Help Support our Meeting

Donate here

  The Social Concerns Box for May is for the STRIDE camping program

In May, we will support two youngsters from the Friendly Gardens community in Silver Spring, MD, to attend the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Summer Camps through the "Strengthening Transformative Relationships in Diverse Environments" (STRIDE) program.

• Last year we were able to support one local Friendly Gardens camper, who will be returning this year.  Our hope is to support a second camper this year with money for the cost of camp plus funding for camping gear items. 
• BYM camps provide opportunities for enrichment and leadership building in a wilderness environment, and STRIDE is committed to ensuring that young people from all racial, geographical, and economic backgrounds have the opportunity to benefit from this program. 

• To donate to this Social Concern, please go to https://www.bethesdafriends.org/Donate-&-Support-the-Meeting, and designate that your contribution is for the May social concern (STRIDE Camping Program). 

Camp Opequon

Special Campaign Fund 

Camp Opequon, one of four Quaker camps managed by Baltimore Yearly Meeting, relocated last year to a new site within Rolling Ridge Conservancy, a property with historic Quaker ties. The new site, a former camp with a lodge and other buildings, requires repairs and improvements.

• Bethesda Friends Meeting has pledged $20,000 to the Camp Opequon Special Campaign.
• For those who would like to make additional much needed donations, individuals can make contributions to BFM's Special Campaign.
• To donate, please go to our online donation page and clearly designate that your contribution is for the Camp Opequon Fund. 

For details, use our Contact Us form. 

Helping Refugees Group
CALL TO ACTION

The Helping Refugees Group (HRG) has compiled a list of actions that individuals and self-organized groups can undertake.

• The purpose is to inform our BFM community about ways to help refugees and immigrants in our area.
• The list of actions is here. 
• Please join us!  
• If everyone in our community does ONE ACTION, we will have helped many immigrants on a Meeting-wide basis! 

Please use our Contact Us form for more information.

Do you want to learn more

about Quakers?

Here are several choices

• An introduction to Quakerism via seven brief emails in your inbox. 
• Short QuakerSpeak Videos.
• Quakers Today podcast.
• Thee Quaker podcast. 
• An online class in Quakerism that provides an introduction for newcomers and a refresher for members through a diversity of perspectives.
• Friends Journal website, includes access to their magazine articles.
• A monthly "Worship for Newcomers" aims to support Friends and those new to Quakerism.    
• More resources on our Visitor and Resources pages. 

END OF LIFE ISSUES

• BFM has formed an End of Life Group to provide legal, spiritual, and practical resources to help our community cope with the uncertainties and fears surrounding the end of life. 
• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly elevated concerns about the health of family and friends, and the possibility that they could become gravely ill and die. 
• Although conversations with our loved ones about such a possibility are difficult, it’s important to prepare.