The “Thank You for Showing Up” Recognition Series is the Women & Girls Fund’s effort to share stories of local people who go beyond saying “What can I do for you?” to offer simple acts of kindness to help someone in need. “Showing up” is about seeing a need and taking action. Such supportive gestures of caring and generosity of spirit are all around us in the Mid-Shore and make our communities stronger.

Josh and Will Schmidt, of Trappe, appear to be the typical teenagers that they are – and they are so much more! Sophomores at Easton High School, they’re active in Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout this past year and, as members of The Church of the Holy Trinity in Oxford, they have attended Sunday School, participated in Youth Group, and served as Ushers.

When the pandemic began and the church’s weekly Lunch Bunch program for the homebound in Oxford and Trappe had to be suspended due to Covid-related restrictions, Josh and Will found a way to “show up” to help, and they’re still at it today!

The twin sons of Cathy and Brian Schmidt, owners of Garden & Garnish Caterers, they know their way around a kitchen! They took on this ministry putting their skills to use and working from the facilities of Garden & Garnish. Each month they’ve put together menus, cooked the food, packaged the meals for delivery, and then delivered the meals to the more than 30 grateful recipients. After their first delivery run, one individual called the church all bubbly and excited after receiving her meal When asked what her lunch consisted of, she said she didn’t know what the soup was, but it was delicious!

Through their family, scouting, and church activities, these young men have learned about – and fully embraced – the value of service to others. Thank you, Josh and Will, for showing up and making a difference!

They found a way to shop up even when the pandemic tried to shut them down.