Staff Highlight: Omar Hopkins | | |
Please join us in congratulating Omar Hopkins, our newest Employee of the Month!
Omar has been part of The Baltimore Station family for two years, and it’s clear to everyone around him that he truly enjoys what he does. Whether he’s in the kitchen preparing a meal or simply crossing paths with someone throughout the day, Omar is always ready with a smile and a warm greeting.
One nomination captured his spirit perfectly:
“Omar wants everyone who eats his food to feel good and enjoy themselves.”
That reflection really captures the care and heart Omar brings to his work every day. Food is about more than just a meal—it can bring comfort, create connection, and make someone’s day a little better. Omar understands that, and he puts that care into everything he does.
Congratulations, Omar! Thank you for your hard work, your positive attitude, and for helping make The Baltimore Station a welcoming place for everyone. If you are coming in to volunteer or dropping off a kitchen donation, be sure to offer Omar a big congratulations as we are all grateful for the amazing work he puts in everyday!
| | Maryland Veterans Suicide Prevention Day | | |
Maryland observes Maryland Veterans Suicide Prevention Day on September 30, a day dedicated to remembering veterans lost to suicide, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health support, and encouraging veterans to reach out for help. Suicide prevention is a community responsibility. A simple conversation, a check-in with a fellow veteran, or helping someone connect with professional support can make a difference. During September’s Suicide Prevention Month, and especially on Maryland Veterans Suicide Prevention Day, we encourage our community to check in, listen without judgment, and remind veterans that they do not have to face their struggles alone.
At The Baltimore Station, we believe that connection, support, and hope can be powerful parts of recovery. Every day, we work alongside veterans facing substance use, mental health challenges, homelessness, and other barriers to stability. Our therapeutic residential program provides veterans with a safe place to heal, build meaningful connections, and take steps toward a healthier, more independent future.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 and press 1 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line. Maryland also provides statewide suicide prevention resources and support through its 988 initiative.
| | Highlighted at T. Rowe Price | | |
A huge thank you to T. Rowe Price for highlighting our mission all throughout their building!
As part of the T. Rowe Price Foundation’s 45th Anniversary, they developed an internal campaign highlighting the partnership between our organizations. They displayed this message on all their screens for the weeklong celebration so all their employees could learn more about the work we do.
| | We are so grateful to our business supporters for the creative ways they support our organization and highlight our mission. Congratulations, T. Rowe Price, on 45 years of amazing work in the community and thank you for choosing to celebrate The Baltimore Station as a part of your anniversary! | | A Summer Full of Connections | | |
We were thrilled to spend the summer making memories with our community, attending local events, raising funds for veterans, and meeting new faces interested in The Baltimore Station and our mission.
We started the summer with Wounded Warrior Day on the Bay, an annual day of boating, food, and fun honoring those who have served and sacrificed for our country. Held at the Maryland Yacht Club, the event welcomed service members and their families for a beautiful day together and an opportunity to be recognized for their service. Following the ceremony, families enjoyed time out on the water thanks to the amazing boat captains at Maryland Yacht Club, followed by a crab feast when they returned to shore! It is always such a special day to be a part of, and we are grateful each year for the opportunity to share information about The Baltimore Station, pass out goodies, and connect with everyone who attends.
Next up was a double-header weekend for our team! We started by connecting with our neighbors at the Locust Point Festival, one of our favorite community events to attend. The festival is a wonderful opportunity to meet people who are excited to learn more about what we do and how they can get involved. We also get to see many of our regular volunteers who live in the area and often help introduce our mission to their friends, family members, and coworkers. The event brings such bright energy to Baltimore while highlighting local businesses and nonprofits that are all working to make our community a unique and vibrant place. This year, The Baltimore Station was selected to receive the event's tips, which will go directly toward supporting veterans as they work toward their recovery goals. A huge thank you to the organizers for welcoming us back year after year and supporting the veterans we proudly serve!
We wrapped up our summer of connections with one of the biggest events, Shootout for Soldiers! This high-energy lacrosse tournament welcomes players of all ages and skill levels to participate in one continuously running game, all while raising money for local veteran organizations. Shootout for Soldiers is a national nonprofit that holds events across the country, and no surprise, Baltimore is one of its largest events each year. This year marked our 10th year as a beneficiary, and we are proud to share the funds with Fidos for Freedom, another veteran-serving organization we know well. Fidos for Freedom is a regular presence at The Baltimore Station, bringing therapy dogs to our facility each month to provide joy, comfort, and companionship to the veterans in our program. Thank you to everyone who came out, played in the games, volunteered, fundraised and helped make this event so meaningful. And a special thank you to the organizers and community partners who continue to believe in and support The Baltimore Station year after year!
| | |
National Recovery Month is observed every year in September as an opportunity to educate people about the struggles faced by those in recovery as well as a time to celebrate the accomplishments earned by those working to overcome addiction. First recognized in 1989, this yearly observance encourages further research into best practices to help those in recovery and reminds those suffering that there is hope for a brighter future. However, the work for those struggling with addiction didn’t start there.
- As far back as the 1750s, “sobriety circles” provided different healing practices to those battling alcoholism.
- In the 1850s, lodging homes were created as a safe space for those looking to detox, remove themselves from social pressures of drinking, and be a part of a sober living community.
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was formed in 1935 and just four years later, the famous blue book “Alcoholics Anonymous” was published.
- In 1953, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) was founded as a "nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem."
We continue to see expansion of resources, aid, and education surrounding addiction. If you are looking for resources to help with addiction, please check out our website resource list.
| | Big News Coming in our October Newsletter - Learn about our new Women Veterans Transitional Housing Program! | | | | |
