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Volunteers are our STARS MONTHLY VOLUNTEER “SPOTLIGHT”

Briefly tell us how you became involved with HFH.
I looked into different volunteer opportunities and came across Welcome One (back in the day). Went and checked it out and have been there ever since.

In what ways have you been engaged?
So, I started out as a host, and 1 night the group that was scheduled to cook dinner didn’t show. We made grilled cheese and soup, which didn’t work out well.

Where do you feel you have made the most impact?
Listening to the residents’ stories about how they got there, what they’ve been through.

Can you share a favorite moment/event/experience?
Seeing how happy the residents get when they see me and know they’re having pizza, salad, and Coca-Cola.

What is one takeaway from your experiences?
How happy they get when I serve them dinner, and how excited they are.

Why is the mission of Harford Family House important to you?
I’ve been very blessed in my life, and the fact that I’m able to give back makes me feel I’m making a positive impact on people’s lives.

A New Year, A Shared Commitment

As we welcome 2026, we are reminded that a new year brings new beginnings and renewed hope. At Harford Family House, January is a time to reflect on how far we’ve come, recommit to the work ahead, and look forward with optimism at what is possible when a community comes together.

We begin this year encouraged by the continued support that surrounds our mission. One such source of momentum is the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund grant, a transformative, time-limited investment that strengthens our capacity to serve families experiencing homelessness. This funding provides critical support during a moment of need, allowing us to reach more families in crisis. Still, it does not replace or diminish the importance of ongoing community support.

Our work has always been built on the generosity and commitment of our local community. Donors, event sponsors, volunteers, and partners remain the foundation of Harford Family House. Every contribution, large or small, plays a vital role in helping families stabilize, rebuild, and move forward. It is this shared investment that allows us to create lasting change.

As we look ahead, our vision remains clear and unwavering. We believe that lasting solutions require long-term, collective commitment. Together, we are working toward a future where no child in Harford County has to sleep outside. A goal that is bold, necessary, and achievable when we stand united.

Thank you for continuing this journey with us. Your belief in our mission reignites hope for the families we serve and strengthens our resolve as we step into this new year.

With gratitude and warm wishes,

Robin Tomechko, CEO
Sandra Osborn, Board Chair

Emily & Amy

For families experiencing homelessness, daily priorities often center on shelter, safety, and meeting immediate needs. Nutrition, while essential, can easily become secondary amid so many pressing challenges. Over time, however, limited access to healthy food and nutrition education can have lasting effects on physical and overall well-being.

Recognizing this gap, dynamic sister duo Amy Owens and Emily Meoli created the Healthy Habits 4 All Club to empower children with the knowledge and skills needed to make healthier choices for life.

The Healthy Habits 4 All Club was established on September 21, 2023, at Harford Family House. The purpose of our club is to provide children with education and practice of life skills to achieve a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Our hope is that club meetings will allow children to carry these healthy habits throughout their lives.

Club meetings include food preparation, table setting, social skills, cleanup, and discussions on the nutritional benefits of the food we have prepared. Our meetings usually end with a moment of gratitude.

When we see club members excited that it is club day, using a hand mixer for the first time, trying new foods outside their comfort zone, and taking on leadership roles, it truly gives us joy. Observing the growth of our club members motivates us to continue our mission of bringing healthy habits to all. 

As Certified Health Coaches, we are inspired to share this gift of health with our community. Having a family member on the Board of Harford Family House made it the ideal opportunity to share our passion. 

Harford County is, in many ways, a wonderful place to live. It is a community filled with strong neighborhoods, caring people, and opportunities. Yet for too many of our neighbors, the soaring cost of housing, the struggle to earn a living wage, and the unexpected challenges life can bring make homelessness an ever-present reality.

Did you know that during the last school year, 716 Harford County Public School students qualified for homelessness services? Behind that number are children waking up in shelters, doubled up with relatives, or moving from place to place without the stability every child deserves. Homelessness disrupts education, impacts mental and physical health, and creates barriers that can last a lifetime if left unaddressed.

At Harford Family House, our mission is clear and urgent: no family or individual should have to sleep outside in Harford County. For more than three decades, we have worked alongside our community to provide safe shelter, supportive services, and pathways to stable housing. When someone walks through our doors, they are met with dignity, compassion, and the belief that homelessness is not a personal failure; it is a circumstance that can be overcome with the proper support.

As we begin a new year, we are reminded that homelessness is not an abstract issue; it is happening in our schools, our neighborhoods, and our workplaces. Ending homelessness requires all of us: neighbors, partners, donors, volunteers, and advocates standing together to ensure that every person has a safe place to call home.

With continued community support, we can move closer to a Harford County where no child wonders where they will sleep at night, and no family is left without hope. Together, we can make sure no one sleeps outside and that everyone has the opportunity to build a stable, brighter future.

By: Michael Clayton

(As published in Harford Financial Group’s Quarterly Newsletter)

This month, we are proud to highlight our client, Robin Tomechko, CEO of Harford Family House. As she approaches nearly 10 years in leadership this April, Robin continues to lead with heart, passion, and an unwavering commitment to helping families in Harford County find safety and stability. Her leadership was recently recognized in a remarkable way: Harford Family House received a $1.25 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, the largest gift in the organization’s history. This national recognition underscores the transformative work Robin and her team do every single day.

Robin credits the organization’s dedicated staff, board members, volunteers, and community partners as the true foundation behind their impact. And the results speak for themselves.

One story that captures the heart of their mission is the journey of the Nanfack family. After immigrating from Cameroon in search of opportunity, the family suddenly found themselves without housing and entered the Harford Family House program in early 2023. Through job placement support, English classes, healthcare certifications, and their own determination, the family rebuilt their path forward. That perseverance led to life-changing news when they were approved for a permanent home through Habitat for Humanity. With staff, board members, and volunteers helping contribute sweat equity, the family is now celebrating the dedication of their very own home,  a powerful reminder of what hope, hard work, and community can accomplish together.

Looking ahead, Robin shares a bold vision: a Harford County where no child, family, or individual ever has to sleep outside. Achieving that goal requires ongoing community investment through funding, volunteerism, and advocacy, and the recent Bezos Day 1 Families Fund grant provides a historic boost toward making that vision a reality. You can find the full list of awardees at https://bezosdayonefund.org/day1familiesfund

We are honored to support Robin and the life-changing work Harford Family House brings to our community every day.

Holiday Reflections and a Transformative Gift

As we enter this season of light, gratitude, and giving, I’m reminded of the tremendous power our community holds when we come together for our most vulnerable neighbors. The holidays can be a difficult time for families experiencing homelessness, but because of supporters like you, they are also a time filled with hope, warmth, and the promise of new beginnings.

This month, we are humbled to share extraordinary news that will deepen our impact in the year ahead. Harford Family House has been selected to receive a significant one-time grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. We are one of only 32 organizations nationwide chosen by an independent advisory group of homelessness experts for our proven commitment to helping families find stability, secure housing, and build brighter futures right here in Harford County.

This investment affirms the hard work of our staff, the resilience of the families we serve, and the strength of a community that believes every child deserves a safe place to call home.

As we celebrate the holidays, we hope you’ll reflect, just as we do, on the transformative impact of generosity. Every act of kindness, every hour volunteered, every donation made extends a lifeline to a parent working toward stability, to a child wishing for a better tomorrow, and to individuals striving to rebuild their lives.

From all of us at Harford Family House, thank you for keeping the spirit of giving alive. Your support ensures that hope shines a little brighter for the families we serve.

Wishing you peace, joy, and a meaningful holiday season.

With gratitude and warm wishes,

Robin Tomechko, CEO

Sandra Osborn, Board Chair

Harford County is, in many ways, a wonderful place to live. Our parks, schools, and strong sense of community make it a place many of us are proud to call home. But for too many of our neighbors, the soaring cost of housing, the struggle to earn a living wage, and the unexpected challenges life brings make homelessness an ever-present reality.

At Harford Family House, we are deeply aware of how homelessness affects every member of a household, but especially children. Over the past 36 years, we’ve helped transform the lives of more than five thousand people, including over 850 families, breaking cycles of poverty and planting seeds of hope. And yet, this issue persists.

Homelessness is not just a personal crisis; it’s a community crisis. It affects economic stability, public safety, education, and overall public health. Whether we see it or not, its impact ripples into classrooms, workplaces, and neighborhoods across Harford County.

Imagine the child who cannot focus in school because they slept on the floor of a cousin’s basement last night. Imagine the teenager frustrated after moving three times in one month, carrying the weight of instability no young person should bear. Imagine the single father who desperately wants to keep his job but has no one to care for his child while he works. Imagine the veteran, who once served our country, now struggling alone in an encampment without access to the mental health services they urgently need.

These are not strangers. These are our neighbors. Their circumstances are often shaped by forces beyond their control, job loss, medical emergencies, family conflict, or simply the high cost of housing that outpaces wages.

Children, in particular, feel the emotional and developmental consequences most intensely. Uncertainty interrupts learning. Instability disrupts friendships. Stress erodes confidence. But when families find safety, stability, and support at Harford Family House, everything begins to change. Parents can focus on employment. Children can return to routines and classrooms. Families can rebuild, not just for today, but for generations to come.

This holiday season, as we reflect on what it means to care for our community, we invite you to remember the families who are still searching for a safe place to call home. Together, we can ensure that every child in Harford County has the chance to grow, learn, and thrive, no matter what their starting point.

Because when we lift our most vulnerable neighbors, we strengthen our entire community.

News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paul Beaulieu, Director of Marketing & Communications
410-273-6700
pbeaulieu@harfordfamilyhouse.org

Harford Family House to Expand Support for Harford County Families Experiencing Homelessness with $1.25 Million Grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos

32 organizations across the U.S. receive a total of $102.5 million from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund to connect families with housing and hope

Aberdeen, MD – (December 3, 2025): Harford Family House, the county’s largest provider of shelter and support services for families in Harford County who are experiencing homelessness, today announced that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are recognizing the organization with a $1.25 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. This investment is the largest gift in the nonprofit’s history. Harford Family House is part of the eighth annual cohort of organizations across the country receiving funding from the Day 1 Families Fund to deepen their work to help every family have a safe, stable place to call home. 

“This funding could not have come at a better time,” said Robin Tomechko, CEO of Harford Family House. “This grant positions us to expand critical support for unhoused families. With this investment and the continued backing of our community, we can turn our vision into a reality. We are honored to be a part of this cohort of organizations working to change lives for families in need.” 

Harford Family House will use its Day 1 Families Fund grant to serve even more families experiencing homelessness in Harford County with the goal of ensuring no child in our community sleeps outside. Specifically, Harford Family House plans to use this one-time grant over the next five years to support 16 families each year who are in need of emergency shelter.  Additionally, Harford Family House will work with our partners, including the Harford County Public Schools, to identify and provide support to families living in hotels or other temporary accommodations, helping them move on to more permanent housing situations.

Harford Family House was identified to receive this grant by a group of national advisors who are leading advocates and bring expertise on homelessness, housing policy and effective approaches and solutions to family homelessness.

“We are excited that our team’s work is being recognized through this transformational grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund,” said Sandra Osborn, Harford Family House Board Chair. “This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our community. Addressing the urgent needs of unhoused families in Harford County requires all of us working together. This funding is a leap in the right direction, and continued community contributions of any size will keep us moving toward our ambitious goals.” 

Since its inception in 2018, the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded 280 grants totaling more than $850 million to organizations serving families in all 50 states. The Day 1 Families Fund grant recipients have tremendous flexibility to use the funds in the ways that are most impactful in their communities, making the grant a game-changer for organizations on the frontlines of the family homelessness crisis. Recipients will use their funds to support families experiencing homelessness to access critical services, regain stable housing and achieve well-being.

This year, the Fund issued a total of $102.5million in grants to 32 organizations. The full list of awardees is available at https://bezosdayonefund.org/day1familiesfund. Case studies of the impact selected grantees have made with their funds are available at https://www.bezosdayonefund.org/case-studies.

About Harford Family House

Harford Family House (HFH) has been providing housing, support, and resources to families and individuals experiencing homelessness since 1989. HFH has grown to be the largest provider of shelter and support in Harford County and includes Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing and affordable housing. Over the years, HFH has helped more than 2,500 individuals and more than 850 families, thanks to dedicated board members, professional staff, volunteers, churches, civic agencies, donors, business leaders, and others in our community.

About the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund

Through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos issue annual leadership awards to organizations doing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families experiencing homelessness. For more information, visit www.BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund.

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As we enter this season of thankfulness, I’m reminded every day how truly blessed we are to have a community that stands beside Harford Family House and the families we serve. The holiday season brings with it a unique spirit of generosity and compassion. Values that shine brightly through the support we receive from each of you.

This month, as we gather around our own tables to give thanks, our team is also busy preparing for several special celebrations for the families in our programs. One of our favorites is the Kids’ Santa Shop, where the children we serve can pick out and wrap gifts for their parents. This simple act allows them to experience the joy of giving, a powerful reminder that everyone, no matter their age or circumstance, has something special to offer.

We’re also looking forward to our Resident Christmas Party, a cherished tradition that brings together families, staff, community partners, and volunteers to celebrate the season in warmth and community. It’s a day filled with laughter, hope, and love. Moments that reflect the very heart of our mission: to help families and individuals build stability and find their way home.

As we move through this season of gratitude, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to you, our friends, donors, volunteers, and community partners, who make all of this possible. Your generosity doesn’t just provide shelter; it provides dignity, opportunity, and hope for a brighter future.

From all of us at Harford Family House, thank you for helping us make the holidays, and every day a little brighter for those in need.

With gratitude and warm wishes,

Robin Tomechko, CEO

Sandra Osborn, Board Chair

When Greg first arrived at Harford Family House, he carried with him a deep hope of bringing his family back together.

After losing custody of his two daughters while struggling with addiction, Greg made the brave decision to enter sober living and begin rebuilding his life. During their time apart, his daughters were placed in separate foster homes. During this time, the youngest was diagnosed with nonverbal autism and ADHD, and the oldest also received an ADHD diagnosis. Despite the challenges, Greg remained steadfast in his goal to reunite his family.

Once he achieved sobriety, Greg began working tirelessly to regain custody of his daughters. His efforts were unsuccessful at first because he did not have a permanent home. That changed in November of last year when Greg moved into Harford Family House and joined our Transitional Housing Program. Within just a few weeks, and right before Christmas, he received the joyful news that his daughters were coming home.

Since their reunion, Greg and his girls have flourished. His youngest daughter has now gained the ability to speak and participates in both onsite and community programs tailored to her needs. Both girls receive weekly visits from volunteers with expertise in special needs education who provide one-on-one academic support. One of Greg’s proudest moments came recently when his youngest daughter learned how to ride a bike.

Greg has become a friendly and welcoming presence in the Harford Family House community. He goes out of his way to greet new families, offer encouragement, and share his experiences. The girls have also formed close friendships with another family in the program, spending their afternoons playing on the playground and their mornings doing each other’s hair before school.

Today, Greg is thriving as a tattoo artist and has found a unique way to pay it forward. He specializes in covering scars with meaningful designs to “help others on their healing journey.” Through his artistry, he continues to extend the same compassion and hope that have helped him rebuild his own life.

Reflecting on the changes he has seen in his daughters, Greg said, “It’s amazing! I love how many things they get to do now.”

Through faith, determination, and the compassion of our supporters, Greg and his daughters are thriving and looking forward to a future together filled with hope.

For more than 15 years, members of Mountain Christian Church have been a steady presence at Harford Family House, serving meals, offering kindness, and sharing joy with the residents of the HFH Emergency Shelter. Their partnership dates back to the early days of the shelter, when volunteers from Mountain helped with transportation by driving the bus and shuttle.

Meal service quickly became the heart of Mountain’s ministry at Harford Family House. “Food is a great way to connect with people,” Pat Wachter shared. “At the time I was working, and lunch was something I could do. I’m very blessed, and this was a small way to serve.”

Over the years, the team has not only cooked and served meals but also painted apartments and helped create a welcoming environment for residents. “All the dinner groups bring a spirit of joy and the desire to make that moment special for each resident,” she said. “Our group is dedicated to serving dinners once a month—and now we’re picking up another night to serve our brothers and sisters at the adult shelter.”

Some of the most meaningful moments come from simple, genuine connections. “Not too long ago, my husband and I were cooking dinner, and I was goofing around with one of the residents,” she remembered. “It was so nice to banter back and forth. He was respectful, and I had so much fun.”

What keeps them coming back month after month is the gratitude and community they experience in the kitchen. “The residents are so grateful we come. They know we have other places to be, yet we choose to be here. Circumstances that brought them to this place in life are laid down at dinner—we’re cooking for family.”

For Mountain Christian Church, service is more than a volunteer opportunity—it’s a calling.

“As children of God, we are asked and expected to love God, love people, and serve the world,” she said. “The program at Harford Family House Emergency Shelter is doing great things for adults who are less fortunate than me. I’ve seen it firsthand and believe in that mission.”

With renewed energy and new volunteers stepping forward, Mountain Christian Church continues to embody faith in action—one meal, one smile, and one act of love at a time.

Coming Together for Homelessness Awareness Month

As the crisp fall air arrives, we look ahead to an essential time of year for Harford Family House, Homelessness Awareness Month in November. This is a time when our community comes together to shine a light on the challenges faced by individuals and families without a safe place to call home.

Throughout the month, we’ll be partnering with local businesses that are hosting in-kind donation drives on our behalf. These collections provide much-needed essentials that help the families and individuals we serve on their journey toward stability and independence. We are deeply grateful to our business partners and to each of you for making this community effort possible.

As we prepare for the season of giving, I encourage you to also look out for our Annual Appeal letter in November. Your generosity through this campaign helps ensure that we can continue to meet the growing needs in our community.

Finally, please mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday on December 2, a global day of giving that provides another powerful way for you to support our mission. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of our neighbors in need.

Thank you for standing with us. Your support changes lives every day.

With gratitude,

Robin Tomechko, CEO Sandra Osborn, Board Chair