Membership in your local CSA Chapter also includes membership in the Cel-Kids Group. Our Maryland group was first started in 2003 by Jeanne Simkins, when her son Ryan was first diagnosed with celiac disease. Prior to that, no children’s support group existed in the Baltimore area.

Upcoming events:

• Cel-Kids will once again be hosting the Children's Room at the 7th International Celiac Walk/Run. This will be our 5th year! The room will be open from 8:00 to 11:00. Kids can enjoy making crafts, decorating gluten-free cookies, eating yummy treats. There will also be entertainment. We very much need volunteers to help us with this. If you have even just 30 minutes to give to us, please call Jeanne Simkins at 410-683-3391 or email her at jmledden@aol.com.

• Upcoming events for the summer will include a gluten-free family gathering at one of the Downs Park concerts (date to be determined).

• We are also planning a joint activity with the Annapolis group for one of the Bowie Baysox games.

• This summer, Cel-Kids will be reorganizing, so that we may better serve everyone's needs. We need more volunteers to keep this group running, so we will be putting together a Steering Committee. Some of our needs include help with the newsletter, website updates, programs, membership and family/kid/teen activities. The more people involved, the less time needed. If you are interested in helping in any capacity, please call or email Jeanne and/or Pam Walasik at 1-301-829-6228 or email her at pwalasik@aol.com