Special to Dorchester Banner/Salvation Army Lt. Aaron Abram and Rebekah stand in front of the building going on at the Homeless Shelter adjacent to the Salvation Army in Cambridge.

CAMBRIDGE — In 2012 Dorchester County was awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to help renovate the only year round shelter for the homeless in Dorchester County. This renovation will triple the capacity of the shelter.

This expansion is sorely needed in the community; however, as the shelter grows, additional funds are needed. This community grant provides for the renovation of the building but does not include funding for furniture or operating costs.

To be able to house three times as many people, The Salvation Army is in need of furniture, to include kitchen appliances, living room furniture, and 28 beds.

The Esther Schoellkopf Kramer (ESK) Fund is asking the community to help them raise funds for this project through a Matching Challenge: For every dollar donated to The Salvation Army towards this project, the ESK Fund will match it dollar for dollar up to $8,500.

This will equate to a total of $17,000, which will help to provide the needed furniture for the newly-renovated shelter.

Brad Atkinson, divisional resource development director for The Salvation Army, said the announcement by the Esther Schoellkopf Kramer Fund was an answer to prayer. “We are so very thankful for the generosity of the Esther Schoellkopf Kramer Fund,” Mr. Atkinson said, “and we hope and pray that this will encourage others in our the community to give.”

Lt. Aaron Abram, corps officer of The Salvation Army of Cambridge, said, “Contributing to this matching challenge gives our wonderful neighbors the chance to immediately double the impact of their gift in helping the most vulnerable among us. We are one Mid-Shore and together we can bring hope one life at a time.”

For more information on the ESK gift and how you can help please call Lt. Aaron or Rebekah at 410-228-2442. Donations can be mailed to 200 Washington St., Cambridge, MD 21613. Be sure to note ESK MATCH on your check.