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In Remembrance of those lost during the Pandemic
Carol Riggles • June 1, 2021
In Remembrance of those lost during the Pandemic
“I would like to honor three special people: John Carmack, Timothy Overs and Barbara Myers. John Carmack was my Father. He did not die of Covid but cancer during the pandemic. Losing him during the pandemic affected how he lived his last days, the visitors he could have and how he was able to be mourned by his love ones. Timothy Overs and Barbara Myers did pass from Covid. They both resided in a nursing home that I would visit so there was no good-bye. When I visited them last, I had no idea that would be the last time I saw them.”
Picture memories/details from the above collage are below:
“The keepsake I would like to share is bird feeders and the significance of the Cardinal to me. My Dad loved to feed and watch the birds and squirrels. The bird feeder in the photo and many more feeders are now in my yard feeding the birds in his memory everyday just as he would have done. However, as many may know, the cardinal is said to appear when angels (loved ones passed) are near. So for me, every time I see a cardinal I actually say out loud, "Hi Dad", or "Hi Mr. Tim" or even "Hi Barb". I drive for a living, so whether I am looking in my backyard or driving around Frederick County for work, I know these three individuals are near all the time by the presence of the Cardinal.”
“This photo means a lot to me because my grandmother meant everything to me. She was not only my grandmother but she was like my mother. We were so close. I always had her as my go to. This is a photo while she was in the hospital and I was at her bedside. I stood by her until she couldn't fight her battle any longer. My grandmother will always remain in my heart.”
“This small hand painted rock is my most precious memento, reminding me of my mother who I lost during the pandemic. My mother was an avid painter, not professional, but just for her own enjoyment. When we were children, she painted a mural on our large picture window to celebrate every holiday. She volunteered for every school event that required posters and decorations. In her mid-40’s, Mom was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. In her mid-50’s she became a resident with Way Station, no longer able to support herself and was also suffering from mental illness that she had been dealing with since her late 20’s. This rock was her gift to me one Christmas and represented her attempt to conquer her arthritis pain and to create something of value out of nothing. I have treasured it ever since.”
If you would like to share your remembrance of someone you lost during the pandemic, please send it to ciggles@interfaithhousing.org
and we will be happy to include it in our next newsletter.
Gary Free grew up in Brunswick, MD. The first time he saw the Residences at Railroad Square, he knew he would love to live in the apartments. Now all he can think to himself is, “I am living here!” Gary said the day he signed his lease he was so happy! He has a picture hanging in his apartment that says, “You’re Home.” Gary looks at it often and says to himself, “I am!” He finally feels at peace. Gary feels his home is nice! He also feels one of the ways of living at Residences of Railroad Square is that he now has everything he ever wanted, asked for and needed. The only thing he feels is a concern is that most of the time he gets lonely. His goal is to try to meet people. He says, “I’m a very friendly person.” Gary says his experience living at the Residences at Railroad Square has been rather good. If he has any concerns he can talk to the office staff. He feels it can’t get any better than this!
With excitement and anticipation, I watched the groundbreaking on June 29, 2023, with my assistant Vickie and IHA’s Supportive Services coordinator, Sandi. By the middle of September 2023 concrete walls were being set up. We watched as the roof was completed; then the windows and doors were installed. We impatiently waited for the day we received permission to see the inside of the Residences of Railroad Square property. Finally, on September 25, 2024, we had the privilege to tour the inside of this beautiful property. On the weekend of September 27, 2024, the IHA property management team along with the CEO Jodie, held a two-day in-person application event. The owners of First Stop Brunswick generously donated their space at 2. E. Baltimore Street. That lease up kick off generated 56 applications. Over the next three months, ninety more applications were submitted. Each applicant came with their own story which stirred our hearts. No matter how different their stories may have been, they all had the same wish, a place to call home for Christmas! On November 5, 2024, the first resident signed their lease and on December 23, 2024, the last empty unit was filled! Not only were we able to fulfill these residents' Christmas wishes but it also filled our hearts with joy!
In November 2024, IHA was awarded a $20,000 grant from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. This grant supports IHA’s three workshop series: Credit Café ; Financial Freedom Bootcamp ; and Ready, Set, Go… Home! In Credit Café, participants work specifically on improving their credit. Financial Freedom Bootcamp builds critical foundational skills for financial success. Ready, Set, Go… Home! walks participants through the entire homebuying process from start to finish. IHA also received a $1,574.37 designated grant from The PNC Homeownership Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These pass-through funds will directly support low- to moderate-income (LMI) households in achieving homeownership in Frederick County. In December 2024, IHA was awarded a $29,498 grant from the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT). MAHT is administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) through the Division of Neighborhood Revitalization. This grant program is a valuable resource for the advancement of affordable housing initiatives and will provide operational assistance to IHA’s affordable multifamily community in Cumberland, MD. In January 2025, IHA was awarded a $2,500 grant by The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support IHA’s work across the multiple counties served by our programs and affordable rental communities.
Programs greatly depend on donations from the faith community, businesses, foundations, and individuals.
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