Talbot County Council Recognizes the 50th Anniversary of Neighborhood Service Center

Photo: Pictured left to right are Megan Cook, Easton Town Council member, Treasurer of Neighborhood Service Center (NSC), and a member of the NSC Board for 11 years; Marilyn Neal, Executive Director of NSC; and Talbot County Councilman Frank Divilio, who also serves on the Board of NSC. Divilio wanted to recognize the organization’s 50th Anniversary achievements with flowers and balloons because the official celebration for the event had to be postponed due to COVID-19. — Pictured left to right are Megan Cook, Easton Town Council member, Treasurer of Neighborhood Service Center (NSC), and a member of the NSC Board for 11 years; Marilyn Neal, Executive Director of NSC; and Talbot County Councilman Frank Divilio, who also serves on the Board of NSC. Divilio wanted to recognize the organization’s 50th Anniversary achievements with flowers and balloons because the official celebration for the event had to be postponed due to COVID-19. – Contributed Photo

For over 50 years, the Neighborhood Service Center (NSC), Inc., Talbot County’s designated Community Action Agency, has worked to improve the quality of life both socially and economically for low-income residents in Talbot County by equipping them with the tools and potential for becoming self-sufficient.

Talbot County Councilman Frank Divilio, who is the Council representative on the Board of NSC, wanted to recognize the organization’s achievements on behalf of the County Council because the official celebration for the event had to be postponed due to COVID-19. He comments, “The things this organization does to help individuals in need in Talbot County is selfless. Over Easter weekend, I saw a woman who was homeless and called Marilyn on the weekend to see what assistance she could offer. Marilyn helped the woman find housing that day. It used to be easier to see the persons in need, but they are more invisible now with all the challenges we are facing.”

“To me, that’s what makes Talbot County the most wonderful place to live – it’s the caring that happens here that makes it special,” he adds.

Megan Cook, Easton Town Council member, Treasurer of NSC, and a member of the NSC Board for 11 years, joined Divilio in congratulating Marilyn Neal, Executive Director of NSC on the organization’s achievement. She adds, “This is a significant milestone to celebrate. It has been a privilege to serve on the Board for many years and to see the organization’s growth.

Neal recognizes that community support is critical to NSC’s mission, as well as crucial to keeping family units together. She adds, “Many of the issues we serve are generational. By changing one family at a time, we can stop poverty from being generational. Through COVID, we have been able to get new donors and supporters, allowing us to fill in the new gaps in services we are experiencing.”

Divilio projects that as things get worse with the pandemic, the needs are going to increase, stating, “This is one of the organizations Talbot County needs to watch and assist as it can. It will keep people in their homes, help feed them, and help them get the services they need.”

Neal reflects, “The County has been so supportive of the low-income residents in our community. That has been such a comfort to me going through what we do every day.”