visit their website at endhungercalvert.org

I am writing to invite you to a very important meeting of the Calvert County clergy. The meeting is being held on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m. at the End Hunger Warehouse, 141 Schooner Lane, Prince Frederick.
The purpose of the meeting is to reunite as the clergy of Calvert County around the issue of hunger in our county. If you were with us back in 2009, you know what a powerful moment that was for our community — when the clergy of Calvert County stood together to devote ourselves to the cause of eliminating hunger in our county.
I know that we are all active on many issues of great social concern, but certainly, experience has shown us two things: We all agree that no one ought to go hungry; and we all have people right in our own congregations who are struggling to pay the bills and keep food on the table.
October is End Hunger in Calvert County Month. A highlight of the month is the countywide food drive. Every year, the entire public school system, local business, churches and community groups rally together to restock the shelves of our local food pantries.
This year, our goal is to set a countywide record and have the largest food drive to date. We will strive to collect 1 million pounds in one month. Together, we hope to not only collect food, but also increase the awareness of hunger in our community.
The real moment of power will be when Calvert County clergy — African-American, white, Hispanic, men and women alike — unite on Oct. 1, as a showing of our continued support and dedication to the cause of hunger — a cause that transcends color, gender, race and ethnicity.
We need you on the team this October. That’s what the meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1, is about. I truly urge you to attend or send a representative from your church. We not only want to share our vision; we want your input as well.
It is time for us to again gather together and put away that which might divide us and stand together, firm in our individual callings, yet united in our passion for the needy of Calvert County.
If there is to be unity, it must start and continue with us — the clergy.
Please join us on Oct. 1. We’ll be serving lunch, and the meeting shouldn’t take more than an hour. I realize that this is a busy time of the year and that this letter comes with short notice. I hope you will be there.
Please RSVP by Monday, Sept. 29, at 410-257-5672, or email info@old.endhungercalvert.org.
The Rev. Robert P. Hahn, Huntingtown
The writer is senior pastor of Chesapeake Church and CEO of End Hunger in Calvert County.

The need to feed those in need is an issue that doesn’t appear to be abating any time soon. As the cold weather approaches, some families in Southern Maryland will be forced to find ways to not only stay warm, but to feed themselves and their families. Recognizing this continuing need, the Maryland Food Bank launched Hunger Action Month 2014 this week.
The Maryland Food Bank, based in Baltimore, distributes food throughout the state, but mainly focuses in Maryland’s neediest areas, including Baltimore city and Somerset, Wicomico and Washington counties, according to its website. Citing its statistics, the Maryland Food Bank recognizes nearly 780,000 Marylanders in need of food assistance.
In Southern Maryland, the Southern Maryland Food Bank, based in Hughesville, serves as a hub for the region. Calvert and St. Mary’s counties have 13 food pantries each that work in partnership with the regional food bank, while Charles has 16.
The End Hunger in Calvert County campaign has partnered with numerous agencies in and outside the county to help eradicate hunger locally, and has been successful in its efforts, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in its efforts and distributing thousands of pounds of food to families in the county. It hosts several events during the year, and will be hosting a family-friendly Obstacle Run at Chesapeake Church in Huntingtown on Sept. 20. Details and how to sign up can be found on the organization’s website, endhungercalvert.org.
More information about the Hunger Action Month 2014 can be found at www.mdfoodbank.org/hunger-action-month. More information about the Southern Maryland Food Bank and where to make donations to local pantries can be found at www.smfb.somd.com/.
As we begin to plan for the holiday season and all the shopping and feasting ahead, launching a statewide effort this month to stock food pantries is a wise decision. Now is the perfect time to run out to the grocery store, purchase a basket full of food and donate it to a nearby pantry. We should do so now before we get caught up in driving from store to store, trying to get that perfect Christmas gift or the right size turkey for Thanksgiving. Let’s start the giving season a little early.