Caring Connections, Janaury 2025

Thank You and Happy New Year!

Thanks to your incredible generosity, CaringMatters exceeded our year-end fundraising goal. Your support is a powerful reminder of the kindness and compassion that drives our work and helps ensure that CaringMatters’ programs remain free and accessible to those who need them most.

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference, and we are deeply grateful.

As we enter the new year, we are inspired by what we can achieve together. Wishing you a Happy New Year—our gratitude is endless!

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Tree of Love Recap

Thank you to all who joined us for our annual Tree of Love Celebration on December 7, 2024. The event brought our community together to welcome the holiday season and to make the world a bit brighter as we honored and remembered those who have touched our lives. This inspiring event included instrumental music, responsive readings and reading of the names.

We look forward to celebrating with you again in December 2025!

Tree of Love 2024 Program Book

Let's Give A Hoot

Come to Support CaringMatters! Stay for the Laughs!

Give A Hoot Comedy Club

Montgomery County's Only Full-Time Comedy Club

16143 Shady Grove Rd., Gaithersburg, MD

Three Shows: Proceeds Benefit CaringMatters

Thursday, February 20, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, February 21, 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 22, 8:00 p.m.

Comedian, Philly Plowden

Advance Purchase Tickets $20 per person; $25 at the Door

Dinner and Drinks from La Mexicana Available 1 Hour Before Showtime

FREE PARKING

www.giveahootcomedy.com

Click below, click calendar, and navigate to February 20, 21 or 22

to purchase tickets.

Information & Online Ticket Sales

Event Flyer

Volunteer Training

General Training for New Volunteers

April 8, 9, and 10, 2025

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. each day

CaringMatters Cottage

518 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Register now for our impactful three-day training for program volunteers, offered at no charge. Through interactive presentations, discussions and guided exercises, the CaringMatters team presents a broad range of information and skill-building instruction to prepare new volunteers to be one-on-one caregivers and bereavement facilitators.

Current Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteer Helping Hands: Support patients in Montgomery County with serious illness or those at end-of-life by providing companionship, non-medical support at home, and respite for family caregivers.
Adult Bereavement: Facilitate peer support groups, virtually or in-person, so participants can meet and share stories with others grieving a similar loss.
Children's Bereavement: Co-facilitate a peer support group with a school counselor for children in grades K-12 to discuss their feelings about the death of a loved one and develop coping skills.
Just Rides: Provide transportation to medical appointments for patients undergoing cancer treatments at the Adventist Healthcare Cancer Centers in Rockville and White Oak.

For information and to register, contact Amy Fier, amyf@caringmatters.org or 301-869-4673, ext 117

Welcome New Staff & Trustee

Please join us in welcoming a new staff member and a new member of our Board of Trustees.

Leah Schwartz, LCSW-C, is joining CaringMatters as the new Clinical Director for Camp Erin. She has been a phenomenal volunteer at Camp Erin for the past two years and looks forward to getting involved with the campers on a deeper level. Leah is currently the Director of Counseling Services at EveryMind - a full time role that she will continue while taking on the part-time seasonal role of Camp Erin Clinical Director. Contact Leah at leahs@caringmatters.org

We are also happy to welcome Steve Lahn, Director of New Business Development at Advanced Nursing & Home Care to our Board of Trustees. Steve has expertise in issues pertaining to senior living, as well as services and resources for seniors. He has been a dedicated supporter of CaringMatters for many years, serving on event host committees and enthusiastically spreading awareness about our mission.