Community Assistance Network

10/22/2026

10/20/2026

60 Years. 60 Stories. 60 Days. ❤️

🎉 Sponsor Spotlight: Empower4Life — Lifting Limits. Lighting Paths.

Some supporters become part of your organization's story in ways that go far beyond a donation. Empower4Life is one of those organizations. ❤️

We are proud to recognize Empower4Life as a $600 Friend of CAN Sponsor of our 60th Anniversary Celebration!

Empower4Life holds a special place in CAN's history. In 2015, founder Jennifer Barrett Cox began volunteering with children at CAN's former Eastside Family Emergency Shelter in Rosedale. Witnessing the challenges faced by children experiencing homelessness inspired her to create an organization dedicated to giving those children opportunities to learn, grow, build confidence, and experience the joy of childhood.

And look at what that vision has become!

Today, Empower4Life serves children and families experiencing homelessness and poverty throughout Baltimore, Harford, and Cecil Counties.

Their incredible work includes:

❤️ Bringing educational, wellness, fitness, and creative activities directly to children living in shelters.

🎒 Providing clothing, backpacks, school supplies, and other essentials through their Back-to-School and holiday initiatives.

🥫 Helping families access nutritious food and basic necessities.

🏕️ Creating opportunities for children to experience summer camp, build friendships, and make memories.

🌟 Supporting students through mentorship and school partnerships, while inspiring young people to become changemakers in their own communities.

The impact speaks for itself:

✨ 7,500+ children impacted
✨ 107,000+ resources provided to youth
✨ 145,000+ pounds of food transported

Behind every number is a child who has been given encouragement, an opportunity, a moment of happiness, or the reassurance that someone cares.

Empower4Life has been a longtime supporter of CAN, and we are grateful not only for their generous anniversary sponsorship but also for the extraordinary work they continue to do throughout our community.

As we celebrate 60 years of Helping People. Changing Lives., we look forward to strengthening our relationship and exploring even more opportunities to work together.

Thank you, Empower4Life, for everything you do—and for being part of CAN's story! ❤️

We encourage everyone to learn more about this remarkable organization, follow their work, and discover ways to support their mission.

🔗 https://empower4lifemd.org/

🎉 CAN's 60th Anniversary Celebration
📅 Thursday, November 12 | 5:30–8:00 p.m.
📍 7900 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD
🎟️ Tickets: $60
🤝 Sponsorship opportunities are still available!
🔗 Register or become a sponsor through the link in our bio!

10/15/2026

📢 We're Hiring! Project Coordinator – ENOUGH Act

Community Assistance Network (CAN) is seeking an organized, community-minded professional to support the Essex HOPE Initiative!

📍 Location: Essex, Maryland
💼 Position: Full-Time

In this role, you'll help coordinate community initiatives, engage residents, strengthen partnerships, and support projects that improve outcomes for children and families in Essex.

Qualifications include:

Strong organizational and communication skills
At least 2 years of data entry experience
Maryland driver's license and access to a vehicle
Bachelor's degree preferred, but not required
🔗 Apply today: https://www.canconnects.org/careers

Know someone who would be a great fit? Please share this opportunity with your network!

10/09/2026

His Past Didn't Have to Define His Future ❤️

60 Years. 60 Stories. 60 Days. ❤️
Stories of CAN

After approximately 25 years in prison, starting over meant learning how to navigate a world that had changed.

At CAN's Westside Men's Shelter, one of our social workers had the opportunity to work with a senior client who was adjusting to life in the community after approximately 25 years of incarceration.

His challenges extended far beyond finding a place to live.

After so many years away, he was learning to navigate unfamiliar systems, adjust to changes in society and rebuild his independence.

His case manager was there to help.

Together, they identified resources and established realistic goals. She provided consistent case management, encouragement, advocacy and guidance while recognizing something equally important: his resilience.

Then came one of their greatest challenges—finding permanent housing.

His criminal history repeatedly limited his eligibility for senior housing opportunities. Each rejection could have been the end of the search.

Instead, his case manager kept going.

She researched other housing opportunities, helped complete applications and documentation, communicated with housing providers, worked through eligibility requirements and continued advocating on his behalf.

Because while his past presented very real barriers, it didn't have to define his future. ❤️

Stories like this demonstrate why case management is about so much more than completing an application or making a referral. It's about persistence, dignity and helping someone rebuild the confidence and independence necessary to move forward.

As CAN celebrates 60 years, we celebrate the staff who continue showing up for people—even when the path to stability isn't an easy one.

Helping People. Changing Lives. One person at a time.

🎉 Join us November 12 as we celebrate CAN's 60th Anniversary.
🎟️ Tickets are $60 | 🔗 Link in bio

10/08/2026

TODAY IS DAF DAY! 💙

If you have a donor-advised fund, you've already set aside charitable dollars for the causes that matter to you.

Today is the day to put them to work.

For 60 years, Community Assistance Network (CAN) has served Baltimore County neighbors facing hunger, homelessness, housing instability, and other challenges.

As we celebrate six decades of service, we're asking our community to help us continue that legacy.

If you have a DAF, consider recommending a grant to CAN today. Your generosity helps us respond where the need is greatest and continue serving our neighbors throughout Baltimore County.

To recommend a grant:
Log in to your DAF account or contact your provider and search for:

Community Assistance Network, Inc.
EIN: 52-0823186

Learn more about CAN at www.CanConnects.org.

60 years of service. A community that cares. And a future we're building together.

Together We CAN. 💙

10/07/2026

Helping Her Go Home ❤️

60 Years. 60 Stories. 60 Days. ❤️
Stories of CAN

Sometimes helping someone find their way forward means helping them find their way home.

While working at CAN's Eastside Family Shelter, one of our social workers met a woman whose health was declining. She had been away from Jamaica for approximately 30 years, and during this vulnerable time in her life, she knew what she wanted most:

She wanted to go home.

Her social worker listened.

She worked with the client to understand what was standing in her way, coordinated the resources she needed, and advocated with CAN's leadership to arrange a one-way flight from BWI to Jamaica.

But her support didn't end when the ticket was purchased.

“I remember waking up at 6:00 a.m., going to the shelter and using my own Uber account to get us both to the airport. I was so happy that she would be reunited with her family.”

For this client, success wasn't about simply addressing a housing or transportation need. It was about returning to her family, culture, home and sense of belonging after three decades away.

That experience left a lasting impression on her social worker, too. It reinforced the importance of listening to what quality of life means to each individual rather than deciding what success should look like for them.

Meet people where they are. Listen to what matters to them. Help them get where they want to go. ❤️

For 60 years, that person-centered approach has been at the heart of CAN's work.

Helping People. Changing Lives.

🎉 Join us November 12 as we celebrate CAN's 60th Anniversary.
🎟️ Tickets are $60 | 🔗 Link in bio

10/06/2026

Do you have charitable dollars sitting in a donor-advised fund?

This Thursday, October 8, is DAF Day—a national day encouraging people to put the charitable funds they've already set aside into action.

For 60 years, Community Assistance Network (CAN) has served our Baltimore County neighbors—helping families access food, providing emergency shelter, connecting people experiencing homelessness with services and housing, and helping individuals and families move toward greater stability.

If you have a donor-advised fund, consider recommending a grant to CAN. Your support helps us respond where the need is greatest and continue a legacy of service that began in 1965.

To recommend a grant, simply log in to your DAF account or contact your DAF provider and search for:

Community Assistance Network, Inc.
EIN: 52-0823186

Learn more about CAN and our work at CanConnects.org.

Your charitable dollars are already set aside. Put them to work close to home.

Together We CAN. 💙

10/05/2026

🎉 Sponsor Spotlight: Point Breeze Credit Union

60 Years. 60 Stories. 60 Days. ❤️

We’re excited to welcome Point Breeze Credit Union as a sponsor of Community Assistance Network’s 60th Anniversary Celebration!

For 60 years, CAN has relied on the support of businesses, organizations, partners, volunteers, and individuals who believe in strengthening our community. Sponsorships like this help us celebrate an important milestone while supporting CAN’s continued work throughout Baltimore County.

A special thank you to Point Breeze Credit Union for investing in our mission and helping us celebrate six decades of Helping People. Changing Lives. ❤️

There’s still time for your business or organization to join Point Breeze and our other supporters as a 60th Anniversary Sponsor!

🎉 CAN’s 60th Anniversary Celebration
📅 Thursday, November 12 | 5:30–8:00 p.m.
📍 CAN Main Office | 7900 E. Baltimore Street
🎟️ Individual Tickets: $60
🤝 Sponsorship opportunities are still available
🔗 Register or become a sponsor through the link in our bio!

09/26/2026

60 Years. 60 Stories. 60 Days. ❤️

Then & Now: What Did It Cost to Live in 1965?

When CAN began serving Baltimore County in 1965, a loaf of bread cost about 21¢, a gallon of milk about 95¢, and a gallon of gas about 31¢.

Looking at those numbers today, it would be easy to say, “Everything was so much cheaper back then!”

But there's more to the story.

💵 $1 in 1965 had roughly the same purchasing power as $10.22 in 2025. Once inflation is considered, some everyday necessities—like bread, milk and gasoline—have actually kept pace with inflation or become more affordable.

🏠 Housing tells a very different story.

The median price of a new home was about $20,000 in 1965—roughly $204,000 in 2025 dollars. In 2025, the median price was about $417,400.

Wages tell another part of the story. The federal minimum wage was $1.25 in 1965, equivalent to roughly $12.78 in 2025 purchasing power. In 2025, the federal minimum remained $7.25, although Maryland's minimum wage was $15.00 per hour.

So, are things simply “more expensive” today? Not across the board. But the data show that some of the expenses most closely tied to stability—particularly housing—have grown much faster than overall inflation.

And that's an important part of CAN's 60-year story.

The economic challenges facing families have changed since 1965, but the need for organizations that help people find stability, navigate difficult circumstances and move forward has remained.

The numbers have changed. The need for a helping hand remains. ❤️

For 60 years: Helping People. Changing Lives.

🎉 Join us as we celebrate CAN's 60th Anniversary
📅 Thursday, November 12
🎟️ Tickets: $60
🤝 Sponsorship opportunities available
🔗 Register through the link in our bio!

Prices shown are U.S. averages. Sources include the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Energy Information Administration.