Archives for October 2020

Even During the Pandemic, Local Nonprofits are Still Serving Those in Need

Last week, Rockville Chamber of Commerce held a Mix and Mingle at Visarts in Rockville with various business and community leaders from the area. At this event, we had an opportunity to speak to Linda Hoyt, a member of the SEEC Employer Outreach Team. SEEC (Seeking Employment, Equality, and Community) an “Employment First” agency provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as providing a wide array of services that aim to help them live productive and fulfilling lives in the DC and Montgomery County community. 

As an Employer Outreach Consultant, Linda Hoyt helps her clients find suitable jobs based on their interests and needs. During the pandemic, Linda has been working with her clients – both in person and remotely – to build and enrich their skills, so they are more equipped to handle the modern workplace. SEEC has been focusing on teaching skills for working remotely, such as virtual mock interviews and Zoom etiquette. For clients that have been furloughed, Linda helps them craft their resumes and learn most marketable skills to get them back into the workforce.

SEEC utilizes their network of volunteers and employees to provide the people they support with the services they need. They are always looking for volunteers to serve as guest speakers, mentors, companions, and to assist the agency in a variety of ways. Linda remarked that during the pandemic, “many people are willing to share their time and services with us knowing that this is a challenging time for everybody.”  Having said that, volunteers are still in high demand to craft masks or assemble donation bags with sanitizing and hygiene equipment. 

Linda is also active in the Rockville Chamber’s non-profit Mastermind group. They share openly their challenges and brainstorm ways to overcome everything from work from home challenges  with other area groups committed to the needs of underserved communities. 

On Thursday, April 30, 2020, Fox 5 DC News featured a story about the work SEEC is doing to ensure that every DSP in the state of Maryland has a mask. Reporter Gwen Talbort first interviewed parent Rochelle Bobroff about why the work the Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) do every day is so important. They then interviewed Karen Lee about how SEEC has distributed over 2000 masks to local DSPs in Maryland. DSP Dominic Okoji was also featured and he spoke about how having the proper protective gear was so helpful to him to do his job safely.

The story aired four times over the course of the evening. Click here to watch!

Published by Timothy Fahey; written by Eric Schwartz a freelance writer and public relations and political science major. Timothy Fahey is branding and design professional, designer, professor, blogger, videographer and owner of Dirigo Agency Inc., a company focused on helping business owners use branding, design, and content to market their business. He has worked in the agency business since 1986 and served both local and global brands. His passion is to collaborate with others to create content more strategically so they get the recognition and results they desire through content marketing efforts.

Fisher Lumber’s History of Helping Rockville Locals

If you live in the Rockville area and have ever needed any woodworking done, chances are you’ve heard of Fisher Lumber. Founded in 1894 and operating under the same ownership since 1947, Fisher Lumber has become a staple of the Rockville community, selling lumber and offering their woodworking services. We were recently able to talk with Tim Allen, Fisher Lumber’s General Manager about how they give back to the community. 

Fisher Lumber is typically approached by groups such as Boy Scouts and local church schools asking for assistance with their woodworking needs. “There’s no shortage of people asking for help in the community,” said Tim. Fisher Lumber’s most recent project was with a group of students from St. Raphael Church in Rockville, helping them to build a bridge from scratch. After the students approached Tim asking for materials, he said he would help them if they presented the project to them. “One of the reasons I did that is I feel like it helps these young kids develop a sense of responsibility” explained Tim. 

Fisher Lumber also does their part internally to help the community. There are currently seven Fisher Lumber employees who were previously incarcerated and are working as part of a pre-release program to transition back to civilian life. Tim said that a number of these employees that started at Fisher Lumber have moved onto bigger and better things, becoming fully integrated in the community. 

As one of the oldest members of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, Fisher Lumber sets a great example of how local businesses give back and help our community flourish. 

Published by Timothy Fahey and written by Eric Schwartz, a freelance writer and public relations and political science major. Timothy Fahey is branding and design professional, designer, professor, blogger, videographer and owner of Dirigo Agency Inc., a company focused on helping business owners use branding, design, and content to market their business. He has worked in the agency business since 1986 and served both local and global brands. His passion is to collaborate with others to create content more strategically so they get the recognition and results they desire through content marketing efforts.

How Local Venues are Ensuring Their Guest’s Safety During the Pandemic

Last week, Rockville Chamber of Commerce held their Meet & Mingle for the first time since March with a physically distancing in-person event and virtual Zoom event for local business and civic leaders at Visarts’ Rooftop in Rockville. 

Visarts is a nonprofit organization that aims to connect the Rockville community to visual arts. Visarts provides art classes and exhibits, and also serves as a venue for social events. At this event, we were able to speak to Mary Liniger, the Director of Events and Sales at Visarts. Mary manages the venue’s private and social events to make sure that they run smoothly and safely. These events include, but are not limited to weddings, bar/bat-mitzvahs, and corporate events. 

The pandemic has put a toll on nonprofits everywhere, but Visarts is lucky enough to be able to serve as a venue as well. Mary spoke to us about how Visarts was able to open for events again, while making sure that their guests were comfortable and safe. Besides cutting the size and length of events, Mary has implemented various creative ways to keep the guests safe without taking away the fun. One of these methods is what she calls the “safety dance.” This is where vinyl footprints are placed on the dancefloor six feet apart to help guests continue to social distance while dancing. 

As people start venturing back out into the public for celebrations and events, it is important to remember that safety is still a priority. With people like Mary and venues like Visarts, it is becoming easier to feel a sense of normalcy while still remaining safe. 

Published by Timothy Fahey; and written by Eric Schwartz a freelance writer and public relations and political science major. Timothy Fahey is branding and design professional, designer, professor, blogger, videographer and owner of Dirigo Agency Inc., a company focused on helping business owners use branding, design, and content to market their business. He has worked in the agency business since 1986 and served both local and global brands. His passion is to collaborate with others to create content more strategically so they get the recognition and results they desire through content marketing efforts.