On February 8, 2024, Executive Director Jeff Kelly and a cross-section of staff from each division of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission (ATCC) dedicated a day of service at the Franciscan Center of Baltimore. This volunteer effort, organized and led by executive associate Jessica Honeycutt, was a unique opportunity for the ATCC’s executive team, field enforcement officers, and licensing professionals to work together in a different capacity and give back to the community that the agency now calls home.
The Franciscan Center’s staff put ATCC to work chopping ingredients, packing lunches, building toiletry/supply kits, and distributing supplies to the center’s clients. While the volunteer team stepped away from their usual regulatory and compliance duties, supervisors and team members back at the office and in the field served in the same spirit by covering their peers’ responsibilities.
Service is a core value for the agency, but this event highlighted the impact of direct support and compassion for those in need and the rewarding perspective that work provides.
The Franciscan Center’s initiatives extend far beyond a single day of volunteering. They offer programs to aid Baltimore’s economically disadvantaged that include distributing food and clothing, assisting with applications for birth certificates and other vital records, providing access to health care, and offering employment skills training in fields like the culinary arts or technology.
For the ATCC, supporting the center reflects the importance we place on community engagement and contribution. Service is a transformative experience, both in terms of impact on the community and on the bond between volunteers – the ATCC staff is eager to participate in events like this throughout the year and across the State.
We’d encourage our licensees and regulatory partners to look for opportunities to support their communities as well. Interested individuals near Baltimore can find further information on the Franciscan Center’s work at www.fcbmore.org.
