A helping hand to those in need

Cooking and serving meals in homeless shelters; landscaping the grounds
of a home for seniors; sending disadvantaged children to camp; helping
persons with disabil-
ities with shopping
and medical appoint-
ments - nontraditional
Comptroller's Office
functions that are
essential to the broad
mission of helping
people. Comptroller
Schaefer strongly
believes public ser-
vants, and indeed
everyone with a job
and the benefits a job
provides, has an obli-
gation to reach out
and improve the lives of the poor, the elderly, and children at risk

Many government and business offices collect money and goods for
charitable causes, especially during the holiday season. But in fiscal year
2000, the comptroller's outreach program grew into a year round, intensely
hands-on effort. Employees didn't just donate money but became involved
in the lives of those they helped. They didn't just cook for shelter residents
but shared meals and conversation with them. They didn't just donate
plants to a senior home but pulled weeds, planted, and hauled mulch to
create gardens.

The efforts of the employees in the Comptroller's Office have made
a difference. "We are truly grateful for your support you are helping us
keep on reaching out to our less fortunate neighbors," wrote a staff member
of an Annapolis homeless shelter. "It takes a village to raise a child," said
the extension service representative administering camp scholarships. "Indi-
viduals like you exemplify the true meaning of the proverb." From a

Food donated by the
employees of the
Comptroller's Office and
Maryland 2000 for
Harvest for the Hungry
2000 food drive.

10

COMPTROLLER OF MARYLAND