Gatekeepers

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our dear friend and Gatekeepers family member, Howard Coleman, who passed away peacefully on Friday, July 17, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Born in Baltimore, Howard proudly served our country as a military veteran before facing his own journey through incarceration. Like so many of the individuals we serve, Howard's story became one of redemption and purpose.

Howard eventually found his calling at Gatekeepers. For years, he faithfully transported our participants to and from work, picked men and women up upon their release from prison, drove clients to medical appointments, and made sure no one was left behind. His phone was always on, and no matter the hour, if someone needed help, the answer was often, "Call Howard." Day or night, he was ready to answer that call.

Through treatments and difficult days, he remained committed to the people he cared so deeply about and continued to play an essential role in our ministry. He understood what it meant to receive a second chance, and he spent the rest of his life making sure others had one too.

Howard, thank you for every mile driven, every phone call answered and every life you touched. Your impact on Gatekeepers and our community will never be forgotten.

Rest in peace, Howard. You will always be a part of the Gatekeepers family.

Gatekeepers was honored to attend the United Way of Washington County Award Ceremony and celebrate the incredible impact being made throughout our community.

We are incredibly grateful to United Way of Washington County, Maryland for awarding Gatekeepers a grant to support the relaunch of our Next Steps Program.

Next Steps was created to support our clients beyond immediate basic needs assistance by providing the tools and resources necessary for long-term stability and success. Through this program, participants will have access to meaningful programming focused on areas such as financial literacy, parenting skills, conflict resolution, personal development, and other essential life skills that strengthen individuals, families, and our community.

At Gatekeepers, we want our clients to thrive and not just live to survive.

Thank you, United Way of Washington County, Maryland, for investing in our mission and helping us continue to provide opportunities that empower individuals to move forward and thrive.

Join us for Gatekeepers Annual 4th of July Cookout as we celebrate 250 years of the United States of America.

Come enjoy great food, fun, and fellowship with the Gatekeepers family. Whether you’re a participant, volunteer, community partner, or friend, we’d love to celebrate with you.

Date: Saturday, July 4
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall
Time: 10:00 am, usual meeting will begin and end early for the cookout.

Bring your family, friends, your appetite, and your patriotic spirit! We can’t wait to spend the holiday together.

🍓🍓🍓ATTENTION: WOMENS GROUP PICNIC WILL HAPPEN RAIN OR SHINE TOMORROW 6/18

Our weekly women’s group is taking things outdoors to Hagerstown City Park. If you have been considering joining our cohort of women, tomorrow is the perfect day to join in fellowship. Sandwiches, fruit and cake will be provided🍓🍓🍓

Congratulations Vicki Cressell, Donell Bellamy and Carl Brown for securing employment! Getting a job is often one of the biggest milestones in the reentry journey, and we are so proud of the hard work, determination, and persistence each of them showed to get here.

We also want to thank our employment partners who continue to give individuals a fair chance. These opportunities truly change lives.

If you or someone you know is looking for work, Gatekeepers offers employment assistance Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Whether you need help with a resume, applications, interview prep, or connecting with employers, we’re here to help.

We are incredibly honored to announce that Gatekeepers has been awarded the Women’s Giving Circle Grant through the Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland Incorporated.

Gatekeepers recognizes that females face unique challenges both inside the system and during reentry. This funding will allow us to continue expanding our women’s and female juvenile programming, ensuring that more women and young girls impacted by the justice system have access to The Business of Living program.

We are deeply grateful to the Women’s Giving Circle and The Community Foundation of Washington County for believing in our mission and investing in the future of the women and girls we serve.

At Gatekeepers, our inmate mail program continues to grow every single day. Since expanding nationwide through the tablet systems inside correctional facilities, we are now receiving letters from incarcerated individuals all across the United States.

Our team works to pull resources specific to the area they are returning to and sends them a personalized reentry packet filled with support services to help them successfully transition home.

This work is changing lives, but we can’t do it alone. We are always looking for volunteers to help us respond to mail, gather resources, organize packets, and support our growing nationwide outreach efforts.

Gatekeepers went on a field trip!

Our clients, staff, and families had the opportunity to come together outside of programming to enjoy community, connection, and a well-deserved day of fun. Experiences like these remind us that reentry is also about rebuilding relationships, creating positive memories, and feeling connected to the community.

We are grateful to everyone who helped make this field trip possible and thankful for opportunities that allow the individuals we serve to experience fellowship, encouragement, and new beginnings.

Gatekeepers recently had the opportunity to visit the Maryland Correctional Institution for their first ever Reentry Resource Fair. Through our continued partnership with the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Gatekeepers was able to meet one-on-one with incarcerated individuals who are expected to return home within the next 18 months.

By connecting early, we are able to discuss housing, employment, recovery support, transportation, community resources, and individualized reentry planning to help create a stronger foundation for long-term success.

A huge thank you to Karen Hays, Reentry Specialist at MCIH and RCI, for her continued support, collaboration, and commitment to helping returning citizens.

Gatekeepers is proud to partner with Lasting Change through funding awarded by the Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland Incorporated to bring our Business of Living program to the women they serve.

This partnership will allow us to provide year-round programming focused on life skills, personal growth, recovery support, and successful reintegration. Through the Business of Living curriculum, women will have the opportunity to build practical tools and develop a stronger foundation for long-term stability and independence.

We are grateful to the Community Foundation for investing in collaborative efforts that strengthen our community and create opportunity. We also appreciate our continued partnership with Lasting Change and their commitment to supporting women on their journey forward.

We’re excited to share that Lasting Change has been awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland Incorporated to partner with Gatekeepers and bring the Business of Living program to the women we serve! 💗

This funding will support the program for an entire year, giving our clients access to valuable life skills, personal development, and tools that support long-term recovery and independence.

We’re grateful for this opportunity and proud to collaborate with Gatekeepers to continue strengthening the services we provide every day.

Pictured: Grant recipients from yesterday’s reception