{"id":11129,"date":"2025-03-06T13:28:25","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T18:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifestylesofmd.org\/?p=11129"},"modified":"2025-04-02T06:47:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T11:47:52","slug":"shirley-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifestylesofmd.org\/es\/2025\/03\/shirley-smith\/","title":{"rendered":"7.000 horas de bondad: homenaje a la Sra. Shirley Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Some people talk about making a difference. Others roll up their sleeves and get to work.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ms. Shirley Smith is the latter.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever visited our St. Mary\u2019s office, you\u2019ve probably seen her. Maybe she greeted you at the door. Maybe she saw her organizing food pantry donations or answering the phone with her signature warmth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Or maybe \u2014 just maybe \u2014 you didn\u2019t notice her at all, because she was too busy quietly making things run smoothly behind the scenes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2016, Ms. Shirley has volunteered nearly 7,000 hours of her time to LifeStyles of Maryland.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seven. Thousand. Hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s the equivalent of nearly four years of full-time work \u2014 all done out of the kindness of her heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

She first came to LifeStyles through a referral from her pastor, Rev. Roderick McClanahan of First Missionary Baptist Church. He told her we were opening a new office and could use extra hands. She didn\u2019t hesitate. She showed up at our original location on Three Notch Road, ready to help. And when we moved to Shangri-La Drive, she moved with us.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ms. Shirley doesn\u2019t volunteer for recognition. She doesn\u2019t do it for praise. She does it because she believes in the work. Because, as she puts it, \u201cfaith without works is dead.\u201d Her faith moves her to action, and her action speaks volumes.<\/span><\/p>\n

For nearly a decade, she has been a steady, smiling presence \u2014 proof that small acts of kindness, done consistently, create real change.<\/span><\/p>\n

So join us in celebrating Ms. Shirley. Join us in thanking her for her time, her dedication and her heart for service. We truly couldn\u2019t do this work without her and our other amazing volunteers.<\/span><\/p>\n

And to those reading this, feeling inspired \u2014 we need more Ms. Shirleys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever wanted to give back, now is the time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Join us in making a difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer now!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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La Sra. Shirley Smith ha dedicado casi 7000 horas de voluntariado a LifeStyles of Maryland, aportando calidez, dedicaci\u00f3n y amabilidad a nuestra oficina de St. Mary's. Lea su inspiradora historia y descubra c\u00f3mo usted tambi\u00e9n puede marcar la diferencia.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11131,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

The annual Point-in-Time Homeless Survey began across Southern Maryland on Wednesday, part of a large, nationwide effort that attempts to quantify the numbers of sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of its Continuum of Care (CoC) application for homelessness funding, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that jurisdictions across the nation conduct a statistically reliable and unduplicated count of the homeless for one overnight period during the last 10 days of January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LifeStyles of Maryland is helping lead the effort in Southern Maryland. Roughly 50 volunteers and staff members will fan out across the region to conduct the survey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the goal is to provide a snapshot of the homeless in our community, LifeStyles takes it a step further by providing access to resources and distributing items to help them sustain the weather as well as providing information and encouraging individuals to access shelter and housing services. LifeStyles will also work with local departments of social services to provide shelter for those who seek it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results of the survey are used to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n