Bello means beauty

Father welcomes son

I've decided this will be my summer to do all the things I've wanted to do but couldn't with my ridiculously busy work schedule. Now that I am winding down the biz and boxing up my life here in Maryland, I am getting involved in new projects, one of which is volunteering. How good it feels to give back!

The ladies enjoying their new t-shirts

I contacted Volunteer Match.org and found some local places I thought may be a good fit for my skills and interests. Bello Machre was one of the organizations I found, which I had not heard of. Bello Machre, which means "home of my heart" in Gaelic, is a non-profit organization in Anne Arundel County, that helps children and adults with developmental disabilities. After speaking to the Director of Volunteer services, Evette Watson, she told me she was looking for someone who could take pictures of the residents and supporters in a compassionate manner. She checked out the Neglected Beauty blog and offered me the position.

Face painted beauty

Some background on this program... Bello Machre offers services that enable the developmentally disabled individuals to work and live in the community as independently as possible. There are four group homes on the property, as well as community and individual family living options. Bello Machre's goal is to nurture, teach, and care for these children and adults and create an atmosphere where they can feel protected, safe and loved. Some participants are as young as three months old, while others are seniors, they come from all races and backgrounds.

Crossing the finish line feels good!

I considered this volunteer position a bit of a challenge as the majority of my photographs involve nature, and/or flowers. Nonetheless, I was excited to help and came out this weekend to their bike and walk-a-thon called "Every Step Counts," to raise money. Evette asked me to focus on photographing the volunteers for their summer newsletter, but as you can see, I was captivated by so much more.

Yvette at her check-in table

Many of the residents were there with their families and supporters to enjoy a nice, rainless day. Activities such as a rock wall climb and face painting were available, and food and snacks were plentiful, including delicious grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. Everyone had fun and for three hours straight, I did not put my camera down once except to adjust the settings (ok-- and scarf down a hot dog). Although the sun made it hard to focus at times, I think I captured some of the beauty of the day.

A baby gets some love from a resident

If you'd like to volunteer or get involved with Bello Machre, you can contact Yvette Watson at:
Bello Machre, Inc.
7765 Freetown Road
Glen Burnie, MD 21060
410.255.3805

A little boy who avoided my lens all day did not escape this great shot
All photos taken and are property of C. Langrall