Giving Back is Gearing up for Helping Homeless

Tis the season of giving and there's one organization that is known countywide for doing just that – Giving Back, Inc. Linda's Legacy.

Started by former Annapolis resident Linda Greenberg 20 years ago, the charitable organization is now headed by Severna Park resident Steve Anstett.

For this nonprofit, providing warm clothing to the homeless has grown to become a production of massive proportion this time of year with close to 1,000 volunteers combined, in schools, churches and individual families working to make it all happen by Christmas.

Giving Back is known for their annual clothing/coat drive at the Farmer's Market on Riva Road.  Each year on the days leading up to Christmas, volunteers are stationed on the corner of the busy road collecting warm clothing to be delivered to 25 homeless shelters in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore and Washington, DC on Christmas Eve.

Anstett considers this the backbone of their work as it is how the organization started. Giving Back has become a haven of volunteerism for the younger set - particularly college students who have been working on the program for a number of years.

"Over the next month, we will have about 500 volunteers, 80 percent are high school and college students," said Anstett.  

The clothing collection is from 11am to 4pm Dec. 20 through 23 at the Farmer's Market location on Riva Road. Gently used winter clothing in all sizes and for both genders will be accepted.

Christmas Eve morning finds the volunteers preparing 18 truckloads of clothing for delivery.  Anstett encourages families to participate.

For the Christmas Eve deliveries, Anstett welcomes volunteers ages 14 and up to hand out backpacks directly to those living on the streets. Volunteers are needed on collection days from 10am to 5pm. Email  info@homelessdrive.com for information.

Backpack Drive

There's more to their work in helping the homeless.  Besides the collection, there is the annual backpack drive with schools, churches, and families collecting, thermal clothing, sweatshirts, hats, and socks to stuff into backpacks.

Many area schools participate.

Severn School and St. Mary's High School compile about 70 backpacks each. The School of Incarnation in Gambrills, is off the charts with stuffing 600 followed by the Key School, another top producer. The Severna Park High School boys and girls basketball teams are also planning a coat drive for the upcoming game vs. South River on Dec. 10.

This is another avenue for area youth to get involved, Anstett said. Many college student home for the holidays head to the elementary schools to help out with the backpack drive.

Despite all of this community support, Anstett said they still need more help with donations.

"We've got about 1,200 backpacks committed to between schools and organizations. However, we think the need is at about 2,000. We are far short of our goal."

A new way to participate this year is on their website at www.homelessdrive.com where you can sponsor a backpack for 25 dollars in a loved one or friend's name.  "This is the first time we've been able to do that," he said. 

Greenberg, the founder, is now in Florida but is planning to return to Annapolis for the drive.  "She doesn't  see any reason to quite doing it," Anstett said.

"...Our mission is to provide life-saving goods to folks that need it, but there is more to it," Anstett said. His vision and philosophy for Giving Back, Linda's Legacy  goes beyond the deliveries, he sees the work as an opportunity for families to volunteer together while learning about the life of the homeless. 

"We consider it equally important- getting the goods and stuff to people who need it while educating the families on the homeless and volunteering in general."

Email info@homelessdrive.com for more information on volunteering and also donations or call  410-295-0889.