Senator Van Hollen Visits Diakonia For Facility Tour and Discussion on Potential Funding

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen stopped by prominent Ocean City Non-Profit Diakonia, which supports un-housed veterans and families in the area. The visit was one of Van Hollen’s stops on the Eastern Shore, as he prepares for the MACo summer conference in Ocean City.

Sen. Van Hollen expressed the importance of the services provided by the organization.

“It’s essential.” Said Sen. Van Hollen. “I mean, this is one of the very few places here on the shore where people can come and get the kind of help that they provide here for families, for veterans, for others. I mean, if you’re really down and literally out, this is a place that opens its doors for you.”

Diakonia recently applied for $1 Million in earmarked federal funding to help with their upcoming project, which would support Phase One of constructing a new center with a larger food bank, thrift store, and eventually, extra housing.

“We were able to see, what those funds would be used for.” Said Sen. Van Hollen. “And it’s part of supporting the overall operation. And so we want to be a partner with them in the good work they’re doing.”

Diakonia Executive Director Ken Argot says that the organization already has 50% of the funds needed for the project. And that the requested funds would give them the needed boost to hit their goal.

“We did the hard work in getting the initial momentum going, but the fundraising kickoff, we’ll try to raise the rest of the 7 million that we need.” Said Argot. “So part of this million  will fit into that category of how we’re getting that phase one fund.”

The funding request is still pending, and Diakonia has a fundraising event planned for Nov. 6th. For more information, visit https://diakoniaoc.org/