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April 2014 
In This Issue
The Great Give 2014
Open Eyes, Open Minds Art Show
Our New Logo
Employee of the Month

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Upcoming Events
Open Eye Gallery Committee Meeting 
Fri., April 4 
11:00 a.m. 
At Arundel Lodge.
Held on the first Friday of each month. All are welcome. 
or call her at (443) 433-5961 with any questions. 

Amazing Marvels: 
An Art Show 
Through April 19
At the Art Enables gallery in Washington, D.C.
The show features two pieces of art by Colin Lacey.

NAMI Family

 Support Group
Thurs., April 10 
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
At Arundel Lodge. 
For more information, email NAMI Anne Arundel.

 

Open Eyes, Open Minds: Raising Mental Health Awareness Through Art 

Thurs., May 1 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

 At the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

Second annual art exhibit sponsored by the Maryland Coalition for Mental Health Awareness, featuring work by persons served at the Lodge. 

Art by Colin Lacey

Open Eye Gallery Committee Meeting 

Fri., May 2 
11:00 a.m. 
At Arundel Lodge.
Held on the first Friday of each month. All are welcome. Email Katerina Evans
 or call her at (443) 433-5961 with any questions. 

The Great Give 2014

Tues., May 7 at 6:00 p.m. to Wed., May 8 at 6:00 p.m.

Please support Arundel Lodge during this 24-hour fundraiser.

Mental Health Links

NAMI Anne Arundel County 

 

On Our Own of Maryland 

 

SAMHSA 

Greetings! 
 
Spring is a time of renewal, and it's a great time to renew your support for Arundel Lodge's important work.

Mark your calendars for May 7-8, when Arundel Lodge will be participating in the Great Give 2014. This 24-hour event will raise awareness and funds for nonprofit organizations serving the Anne Arundel County community. Read more in the article below about the event and what your donations will make possible.

On Thursday, May 1 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., you can also show your support by viewing artwork created by persons served at the Lodge. Several pieces will be featured in the Open Eyes, Open Minds exhibit at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. (The colorful banner above samples artwork by Sheryl Perez that will be on display.)

We've just redesigned our website, where you can read current and archived newsletters, learn more about our programs, and find more ways to get involved.
The Great Give:
Support Arundel Lodge's Unique Programs 

While several facilities in Anne Arundel County provide outpatient therapy or residential programs, Arundel Lodge is unique. We not only provide an array of programs that can work together to support the recovery model, but we embody the philosophy of treating people with behavioral health disorders with respect and collaborating with them about their treatment, we empower people with behavioral health disorders to make their own choices, and we promote independence.

The Great Give 2014: From 6:00 p.m. on May 7 to 6:00 p.m. on May 8.

 

This person-centered approach requires a dedicated board of directors and management focused on providing the best possible support to persons served and addressing every aspect of their wellbeing. It takes a team of staff members dedicated to providing this support with compassion, humility, and grace. It takes persons served who appreciate and value what we have to offer. Finally, it takes the moral and financial support of friends and family members like you who recognize the need for an organization like Arundel Lodge.

 

Our commitment is to continue on this course and help even more individuals, because we know this work is urgently needed. To accomplish this, we need your help.

 

This year, Arundel Lodge is participating in an exciting campaign called The Great Give of Anne Arundel County 2014

This is an online fundraising event created by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County to rally community support for local charitable causes. It will take place for just 24 hours, starting May 7 at 6:00 p.m. and ending May 8 at 6:00 p.m.

 

Donating is easy and tax deductible:

  • Visit Arundel Lodge's page on the Great Give website.
  • Submit your tax deductible donation online using your credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express).

You don't need to set up an account to donate. There is a $10 minimum donation amount for The Great Give, but the sky's the limit if you can donate more. Our goal is to win first place for Donor Dollars received. If we reach our goal, we can win an additional cash prize of up to $10,000--so every donation matters!

 

Visit The Great Give today to schedule a Giving Day Reminder.

 

What will your dollars support?

 

This year, Arundel Lodge is seeking support for the following programs and initiatives:

 

Health Home: In October 2013, Arundel Lodge officially became one of Mary

land's first Health Homes. A Health Home is a program that integrates the services needed to address all of a person's medical as well as behavioral health needs. Our job is to better manage chronic medical conditions through preventative care and the total wellness approach. In the process, promoting early detection of severe medical conditions can reduce hospital visits and inpatient admissions. Help support this valuable program's services, available to our persons served 24 hours a day.

 

Helping children, adolescents, and families: Almost 5 million children and adolescents in the U.S. have some type of behavioral health disorder. In response to the need in our county, Arundel Lodge began seeing children, adolescents, and their families in 2012. A broad range of services is often necessary to meet the behavioral health needs of this group, so Arundel Lodge would like to provide an age-appropriate area with specialized therapy. Your dollars could help make this goal a reality.

 

Dental Care: Many of our persons served are on Medical Assistance, because their disability has made it necessary. Unfortunately, Medical Assistance does not cover dental care. If you've ever had a cavity or an abscess and needed a tooth filled or pulled, you can only imagine what it must be like to lack the funds for dental care. Lack of proper dental attention can lead to other serious health problems.

 

Your donation could help us create a Dental Care Fund for those in need.

 

Supported Employment Program: Many individuals with mental health disorders want to work, but lack the support they need to meet this goal. Employment can be an integral part of treatment and recovery, building confidence and allowing individuals to contribute to their community in a positive and productive way. It takes about $3,500 to support one person in this endeavor, and we are trying to support many.

 

Your support could help someone get the job they want and further their recovery.

  

Safety Kits: Emergencies often come without warning, and the safety of our persons served is always a priority at Arundel Lodge. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends assembling emergency kits with enough food, water, and supplies for at least 72 hours. Since officials and relief workers cannot always reach people immediately and utility services could take days or weeks to recover, preparedness is key.

 

With your help, we can equip each of our 32 residences with a comprehensive safety kit including bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, and a radio.

 

Parking: Due to the high demand for our services, our parking lot is continually full. We have an overflow area, but it needs to be paved. Your dollars could help pave the way for more persons served.

 

These are just some of the needs that Arundel Lodge would like to fill in the coming year. The Great Give is an opportunity for you to combine your dollars with other donors' and really make them count.

 

What have your dollars supported in the past?

 

Because of the generosity of many individuals, Arundel Lodge has been able to grow and expand programs and services to their persons served. Donor dollars have gone toward building classrooms where persons served can learn to use computers; address their fitness goals by taking yoga and learning about health and nutrition; and take classes to learn about stress management, medication management, and build important life skills.

 

We also have a well-established art program that promotes recovery through self-discovery. Arundel Lodge's art program was recently featured in The Capital Gazette article "Brush with Recovery: Woman uses art at Arundel Lodge to help heal."

 

Arundel Lodge has also added two homes dedicated to supporting individuals who have developmental disabilities as well as behavioral health disorders.

 

These things are possible because of donors like you. We do receive some federal and state funds, but we depend on you to keep our amazing programs and services going. Join us online May 7 at 6:00 p.m. to May 8 at 6:00 p.m. at The Great Give. Schedule your reminder today and count down to The Great Give Anne Arundel County 2014!

 

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Open Eyes, Open Minds:
Upcoming Art Exhibit at American Visionary Art Museum 
 
On Thursday, May 1, from 1-5 p.m., the Maryland mental health community will come together for the second annual Open Eyes, Open Minds exhibit showcasing the artwork of individuals in recovery of mental illness, including pieces by several persons served at Arundel Lodge.
 
Sculpture by Lois Agee
The show, held at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, aims to raise mental health awareness through art. It will feature work from all over Maryland as well as presentations by artists, an award to Jane Walker who has devoted her career to advocacy and community services, and the Children's Mental Health Matters campaign poster reception. The event is free and refreshments will be served.
 
This exhibit originated from an Open Eye Gallery meeting attended by Dimitri Cavathas from People Encouraging People. The group brainstormed the idea of an art show for people in Maryland using the arts as a vehicle for healing. This event is an opportunity to educate the public, reduce stigma, and show the amazing talents of a group of people who are often not seen for the truth of who they are. 
 
The Tree of Life by Lee Hansen
In preparation for the exhibit, artists from Cornerstone Montgomery and Arundel Lodge will work together to create a large driftwood sculpture to be shown at the event. This will be the beginning of a collaborative piece of art, taking place throughout April at the Lodge and continuing at the AVAM event on May 1. 
 
Everyone is invited to create a small driftwood sculpture to add to the piece. The focus of this collection is: "Imagine accepting everyone for the truth of who they are." 
  
Much of the artwork will be for sale at the event, and many of the artists will attend. We hope that everyone will put this exhibit on their calendars and help kick off Mental Health Awareness Month in May!

 

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Introducing Our New Logo 

This spring, Arundel Lodge's print and online communications will be turning over a new leaf with an updated logo and a redesigned website created through a collaborative effort. The logo features our new tagline, "Hope Re-imagined."

 

Thank you to designers Danielle Howley and Kristen Myers for their work on the logo; and thank you to Richard St. John, Arundel Lodge volunteer, for his guidance on Web development and to Lisa Hughes, our IT Director, for taking our new website live! Coming soon, Arundel Lodge NEWS will also feature a new look. 

 

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Employee of the Month, Maureen Steele

The April Employee of the Month is Maureen Steele, LCSW-C, therapist and intake coordinator for the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. Maureen began working for the clinic part-time a year ago, and soon realized that she wanted to work for the Lodge full-time.

Maureen Steele
Maureen Steele

 

Then, in August 2013, the clinic began taking walk-in clients, and Maureen became the intake coordinator. When asked how this new position suits her, Maureen says: "It's been great! Every day is busy and unpredictable. I like meeting all the new individuals when they come in for the first time, and introducing them to the agency."

 

Her coworkers affirm that Maureen's positive attitude shows in her work. Here's some of what they had to say about Maureen:

 

"Maureen is always smiling and has a warmth that is inviting and engaging to everyone who comes across her path. She has been a tremendous help to the clinic as we work to appropriately help all persons served. She has a great heart for this work."

 

"Maureen is always great to talk to. She is willing to help and consult on any case. She has done so much for the clinic by being willing to take on the role of intake coordinator."

 

Maureen has worked in the mental health field her entire career. She is very pleased to have joined Arundel Lodge, and finds the atmosphere here very positive. "ALI has a nice spirit, a good heart," she says. "I appreciate the mission, and how every person here has it in mind."

 

Congratulations to Maureen for her selection as April Employee of the Month. Her positive spirit is encouraging to all. 

 

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