Help the McKim Center BLOOM!

by Laura McGuire

Have you ever visited the McKim Center? Downtown in the Jonestown neighborhood, there are two historic Quaker buildings where we are still present and supporting the community. Situated in the old McKim Free School and the Aisquith Street Meetinghouse, the McKim Community Center has been supporting the youth and residents of the Jonestown area in East Baltimore since 1821.

For over 200 years, McKim has integrated physical education with peace education. Today, their holistic, trauma-informed approach to youth athletics and coaching provides a powerful alternative for youth who benefit from their behavioral pillars of structure, discipline, love, and respect. Providing athletic programming throughout the year, McKim offers cross country, volleyball, track & field, wrestling, basketball, and community games.

For the past several years, the McKim Center has worked with the Wisdom Project, which is their official Education and Health Services partner. These programs include: Youth Peacemakers, Parent Peacemakers, and STEM & Healing Arts Peacemaking. Their community summer camp is also an important resource in the community, combining their core principles.

This past winter, McKim’s general indoor sports program enrolled 44 children. They also supported a youth leadership program for girls during this same time frame, enrolling 13 young women, all of them track-and-field athletes. Now the McKim Center is transitioning to its outdoor spring programs, which have enrolled 90 (and counting!) children. This Sunday, they will celebrate their 4th annual McKim Community Games.

There are multiple programs and buildings to maintain, so the McKim Center needs continual financial support. With little insulation to ward off this past winter’s cold, the historic buildings generated very large BGE bills.

We ask you to continue to assist the McKim Center by making a donation this spring. You can easily donate by visiting the donations page and selecting “Give to McKim Center Donations” via the drop-down menu or by sending a check made out to Stony Run Friends Meeting with McKim on the memo line.

Many thanks from the Stony Run McKim Working Group, Suzie Manger and Geni Elliott.