UPDATE: DUE TO FORECASTED THUNDERSTORMS, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED.
In ResFest’s place, SFNC will still distribute fresh groceries and backpacks of school supplies on Wednesday, August 21st, during a scaled-back outreach event at SFNC from 12-4 PM. Details are still to be determined.
The 19th annual ResFest takes place on Sunday, August 18, 2024, from 11 am to 4 pm in German Park, where St. Francis Neighborhood Center (SFNC) plans to unveil an all-new mission statement.
SFNC hosts the Reservoir Hill Resource Fair and Music Festival, known as ResFest, which is free and open to the public. There will be a diverse group of resource vendors, live music, free grocery and school supply giveaways, local vendors and cuisine, and activities for all ages.
During ResFest, SFNC plans to unveil its all-new mission statement which was developed as part of its 2025-2030 strategic plan. The nonprofit organization celebrated 60 years of continuous operations in West Baltimore last year.
“We are really excited about entering this new era of growth, and we want our community to be the first to hear the details. Announcing the new mission at ResFest is a very intentional choice,” says Lily Goldsmith, Marketing and Communications Coordinator for SFNC.
The festival will be held in German Park, which is located at 2423 Linden Avenue, adjacent to SFNC, and the 900 block of Whitelock Street between Linden and Brookfield Avenues, which will be closed to traffic.
The resource fair takes place from 11 am to 1 pm. More than 50 organizations from Baltimore City come together to provide attendees with employment, education, homeownership, healthcare, and legal resources.
ResFest 2024 will also feature an expanded Vendor Village to uplift local artisans and entrepreneurs.
Live music will accompany the resource fair and the entire event. Local performers will include Clarence Ward III, the Edward Hrybyk Quartet, the Love Groove Band, Moving History, and DJ TNT.
Adult beverages will be available for purchase in a designated area near the stage, and there will be a Kids’ Corner where young people can enjoy free face painting, balloon animal art, card games, and laser tag.
SFNC’s annual backpack and grocery giveaways are back this year, promoting food access and giving West Baltimore students supplies to help them kick off the coming school year.
“At the heart of everything we do at SFNC is the goal of creating meaningful moments of connection, built by, with, and for the community we serve,” said Angela Miller, lead organizer of ResFest. “We want to highlight our commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and sustainable growth. We can’t wait to share this joyous day with everyone and continue building a stronger, more connected West Baltimore together.”
Supporters of ResFest include Friends of German Park, Beth Am Synagogue, and the Reservoir Hill Improvement Council, who co-organize the festival with St. Francis Neighborhood Center. WYPR and WTMD are media partners of ResFest for the second year in a row.
SFNC was founded in 1963 and is a 501c3 nonprofit community-based organization in Reservoir Hill whose mission is to end generational poverty. It provides resources like holistic intervention programs for youth and families in Reservoir Hill and Penn North for free. In March 2024, SFNC was chosen to receive a $2 million financial gift from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving as part of its Open Call for community-led, community-focused organizations working with people experiencing the greatest need in the United States.
