Loyola College in Maryland recently received the Bread and Bricks Award, the highest honor given by the Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO). The award was presented by Rev. P. Edward Kenny, Jr., pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Govans and president of the GEDCO board of directors, at the organization’s March 26 annual meeting.

Loyola has been a member of GEDCO, a partnership of 48 North Baltimore congregations, community groups, schools, neighborhood associations and service organizations, for 14 years. As such, Loyola has supported GEDCO programs including a food pantry, job training programs, emergency financial assistance services and affordable housing.

Loyola’s involvement with GEDCO has included such wide-ranging projects as training residents of GEDCO housing properties in culinary skills programs; arranging resident activities and providing landscaping assistance at GEDCO’s Gallagher Mansion senior-living location; providing Thanksgiving food bags for families in need; provision of drivers and handicapped-accessible vans to transport residents to events; placement of summer interns; and the donation and set-up of computer equipment.

“Loyola students, faculty and staff have given generously of their time and talents in countless ways,” said Mitchell Posner, GEDCO’s executive director. “We are very grateful for their support, and are delighted to present them with this award.”