OPA holiday drive benefits Diakonia

(Dec. 13, 2021) Ocean Pines staff recently sent holiday meals for 10 local families to Diakonia, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit that has been supplying services to the homeless for nearly 50 years. 

The staff collection sent 10 turkeys, plus instant mashed potatoes, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, gravy, green beans, corn, brownies, cake mix and other items to Diakonia as part of the Association’s annual holiday giving initiative. The Matt Ortt Companies also contributed food items. 

Diakonia Executive Director Bee Miller said the organization is always busy during the holiday season. The nonprofit serves about 200 local people each year through its shelter, plus an additional 200 families each month through its food pantry.  

“Food drives this time of year are tremendous for us. We’re getting loaded with food, which is great because nobody leaves without a full trunk of food,” she said. “And the Ocean Pines donation made sure that 10 more families will go away with a full trunk of food.” 

Other needed items include peanut butter and jelly, Miller said, “because it stretches a long way.” 

“If we have street homeless, we try to make bag lunches or just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that we can give out to people on the street,” she said.  

The nonprofit is also asking for twin bedsheets.  

“Anybody who goes to our shelter, we allow them to take bedding with them when they move into their own place, so there’s always a need,” Miller said.  

Miller said monetary donations are also helpful, because they help fill gaps in between services. 

“What a lot of people don’t know is, all the financial donations we get are considered matching funds for the grants we go after as well,” she said. “So, with every dollar that’s given, we can double or triple it.”  

Diakonia programs include Supportive Services for veterans and their families serving Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset counties; Homeless Solutions that helps with rent and utilities for eligible households serving Wicomico and Worcester counties; Rapid Rehousing serving Wicomico and Worcester counties; and Emergency Rental Assistance for those affected by COVID-19 in Worcester County.   

To donate, call 410-213-0923, or donate online at www.diakoniaoc.org.