At Easterns Automotive Group, serving our community is part of who we are. For this edition of Giving a Lift with FOX45 News, we were proud to surprise and support First Fruits Farm, an organization making a measurable impact on food insecurity across the region.
First Fruits Farm operates on 281 acres in Freeland, Maryland, where every crop is grown solely for donation. None of the produce is sold. Instead, it is delivered to food banks, pantries, shelters, churches, schools, and nonprofits across Maryland, southern Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. For families facing food insecurity, this work is essential.
The farm partners with more than 300 organizations, including the Maryland Food Bank, Central PA Food Bank, and the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston. Volunteers from all backgrounds come together to plant, harvest, and distribute fresh food to communities that need it most.
The farm also leads the Flourish Project, which supports marginalized groups through hands-on farming, giving them space to grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
During our visit, Easterns Automotive Group donated $2,200 to support the farm’s ongoing efforts. It is a small contribution toward a mission that works tirelessly every day, and we are proud to stand beside them.
This holiday season, First Fruits Farm will host Journey to Joy, a drive-thru live nativity experience at 20431 Middletown Road in Freeland, Maryland, on December 19, 20, and 21, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Organizations like First Fruits Farm remind us what community support truly looks like. That is why Giving a Lift exists.
At Easterns Automotive Group, we believe that community is built through action. When we learn about people doing extraordinary work, we step in — not for credit, but because it is the right thing to do. That’s exactly how we felt after seeing the story behind Operation Second Chance.
Operation Second Chance is a Maryland nonprofit that supports our military veterans every single day. Their mission is grounded in compassion and necessity: providing financial assistance, emotional support, and a place for rest and recovery for wounded, ill, or injured veterans and their families.
The organization was founded 21 years ago by Cindy McGrew, who spent years visiting wounded soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. What she witnessed there changed everything — the physical hardships, the emotional toll, and the tremendous financial strain families endured were impossible to ignore. Cindy decided no one should face that alone. Out of that commitment, Operation Second Chance was born.
Through the years, the organization has provided emergency financial assistance covering mortgage payments, rent, utilities, groceries, and other essential needs. Their work expanded even further in 2020 when they purchased a beautiful retreat property called Heroes Ridge. For many families, this is their first real vacation — a peaceful environment fully funded by Operation Second Chance, from travel to lodging to all activities. For veterans living at or below the poverty line, these moments of rest are not luxuries. They are lifelines.
Cindy shared how difficult it is to sustain the level of support her organization provides. She personally writes the checks covering mortgages, rent, and utilities. That level of responsibility requires constant community backing — and that’s where we wanted to help.
As part of our ongoing 7News Helping Hands partnership, 7News’ Kellye Lynn surprised Cindy with a $1,100 donation from Easterns Automotive Group. The funds will go directly toward meals, activities, and travel costs for veterans and their families who rely on Heroes Ridge and the organization’s emergency support.
Cindy’s gratitude was immediate and heartfelt. She emphasized how every dollar is stretched to meet real, urgent needs. Her work is a reminder that support for our veterans must continue long after their service ends.
At Easterns, we are proud to stand alongside organizations like Operation Second Chance — groups that show what it truly means to care for one another. Supporting them is more than a donation. It’s a commitment to the people who have sacrificed for our country and deserve dignity, stability, and a second chance.
At Easterns Automotive Group, we believe that community is built through action. When we learn about people doing extraordinary work, we step in — not for credit, but because it is the right thing to do. That’s exactly how we felt after seeing the story behind Operation Second Chance.
Operation Second Chance is a Maryland nonprofit that supports our military veterans every single day. Their mission is grounded in compassion and necessity: providing financial assistance, emotional support, and a place for rest and recovery for wounded, ill, or injured veterans and their families.
The organization was founded 21 years ago by Cindy McGrew, who spent years visiting wounded soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. What she witnessed there changed everything — the physical hardships, the emotional toll, and the tremendous financial strain families endured were impossible to ignore. Cindy decided no one should face that alone. Out of that commitment, Operation Second Chance was born.
Through the years, the organization has provided emergency financial assistance covering mortgage payments, rent, utilities, groceries, and other essential needs. Their work expanded even further in 2020 when they purchased a beautiful retreat property called Heroes Ridge. For many families, this is their first real vacation — a peaceful environment fully funded by Operation Second Chance, from travel to lodging to all activities. For veterans living at or below the poverty line, these moments of rest are not luxuries. They are lifelines.
Cindy shared how difficult it is to sustain the level of support her organization provides. She personally writes the checks covering mortgages, rent, and utilities. That level of responsibility requires constant community backing — and that’s where we wanted to help.
As part of our ongoing 7News Helping Hands partnership, 7News’ Kellye Lynn surprised Cindy with a $1,100 donation from Easterns Automotive Group. The funds will go directly toward meals, activities, and travel costs for veterans and their families who rely on Heroes Ridge and the organization’s emergency support.
Cindy’s gratitude was immediate and heartfelt. She emphasized how every dollar is stretched to meet real, urgent needs. Her work is a reminder that support for our veterans must continue long after their service ends.
At Easterns, we are proud to stand alongside organizations like Operation Second Chance — groups that show what it truly means to care for one another. Supporting them is more than a donation. It’s a commitment to the people who have sacrificed for our country and deserve dignity, stability, and a second chance.
In Lanham, Maryland, one local nonprofit is proving that compassion can change lives—one pair of socks at a time. For the Love of Socks, founded by Capri Coleman, is on a mission to make sure no one in the DMV area goes without essentials like clothing, shoes, socks, toiletries, and school supplies.
As Capri explains, “I saw people who needed clothes. They needed shoes. They needed socks and toiletries. That’s what inspired me to start this organization.”
Right now, the nonprofit is extending its kindness into the Halloween season—collecting costumes for children whose families can’t afford them. They’re asking for community donations of new or gently used costumes, and they’ll even travel to pick them up. Anyone interested in donating can reach out to capri.coleman@gmail.com to arrange a pickup time.
Despite the growing impact of her organization, Coleman is still funding most of the operation herself. To support her work and help cover the cost of storage space, Easterns Automotive Group proudly surprised Capri with a $1,100 Helping Hands check, ensuring her team can continue making a difference for families across the region.
At Easterns Automotive Group, we believe in driving change both on and off the lot. Capri’s passion for helping others reflects the very heart of what community means—showing up, lifting each other up, and spreading love through action.
To learn more about For the Love of Socks or to get involved, contact Capri at capri.coleman@gmail.com. Together, we can make sure every child feels cared for—this season and beyond.