JIM FOUSE
The volunteer: Mr. Fouse considers himself one small part of a larger effort that works to provide some of the county's homeless and hungry men with shelter and a warm meal on winter nights.
In addition to volunteering with several organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and the county's Literacy Council, Mr. Fouse finds time in the winter to devote to a North County shelter program, Winter Relief for the Homeless.
During a 22-week period that begins in November, several North County churches open their doors on a rotating basis to homeless men, who are given dinner and a bed.
Mr. Fouse is also a Eucharistic minister at St. Bernadettes Roman Catholic Parish in Severn and chairs the Social Concerns Committee at the church.
A Defense Department worker at Fort Meade, Mr. Fouse and his wife, Pat, have lived in Severn for more than 25 years. Ms. Fouse is a reading teacher at Arthur Slade Regional Catholic School in Glen Burnie.
Of Mr. Fouse's work with Winter Relief, Joe Dulaney, a friend, writes, "Without Jim's hands-on involvement, on almost a daily basis for the five-month period, the project would not have been as problem-free as it has been . . . this project has probably saved some lives. The continued success of this project is because of Jim's involvement."
Volunteer's comment: "It was several members of the Glen Burnie ministerium who were the original movers and shakers to get this started.
"I get the information out to the participating churches and put out a calendar . . . to line up the churches for specific weeks beginning in mid-November to mid-April.
"Quite frankly, I'm just one of a number of key people in this whole process. There are so many people working on this project who show an extraordinary effort.
"It only comes about because of the generosity of the churches and the participating members and a few other key organizations. The American Legion Auxiliary 276 provides almost all the paper goods for the meals. The Salvation Army does the screening and provides the transportation of the essential bedding materials from one site to the next each Monday.
"Then within the community . . . they offer a variety of services -- some laundry services, haircuts -- they have figured out many different ways to support these men that are finding difficult times. It's very encouraging to see the community come together on this whole thing.
"The first year it started out helping about seven guys a night and totaled about 35 being helped that winter. Last year it grew to an average of 18 a night and over 70 actually participated at one time or another.
"It's really a beautiful program because it's ecumenical, there are no dividing lines. It's just one common community with the same goal, providing a warm place for these guys and a couple of meals . . . with some additional services thrown in.
"It's a safety net for people who have fallen on difficult times. It works."
"Volunteer Spotlight" is compiled by Kevin Harrison. To recommend someone, call the Anne Arundel Bureau, 315-8911, any time or send information by fax to 315-8916 or mail it to: The Sun for Anne Arundel, 8131 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena 21122.