Our team of members and friends of Hebron Mennonite Church is participating in the Ed Poling Memorial HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope to raise funds for HARC in memory of Ed Poling. Ed believed in HARC's mission to "embody mercy, justice and love as diverse faith partners in Washington County, MD" and he worked tirelessly to live out this mission through starting and leading HARC's interfaith work, Good Friday Walk and more.  Ed started the HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope to raise funds for these and many other programs, including Micah's Backpack, which now feeds more than 1,350 children every weekend of the school year. He had a HUGE impact. We'd like to make an impact again this year on his behalf. Thanks to a 2-1 match by the God's Grace Fund, your donation could be TRIPLED to make even more of an impact. Thank you for supporting HARC and helping us honor Ed's memory in this way. 

The Ed Poling Memorial Hike for Hunger & Hope is HARC’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

This is a non-competitive fundraising event open to all ages. This fully supported hike on the beautiful C&O Canal towpath features 4 K (2.5 miles), 10 K (6.2 miles), and half marathon (13.1 miles) hikes, to include everyone from casual to serious hikers and runners. Participants can look forward to scenic water views, water & Gatorade refills along the way.

Proceeds will benefit HARC programs, with a significant portion directed to Micah’s Backpack, which provides nutritious food to food-insecure children in Washington County, MD.  Micah’s Backpack is a collaborative effort between 50 churches and organizations in Washington County, serving more than 1,300 children with weekend meals.  A portion also goes to the Refugee Welcome Network, welcoming and supporting refugees as they transition to their new home in the U.S. and Washington County, MD. Other HARC initiatives include the Lighthouse After-School Program, justice initiatives, strengthening houses of worship and interfaith relationships.

The Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC) is a coalition of faith community partners in Washington County, Maryland.  While HARC’s partner congregations can differ greatly on theology, all agree on loving our neighbor and working together to build a better community, help those in need, and support one another.

We believe in the power of faith communities working together.

We believe in nurturing the unlimited potential of every child.

We believe all people have equal value and are loved by God.

We believe in equipping one another to create stronger houses of worship.

Some of our Programs:

Micah's Backpack - 50 different churches and organizations providing weekend meals for more than 1,200 children each week.

Refugee Welcome Network - welcoming and assisting refugees as they work to become part of our community and gain independence.

Interfaith Team - provideding opportuntiies to learn about different faiths and build relationships, while promoting peace and understanding.

Equity in Education Scholarship - providing financial and mentorship support to racially diverse individuals as they work to attain their degrees in education.

Washington County Black Professionals Network (WCBPN) - providing connections and networking opportunities for Blacks of the African diaspora in Washington County, MD, and uplifting Black-owned businesses.

Learning Parties - promoting young children’s development of school readiness skills through supporting and guding parents.

NEW! After School program coming in 2024.

Learn more at https://harccoalition.org/