The Hope Journal - Spring 2026

THE

HOPE JOURNAL Stories of Your Support at Work

Spring 2026

Summer is here, and I hope you are enjoying the longer days and Independence Day celebrations. While this season brings joy for many, others continue to face challenges. Among those we serve are military personnel, veterans and their families, and first responders, individuals who have dedicated themselves to protecting our communities and often face unique mental health needs. As we recognize their service, we are proud to announce the launch of The Center for Veterans and Military Families, expanding For All Seasons’ commitment to specialized, trauma-certified care. In this newsletter, you’ll learn more about this exciting new chapter. Thank you for your generosity, which helps provide healing and support to those who need it most. ~ Beth Anne Dorman, President & CEO

SUSTAINING A LASTING SYSTEM OF CARE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES Every day, 135 Americans die by suicide. That is the equivalent of a commercial plane crash every single day, or one death every 11 minutes. And still, we look away. Among post-9/11 veterans, the crisis is even worse - often ignored. Since 9/11, more than 120,000 veterans have died by suicide - more than 17 times the number killed in combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Iran. With your help, For All Seasons is working to change the narrative.

On July 1, 2026, For All Seasons will officially open The Center for Veterans and Military Families. This milestone reflects a natural evolution of a strong three-year partnership between For All Seasons and VAMSA (Veteran and Military Support Alliance) - one made possible through sustained community and donor investment - and establishes a more coordinated, accountable, and sustainable model of care for those who serve.

Since partnering with VAMSA in 2023, For All Seasons’ clinicians have been a consistent and trusted presence, providing onsite consultations and case management, facilitating psychoeducational support groups, and delivering 24/7/365 clinical support for crisis response. As the preferred mental health partner for VAMSA members, For All Seasons has ensured immediate access to care when it is needed most. Behind the scenes, we have also strengthened VAMSA’s operational capacity through strategic and technical support.

This work is part of a broader, donor-supported commitment to serving Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) across the Mid-Shore. Today, that program continues to grow, reaching not only veterans, but also their spouses and children - many of whom would otherwise face significant barriers to care. While some services are reimbursed through Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance, a substantial portion of care is provided to individuals without coverage.

As a result of your support, more individuals and families are receiving timely, comprehensive behavioral health services than ever before through our Open Access program, providing immediate care without a waitlist. Demand continues to rise year over year, reflecting both the critical need in our region and the trust built through For All Seasons’ approach: delivering crisis response, outpatient therapy, psychiatry, and case management to all, regardless of ability to pay.

The creation of the Center for Veterans and Military Families represents a deepening of impact. It builds on years of investment in specialized training, expanded clinical and psychiatry teams, and increased capacity to meet growing demand.

Because of this foundation, For All Seasons is uniquely positioned to lead and sustain this work, ensuring that those who serve, and the families who stand beside them, have access to the care they deserve. Your support has been - and will continue to be - critical to achieving this mission.

EXPANDING FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT For All Seasons is expanding First Responder Peer Support programs across Maryland’s MidShore, helping ensure those who serve our communities have access to confidential support from trained peers. After more than a year of partnership with Talbot FiRST! in Talbot County, we recently launched Caroline Cares in Caroline County and Queen Anne’s RISE in Queen Anne’s County. We are also working with leaders in Dorchester and Kent counties to establish peer support programs in those communities.

Your donations make these first responder support programs possible by helping us: Provide confidential support from trained first responders who understand the unique challenges of the profession.

Create early intervention to address stress, burnout, and mental health concerns before they become overwhelming.

Connect professional mental health resources and additional support when needed.

Foster a trusted, judgment-free environment that promotes resilience, wellness, and peer connection.

Offer continued learning opportunities and support from For All Seasons’ expert clinical team, helping peer supporters build resilience, and grow skills.

STANDING BEHIND THOSE WHO SERVE

Every day, military service members and first responders put themselves on the front lines to protect our communities and our country. But behind that service and strength, many are quietly facing serious mental health challenges, and they cannot do it alone.

More than 700,000 military personnel – nearly one in four – are struggling with issues such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance use, and the lasting effects of trauma. Yet despite the need, fewer than one-third of service members experiencing these symptoms seek mental health care. Stigma remains a powerful barrier, reinforced by fears that asking for help could jeopardize careers, security clearances, or future opportunities.

First responders face a similar reality. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics are routinely exposed to traumatic events, often on a daily basis. This repeated exposure leads to higher rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicide compared to the general population. Many experience chronic fatigue, hypervigilance, and difficulty disconnecting from the job, even when they are home with their families. And still, too many suffer in silence.

A deeply ingrained “tough it out” culture continues to discourage both military personnel and first responders from seeking help.

Without support, some turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol or substance use, further compounding their struggles.

Here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, nearly 25% of residents are connected to the military in some way, yet access to care remains limited. Only 30% of Maryland veterans regularly utilize VA healthcare, and due to staffing shortages, the region’s only VA clinic is not currently accepting new mental health patients.

This is where your support makes a difference. By investing in early intervention, peer support programs, and specialized traumainformed care, For All Seasons can ensure that those who serve our communities receive the help they deserve. Just as importantly, we are working to change the culture - breaking down stigma and making it clear that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Talbot FiRST! participants pose for a group photo after a collaborative training session.

Your generosity helps provide critical mental health services, expand access to care, and bring hope to individuals and families who need it most. Thank you for being part of this mission.

YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK During Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), our Rape Crisis Center and outreach teams made a meaningful impact across the Mid-Shore - attending over 20 community events and reaching students with our resources and education on safety, consent, and healthy relationships. We hosted a free Lunch & Learn, highlighting the realities survivors face in both our center and local hospitals.

More than 200 individuals participated in the Denim Art Projects across five counties, including school health fairs and community groups. We also partnered with local leaders to proclaim April as SAAM in all five counties, helping expand awareness. In addition, we launched Real Talk: Relationships, Boundaries, and Consent, a free Center for Learning course featuring short, engaging videos designed to help teens, parents, educators, and professionals build safer, healthier relationships - both in person and online.

GIVING MADE SIMPLE This is part 2 of 3 in our giving strategy series. Learn more: forallseasonsstories.org/waystogive Plan Now: Smart Strategies for the Year Ahead With tax season behind us, many donors are taking a well-earned break from financial paperwork. However, this is actually the ideal time to think ahead about your charitable giving. Key parts of The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act legislation will take effect in 2026, as follows: Charitable donations for non-itemizers Non-itemizers will be able to deduct cash donations to 501(c)(3) charities up to $1,000/single or $2,000/joint

Sidney Davenport-Trond Director of Development strond@forallseasonsinc.org

New floor on deductions for itemizers and corporations Charitable contributions by itemizers may only be claimed as a tax deduction to the extent their qualified contributions exceed .5% of AGI. High-income individuals who itemize may want to consider a “bunching strategy”. According to Fidelity Charitable, bunching can potentially increase your tax savings by surpassing the standard deduction.

Fidelity Charitable

Give From What You’ve Gained: Appreciated Stock, Bonds, and Mutual Funds If you hold stocks or long-term appreciated securities like bonds or mutual funds that have increased in value, donate those assets directly to charity. Donating assets directly helps avoid capital gains taxes, as well as the Medicare surtax, while still receiving a charitable deduction at full market value. This approach allows you to give more than you might with cash, without affecting your liquidity.

Make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) If you are 70 ½ or older and have an IRA, a QCD allows you to donate directly from your IRA up to $111,000 total to one or more charities, while satisfying your required minimum distribution (RMD) and excluding that amount from your taxable income.

Community Investment Tax Credits (CITC) If an individual or business resides in the State of Maryland, they may be eligible for Community Investment Tax Credits (CITC). Businesses and individuals that donate $500 or more to a qualified organization’s approved project(s) can earn tax credits equal to 50% of the value of the money, goods or real property contribution. These tax credits are in addition to the deductions on both Federal and State taxes as a result of the charitable contribution. For example, someone donating $1000 will receive $500 in tax credits, making the cash donation the same as donating $500.

These tax credits must be used against taxes owed for the year in which the contribution was made and may not be used retroactively for taxes from a prior year. For All Seasons is offering tax credits for projects related to Veterans and Military Families, as well as Farmers & Watermen. Inquire by emailing Sidney Trond - strond@forallseasonsinc.org.

FOR ALL SEASONS, INC. 111 E Dover Street Easton, MD 21601

BEHIND THE LINES: A 9/11 STORY Over Memorial Day Weekend, May 23–24, For All Seasons and the Dock Street Foundation proudly partnered to bring Modern Warrior LIVE’s Behind the Lines: A 9/11 Story to the Avalon Theatre in Easton, Maryland.

More than 500 sponsors, community members, veterans, first responders, and family members gathered for a powerful and deeply moving experience. Through the firsthand accounts of Bill Spade of FDNY Engine Company 5 and Jaymes Poling, an Iraq War veteran, attendees witnessed the lasting impact of September 11 and the conflicts that followed. Their raw, personal stories highlighted the courage, sacrifice, and unseen wounds carried by those who have served our country and communities.

Your support made this event possible. Because of your generosity, we can continue providing critical mental health and support services to veterans, first responders, and others who have dedicated their lives to serving us all.

FOR ALL SEASONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY This Spring, we connected with our community through outreach, education, and awareness initiatives across the Mid-Shore.

Learn about upcoming events, trainings, and outreach opportunities.

APRIL - Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Throughout April, For All Seasons raised awareness and supported survivors through community art projects across the Mid-Shore, educational campaigns, and a community Lunch & Learn focused on sexual assault awareness and survivor support. We also launched our new Center for Learning course, Real Talk: Relationships, Boundaries, & Consent; held our 40 Hearts for Healing fundraising campaign; hosted volunteer open houses; and welcomed community members to a Friend-Raiser event to learn more about our mission and impact.

MAY - Mental Health Awareness Month:

During Mental Health Awareness Month, For All Seasons promoted mental wellness and resilience through community outreach, educational programming, and awareness initiatives across the Mid-Shore. Highlights included the launch of our new Center for Learning course, Thriving Kids: Changing the Story of Trauma, a community Lunch & Learn on Positive Childhood Experiences, a Mental Health Minute video series featuring practical tips and insights from our staff, volunteer engagement efforts, and support of Behind the Lines: A 9/11 Story at the Avalon Theatre.

JUNE - PTSD Awareness Month & Pride Month:

During June, For All Seasons engaged communities across the Mid-Shore through outreach events, educational programming, and awareness initiatives centered on mental health, trauma recovery, and inclusion. We launched Real Talk: Mental Health & Support in LGBTQIA+ Communities and participated in events celebrating Pride Month, raised awareness about PTSD, and supported veterans, first responders, and their families.