November 2023

Smiles and Spice at this Year's Stars, Stripes, and Chow

Where can you go for all the chili you can eat, live music, photo fun, farm animal interactions, free parking and the opportunity to give back to veterans in need? Look no further than our annual Stars, Stripes, and Chow Chili Cookoff, presented by M&T Bank, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards! In addition to all the fun mentioned, guests also had the opportunity to win a cash raffle or raffle baskets donated by various members of the community including a Locals Only basket filled with treasures from small businesses right here in Baltimore! 

More than 300 guests enjoyed the festivities while helping us to raise funds for the men we serve at The Baltimore Station. We were lucky once again to have some of the most beautiful weather, with sunshine all day and a cool breeze to keep everyone craving some warm chili! However, if flavorful chili wasn’t enough, we also had pit turkey, ham, and beef sandwiches donated by the Knights of Columbus, pizza from Baltimore’s Best Pizza - Pizza di Joey, and beverages provided by City Limits. Plus, family-friendly activities galore with our Kids Zone, petting zoo, balloon artist, caricaturists and the always popular cupcake decorating.

This year, nine teams competed for best chili, judges’ choice, and best theme and boy did they come to fight for that win! We had spice and heat from teams like Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA) and BGE Exelon and some with bold flavors from Society of American Military Engineers (S.A.M.E.) and M&T Bank. But for those who tried them all, there certainly wasn’t a bad bowl in the mix! Unfortunately, there could only be one winner. Blue Halo smoked the competition, taking home Judge’s Choice. Our returning crowd favorite, Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA), took the People's Choice prize for the third year in a row. Finally, best theme, was awarded for a second year in a row to Fuchs North America, for their Barbie theme including some pink sour cream to top off the tasting. 

A huge thank you to all our teams, volunteers, presenting sponsor M&T Bank and other sponsors, judges, media partner Fox45, performers, and guests who spent their Saturday afternoon with us to support the men we proudly serve. Because of everyone’s generosity, we were able to raise over $63,000 which will go directly back to bettering the lives of the veterans at The Baltimore Station through things like hot nutritious meals, daily therapeutic activities, special trips outside the city and more. 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 2, 2024 for our 10th annual Stars, Stripes and Chow chili cookoff. This special celebration will be the biggest and best crowds have ever seen! If you’re interested in sponsoring a team next year, be sure to contact Alexandra Protos at aprotos@baltimorestation.org as soon as possible as we expect slots to sell out. And don’t forget to check out the photos from this year.

Fun and Fellowship this Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. As a program that serves veterans, you can imagine we had quite the time celebrating all the brave men we work with here at The Baltimore Station. We celebrated all week long with groups like Enterprise Holdings, M&T Bank, Howard Community College, Society of American Military Engineers (S.A.M.E.), and even a group from the Maryland Air National Guard came down to our firehouse to give thanks to the veterans who sacrificed so much for our freedom. In addition to a delicious baked chicken lunch, M&T Bank welcomed clients and staff to a flag raising ceremony at their offices at Montgomery Park. This was an opportunity for them to not only recognize veterans in their workforce but also recognize veterans they have connected with through service at The Baltimore Station. We watched the flag rise high above as we listened to the commands of service members leading the process, and after, we had the opportunity to warm up inside with discussion over coffee and donuts. 

On Veterans Day we welcomed a new group of volunteers who were all brought together simply through a passion for giving back. This group, lead by Sarah Caruso and Filomena Watcher, served Fast Eddies BBQ with all the fixin’s plus dessert. They sang patriotic songs, thanked our veterans for their service and even passed out blankets and special hand stitched bags with surprises inside for each client. It was a great way to recognize the service of these men and encourage their journey. Later that night, SAME, a longtime supporter of The Baltimore Station, joined us with their family, friends and co-workers to cook with our kitchen team and serve the men. It was a day full of fun with opportunities to meet others and thank our veterans.

To veterans of all branches: Thank you for your sacrifice, your bravery, and the example you set for us all.

What's Going on Around The Station?

Winter is coming, meaning the temperatures are dropping and holidays are fast approaching. To help give our clients an extra boost of confidence and warmth as they get ready for winter outings, family parties, and community celebrations, we needed to reach out for some help!

Thanks to coat donations from Coats for Cocktails, a networking event hosted by BWI Business Partnership Group and Mojo, along with some help from junior volunteers at Friends School, we were able to provide each client with a new winter coat on the very first day of November. Our clients come from all different circumstances, so it is a true gift to ensure each one has the means to stay warm this winter.

As our clients work to turn their lives around, for many that means searching for a job and/or reconnecting with families. However, when struggling with substance abuse and other mental health issues, it can be hard to build that confidence to better one’s life. So, with help from local non-profit, Sharp Dressed Man and their mobile closet, each client had the opportunity to individually meet with a Sharp Dressed Man volunteer to find a suit that fit not only their size but also their personal style. We got about 40 men in suits that day, just in time for the upcoming holidays and a year of new beginnings! As one of our clients said, “When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good…that’s when you start doing good.”

A huge thank you to Elisa Wells and Sharp Dressed Man for all the help in preparing our men for what comes next. 



Volunteer Potluck

DATE: Tuesday, December 19th | 5:30-7pm

LOCATION: 140 W. West Street | Baltimore, MD 21230

If you are interested in volunteering at this fun-filled meal service, please email Lilly Frazier at

lfrazier@baltimorestation.org for more information or to sign up!

Monthly Giving Program