November 19, 2024
On the morning of October 15, AHC resident Sharon LittleJohn received devastating news. The block where her church is located caught fire, leaving two dead, damaging 10 rowhomes, and displacing families.
She rushed to her church and saw the aftermath of the fire.
“It was traumatizing,” Sharon said.
Yet, she had work to do. As the Outreach Coordinator at her church, Pathway Fellowship FMC, she works with First Fruits Farm to bring fresh produce to Baltimore residents. That day, she had pledged to bring fresh food to her fellow residents at MonteVerde, an AHC community in Baltimore for seniors and non-elderly residents with disabilities.
Sharon rode up to the farm with Ed Hamer, a fellow church member, to get the food to bring to MonteVerde.
“It was what we needed because, in spite of [this], life still goes on, people are still in need, and we can still be a blessing,” Sharon said. “The fire does not stop the needs of other people.”
They provided 25 pounds of fresh produce to nearly 50 residents. Sharon said it can be hard for her fellow residents to pay for groceries and make it out to the store, so it was a “blessing” to be able to bring food directly to where people live.
Latrice Goode, the Resident Engagement Specialist at MonteVerde, said Sharon’s strength and generosity had a profound impact on the lives of her fellow residents.
“Despite this tragedy, Sharon and her spiritual community kept the residents of MonteVerde in their thoughts and took action to help them,” Latrice Goode, Resident Engagement Specialist at MonteVerde, said. “She showed what it means to be a good neighbor.”
Sharon said her pastor, Dr. Simone Gibson, encourages church members to do outreach in the community.
“The more we give, we realize that we’re being blessed, too,” Sharon said.
The fire caused a lot of destruction that day — Sharon said her church is still dealing with water and smoke damage. But she found strength in the community and in supporting others.
“We’re still standing,” Sharon said.