June 2024

Summer at The Station: Pro Social Trips

With summer vacation in full swing, we say goodbye to our junior volunteers coming from school and hello to our summer series of pro-social outings! The Baltimore Station staff members work together with client input to plan a summer full of activities to get clients out of the building and enjoying all that the community has to offer. Here are some trips we had this month:

• Fishing: Clinical Director, Paul Martin, alongside eight clients, took their first fishing trip of the year. They packed lunch, got all the fishing rods loaded into the van and headed out on the dock to soak up the sun and take in the peace of the water. Piscatorial (fishing) Therapy is a great low impact activity that allows people of all ages to enjoy the peace of nature and learn a lesson in patience. We look forward to taking more fishing trips as the summer goes on.

• Softball Games: We love a reason to take a walk down the street to the local softball diamond at Solo Gibbs Park. A little sunshine with a bit of trash talk made for a whole lot of smiles from everyone who recently came out to run the bases and cheer others on. A huge thank you to Loyola Blakefield students for helping us play our first game of the season! We welcome student and adult leagues to help us play softball with the men here at The Baltimore Station.

• National Zoo: Getting a little further out of Baltimore, earlier this month we made a trip to the National Zoo. Resident Attendant Supervisor Tyqueria, along with five clients, made their way to DC to see animals and learn about various ecosystems at the zoo. We are always looking for fun ways to enjoy a day outside and this one was certainly a winner. One client said, “I loved this trip and if we have the opportunity to go again, my name will be first on the list!”

As the summer goes on, we look forward to plenty more trips to promote a fun day enjoying time in the community!

The Baltimore Station Fun Day

We hosted our 2nd Annual The Baltimore Station Fun Day on the 14th, welcoming staff, volunteers, board members and clients to enjoy a day off from regular programming and instead, have a day of FUN! We enjoyed good food, plenty of games, and the opportunity to bond as a community. With the help of some student volunteers and our kitchen manager, Russell, we put together a huge spread of cookout favorites including delicious desserts brought by staff and volunteers. We had brisket, bbq chicken, burgers, hot dogs, and plenty of sides for everyone to enjoy together. Special shoutout to Church of the Nativity for their donation to help us get such a bountiful spread.

After a delicious lunch and time to chat, Loyola Blakefield students helped us play our first softball game of the season! It can be challenging for us to have enough individuals to make up two softball teams, but with the help of our junior volunteers, we were able to hit homeruns and steal the bases all afternoon. It was a beautiful day even for those not playing who enjoyed sitting on the sidelines offering cheers of encouragement to the players. 

Thank you to all our volunteers and board members who attended and staff for helping to make it all possible! A huge thank you to our resident attendant and King of Fun Day, Aaron, for all his hard work planning and executing this 2nd Annual The Baltimore Station Fun Day!

Men's Health Awareness Month

June is Men’s Health Awareness Month and as an organization dedicated to supporting the physical and mental health needs of homeless male veterans, we take great pride in recognizing this opportunity to remind our supporters of the importance of taking care of your health. Research has shown that men are significantly less likely to go see a doctor than women, so it is incredibly important to encourage everyone to see a doctor when something feels off and have the courage to advocate for ourselves when it is time to share what health struggles we are facing. 

The Baltimore Station works hard to offer a variety of health lessons in our program as well as opportunities to enjoy healthy meals and exercise. Through our connections with local medical schools like University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins, we have welcomed countless medical students, residents, and professors to teach about various health topics; learning lessons in diabetes, kidney disease, the dangers of smoking, the importance of brushing your teeth, and what to do if you have symptoms that feel unusual. Our proximity to the VA hospital also gives us an advantage in encouraging clients to regularly see a doctor or get a checkup. 

Although June highlights men’s health, it is important we all take the signs our bodies give us seriously and ensure a healthy lifestyle. Here are some ways you can celebrate Men’s Health Month:

• Participate in Wear Blue Day
• Plan or attend a health fair
• Donate to your favorite cause that supports men’s health
• Remind yourself and those in your life about the importance of listening to your body

If you are interested in connecting with The Baltimore Station to encourage healthy habits, please visit our volunteer page and fill out an interest form. 

10th Annual Maryland's Top Crab Cake Challenge Expo

Tuesday, September 17 at 5pm

The event will feature samples of crab cakes, cream of crab soup and Maryland crab soup from local Maryland restaurants & caterers. Attendees can try all of the samples and then vote for their favorites crab cakes and soups.

Tickets also include live music, casino games, photo booth, local business exhibits, networking, door prizes and more. 

Attendee Tickets:

$25 - Early Bird Tickets (through July 17)

$29 - Advance Tickets (through September 16)

$39 - Tickets at the Door

For more information, please check out the website here.

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