SMECO Employees Raise Funds for Local Shelters

From left, H.S. Lanny Lancaster, Executive Director of Three Oaks Center, in St. Mary’s County; and representing SMECO: President and CEO Austin J. Slater, Jr.; Junior Buyer Tonya Lee; and Natalie Brown, Community Relations Specialist.

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) employees held two fundraising events and donated $35,760 to three local shelters. The three groups that help the homeless in Southern Maryland, Three Oaks Center of St. Mary’s County, Lifestyles of Maryland of Charles County, and Project Echo of Calvert County, each received $11,920.

SMECO employees raised the money through a Bike Ride held in June and a Charity Golf Tournament in September. The events are supported by volunteers, vendors, and the SMECO executive team. The Co-op selects a different organization each year to benefit from the fundraising events.

“Working together with SMECO’s supply chain partners to help our community is a labor of love,” said Richard Jarboe, SMECO supply chain director. “We work hard, we enjoy the event, and local organizations, along with the clients they serve, receive the benefits. We have held the charity golf event for 10 years and have given more than $100,000 to local organizations.”

H.S. Lanny Lancaster, Executive Director of Three Oaks Center, said, “We are very grateful to receive this much-needed donation.  SMECO’s contribution will benefit our community’s homeless individuals, families, and veterans, and provide items such as medical supplies and medication, cold weather clothing, food, furnishings, and infant needs. Three Oaks Center is serving in excess of 1,200 individuals each year. Every day, we manage approximately 140 beds; we provided 48,409 bed-nights in FY-2013.  We wish to thank the SMECO employees for their many years of support to Three Oaks Center and to the homeless in our community.”