Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington Celebrates 35th Anniversary, Appeals to Leaders

Story by Alicia Tucker

Representatives from the Montgomery County Council of Maryland honored Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington (ACSGW) last week for their 35 years of ministry to the community. 

Ken Flemmer, ACSGW’s executive director, who also serves on the East Montgomery County Advisory Board, spearheaded the event, titled “Impacting East Montgomery,” to raise awareness of the rapidly expanding social and economic challenges of East Montgomery County. “The most serious poverty and food insecurity in Montgomery County is concentrated in this area,” Flemmer said. He added that 40 percent of ACSGW’s clients are from eastern area of the county and that ACSGW is already making an impact with the academic enrichment summer camps it hosts in that area.

Held at the Seventh-day Adventist World Headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., ACSGW representatives presented a certificate of appreciation to Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and the County Council members.

Flemmer concluded his presentation with an appeal to attending church leaders and administrators to work closely together in order to be more effective and efficient in meeting the needs of East Montgomery County. “We need to develop partnerships and connections that can help us all do more. We could use professional volunteers and help with fundraising,” he petitioned.

Flemmer combined the event with the anniversary celebration because, he says, “I have lived in this area over 30 years and wasn’t aware myself of the realities that many Montgomery County citizens experience every day. I wanted pastors and other leaders to also be aware.”

ACSGW provides food, clothing, holiday meals, workforce skills training, youth development programs and other services to struggling families in the community. In 2017, 1,256 volunteers donated 12,250 hours of time and enough food for more than 160,000 meals for families in need.