Gatekeepers

10/06/2026

A great evening with our friends at Grace House!

Thank you for welcoming the Gatekeepers team for dinner and a tour of your beautiful new home. We’re grateful for the work Grace House is doing right here in Washington County to give men in recovery the support, stability, and hope they need as they take their next steps.

We’re proud to work alongside organizations that believe, like we do, that everyone deserves a chance to build a life they’re proud of.

Grace House 2 welcomed Gatekeepers for dinner and a tour!

09/20/2026

Fall fun is officially at Celebration Farm! 🎃

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Come get lost at the Hagerstown Corn Maze at Celebration Farm! With an 8-acre corn maze, three different mazes, a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, and moonlight maze nights, it’s the perfect fall outing for family and friends.

17638 Garden View Rd., Hagerstown, MD
Friday: 6–10 PM
Saturday: 1–10 PM
Sunday: 1–5 PM

Adults & Teens: $6
Ages 5–12: $3
Ages 4 & under: FREE

And the best part? All profits from the Hagerstown Corn Maze are donated to local faith-based nonprofits, so your night of fall fun helps support organizations like Gatekeepers making a difference right here in our community.

Grab your friends, bring a flashlight for the moonlight maze, and see if you can find your way out!

09/17/2026

Gatekeepers was proud to take part in this year’s United Way of Washington County, Maryland Day of Caring!

Reach of Washington County volunteered at the Gatekeepers office to assemble over 200 hygiene kits that will be distributed to WCDC, RCI, MCIW, Western Maryland Children’s Center, and MCI-Hagerstown.

We were also joined by Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Reentry Coordinator (RCI & MCI-H) who picked up hygiene kits for individuals before joining the Gatekeepers team and volunteers out in the community for a street cleanup!

A huge thank you to United Way of Washington County for bringing organizations and volunteers together for a day dedicated to making our community stronger!

09/15/2026

Last week, we had the opportunity to celebrate 2 years of Grace House and the exciting opening of their second facility!

The men of Grace House also joined us at Gatekeepers, filling the room with music and sharing a message of hope.

Congratulations to the entire Grace House family on this incredible milestone!

08/16/2026

Gatekeepers is proud to sponsor a team in the Ruth Ann Monroe Summer Basketball League Ruthann V. Monroe Sbl.

Today, our founder Bill Gaertner and Operations Director Julia Smoot had the opportunity to come out and support our players from the sidelines.

Programs like the Ruth Ann Monroe Summer League give young athletes a place to build teamwork, discipline, confidence, and positive relationships—much like the Business of Living.

We’re proud of our team and grateful to everyone who continues to make this summer tradition possible!

08/12/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our dear friend and Gatekeepers family member, Howard Coleman, who passed away peacefully on Friday, July 17, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Born in Baltimore, Howard proudly served our country as a military veteran before facing his own journey through incarceration. Like so many of the individuals we serve, Howard's story became one of redemption and purpose.

Howard eventually found his calling at Gatekeepers. For years, he faithfully transported our participants to and from work, picked men and women up upon their release from prison, drove clients to medical appointments, and made sure no one was left behind. His phone was always on, and no matter the hour, if someone needed help, the answer was often, "Call Howard." Day or night, he was ready to answer that call.

Through treatments and difficult days, he remained committed to the people he cared so deeply about and continued to play an essential role in our ministry. He understood what it meant to receive a second chance, and he spent the rest of his life making sure others had one too.

Howard, thank you for every mile driven, every phone call answered and every life you touched. Your impact on Gatekeepers and our community will never be forgotten.

Rest in peace, Howard. You will always be a part of the Gatekeepers family.

07/28/2026

Gatekeepers was honored to attend the United Way of Washington County Award Ceremony and celebrate the incredible impact being made throughout our community.

We are incredibly grateful to United Way of Washington County, Maryland for awarding Gatekeepers a grant to support the relaunch of our Next Steps Program.

Next Steps was created to support our clients beyond immediate basic needs assistance by providing the tools and resources necessary for long-term stability and success. Through this program, participants will have access to meaningful programming focused on areas such as financial literacy, parenting skills, conflict resolution, personal development, and other essential life skills that strengthen individuals, families, and our community.

At Gatekeepers, we want our clients to thrive and not just live to survive.

Thank you, United Way of Washington County, Maryland, for investing in our mission and helping us continue to provide opportunities that empower individuals to move forward and thrive.

06/30/2026

Join us for Gatekeepers Annual 4th of July Cookout as we celebrate 250 years of the United States of America.

Come enjoy great food, fun, and fellowship with the Gatekeepers family. Whether you’re a participant, volunteer, community partner, or friend, we’d love to celebrate with you.

Date: Saturday, July 4
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall
Time: 10:00 am, usual meeting will begin and end early for the cookout.

Bring your family, friends, your appetite, and your patriotic spirit! We can’t wait to spend the holiday together.

06/17/2026

🍓🍓🍓ATTENTION: WOMENS GROUP PICNIC WILL HAPPEN RAIN OR SHINE TOMORROW 6/18

Our weekly women’s group is taking things outdoors to Hagerstown City Park. If you have been considering joining our cohort of women, tomorrow is the perfect day to join in fellowship. Sandwiches, fruit and cake will be provided🍓🍓🍓

06/15/2026

Congratulations Vicki Cressell, Donell Bellamy and Carl Brown for securing employment! Getting a job is often one of the biggest milestones in the reentry journey, and we are so proud of the hard work, determination, and persistence each of them showed to get here.

We also want to thank our employment partners who continue to give individuals a fair chance. These opportunities truly change lives.

If you or someone you know is looking for work, Gatekeepers offers employment assistance Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Whether you need help with a resume, applications, interview prep, or connecting with employers, we’re here to help.