Many people find the holiday season to be a time to share their blessings with the less fortunate. Local organizations and advocacy groups such as those below would put your gift to good use.
• Oaklands Presbyterian Church has a food pantry on-site and can always use donations of food and/or money for residents who are in need of help.
Wish List: Canned chicken, canned soup, canned tuna fish, canned vegetables, pasta and sauces, peanut butter and jelly, breakfast cereal, macaroni and cheese, other staples. Donations can be dropped off during office hours, Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 14301 Laurel Bowie Road. 301-776-5833.
• FISH of Laurel Inc./Elizabeth House helps needy neighbors in the greater Laurel area by providing dinners, groceries, referral services and, on a very limited basis, some financial help. Mailing address: FISH of Laurel Inc., P.O. Box 36, Laurel, MD 20725-0036. Street address: 308 Gorman Ave., Laurel, MD 20707. fishoflaurel.org. Email webmaster@fishoflaurel.org. General information: 301-776-9296. Help line: 301-262-7106.
Wish List: Desperately need volunteer coordinator (person can perform duties via phone and email) to schedule volunteers who work in soup kitchen. Also need cash donations and nonperishable food items all year long.
• Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services is a non-proselytizing ecumenical ministry serving the greater Laurel area by assisting homeless and low-income individuals or families experiencing crisis with emergency and long-term services designed to promote self-sufficiency.
Wish List: Volunteers needed to help in the pantry in December and January. Loose gifts (no used items) and food needed for families who have not been adopted. Gifts/food to be given out Dec. 20. Also need things for teenagers as well as gift cards (grocery, gas, department stores). Pantry items needed: Peanut butter and jelly, tuna and Tuna Helper, canned fruit and vegetables, canned soup, beans, cereal, oatmeal, "just-add-water" pancake mix, macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce, rice and other staples. LARS is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Monday evenings, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., 311 Laurel Ave. General donations can also be made to help fund programs such as eviction prevention and utility assistance. Make checks payable to LARS; to donate online, go to laureladvocacy.org and click on Give Direct.
• Side by Side works to engage, equip and encourage parents to partner with schools to promote their children's success in the classroom. 424 Main St., Laurel, MD 20707, 202-710-5555, sidebyside@sidebysidelaurel.org. sidebysidelaurel.org.
Wish List: Carpet for an office (15 by 20 feet).
• Laurel Cats is a nonprofit community effort to find and implement ways for outdoor "community" cats to live harmoniously alongside people, their homes and their businesses throughout Laurel, while humanely reducing their numbers. For information or to volunteer, contact Helen Woods, 301-886-0161.
Wish List: Volunteers are needed, especially outgoing people willing to help knock on doors to get the word out to the poor about free spay and neuter. Spanish-speaking, bilingual translators also needed. Webmaster needed. Donations of cat food, especially wet food, and money to pay for spay and neuter needed. Small donations can be dropped off at Spay Now Animal Surgery Clinic at 7401 Van Dusen Road. For pickup of larger items, contact info@laurelcats.org or call 301-886-0161. Monetary donations can be sent to Laurel Cats, P.O. 57, Laurel, MD 20725.
• DDM Insurance partnering with Beltsville Lions Club and Laurel Pregnancy Center to collect items for Laurel Pregnancy Center, which provides pregnancy tests and other confidential services. The Laurel Pregnancy Center does not recommend, refer or provide for abortions or abortifacients. Donations may be dropped off Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at DDM Insurance, 10732 Baltimore Ave., Twin Chimneys Office Park, Beltsville, by Dec. 15. Questions, contact Steve Deadrick, 301-937-1500, Ext.17.
Wish List: Diapers (sizes 4, 5 and 6), baby wipes, onesies (sizes NB, 0-3 months, 3-6 months), infant hats, receiving blankets, pacifiers, baby lotion, bibs, infant socks and booties, infant toys, infant books, infant washcloths and towels, burp cloths and baby powder.
• Sarah's House is a homeless shelter and transitional housing program in Anne Arundel County, 2015 20th St., Fort Meade. Call 410-551-7722 or SHChristmasTeam2014@cc-md.org.
Wish List: Items on Angel Tree for children and adults at Sarah's House.
• HopeWorks of Howard County Inc. (formerly Domestic Violence Center) is a private nonprofit agency, which provides services to women, children and men impacted by intimate partner violence and sexual assault in Howard County. All HopeWorks services are confidential and fees are based on income.
Wish List: Adopt-A-Family holiday project donors still needed. HopeWorks supplies wish lists of items (clothing, toys, household items, etc.) from a client and his/her children. Gift cards are strongly encouraged. Please wrap purchased gifts and use post-it note to identify gift and who it is for. To support this holiday drive, email Peter Olthoff by Monday, Dec. 1 at polthoff@wearehopeworks.org. A client wish list will be provided. Bring all items to HopeWorks office, 5457 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 310, Columbia, no later than 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15.
Ongoing client needs: $25 gas cards, $25 grocery cards, batteries (all sizes), over- the-counter medication (Ibuprofen, Tylenol, aspirin, cough drops/cough syrup/cold and allergy medicine, without alcohol). Items considered high need: household items, paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, tissues, laundry detergent (high efficiency), aluminum foil, 60- and 75-watt light bulbs, latex gloves, non-latex gloves, plastic hangers; food items (only non-perishable items), hot and cold cereal, 64-ounce jugs juice; personal items, diapers (all sizes, especially 3T and 4T); gift cards (Target, Walmart).
• Hospice of the Chesapeake, a nonprofit headquartered in Pasadena, serves patients and their families in Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties by improving the quality of life for those in communities experiencing advanced illness or bereavement through hospice and other palliative care, compassionate support and education. The Largo office is at 9500 Arena Drive, Suite 250, Largo, 301-499-4500
Wish List: Volunteers are needed to assist with patient care, vigil volunteers, Hospice House volunteers and fundraising/event volunteers. Call 443-837-1549, email mhenry@hospicechesapeake.org or go to hospicechesapeake.org for more information. Training provided. Volunteers with four-wheel drive vehicles in Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties are needed to assist patients and staff with transportation during inclement weather conditions this winter. Call Volunteer Department, 443-837-1549 or toll free 800-745-6132.
Stop by Treasures, Hospice of the Chesapeake's upscale resale shop in Park Plaza, Severna Park, for Holiday Open House, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring special sales and refreshments. Enter 18th-annual Santa Doll Raffle for handmade, nostalgic soft-sculpture doll-sized replica Santa. Tickets $1 each or six for $5 through Dec. 19. Drawing Dec. 20. No need to be present to win. Treasures is staffed by volunteers and all sales benefit Hospice of the Chesapeake.
• Toys for Tots, sponsored by the local Marine Corps Reserve, is a toy drive for underprivileged children. Local drop-off locations through Dec. 15: Academy Ford, 13401 Baltimore Ave.; American Legion Post 60, 2 Main St.; Aquilent, 1100 West St.; CMIT Elementary School, 6151 Chevy Chase Drive; Dunkin' Donuts, 14903 Baltimore Ave.; Essentials Beauty Spa, 130 Washington Blvd.; Five Below, 14260 Baltimore Ave.; HS Pabla MD PC, 14333 Laurel Bowie Road; Laurel College Center, 312 Marshall Ave.; St. Mark's Church Young Adult Ministry, 601 Eighth St.; Mission BBQ, 14712 Baltimore Ave.; Patuxent River Rehab and Health, 14200 Laurel Park Drive; Sandy Spring Bank, 14404 Baltimore Ave.; and Camden Russett, 8500 Summit View Place (through Dec. 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). For other locations, go to toysfortots.org.
Wish List: Need children's toys for Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties and members of the community to help with the campaign.
• Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center is an emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis intervention center, 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia 21044, 410-531-6006. Contact Kathie DiNoto, 410-531-6006 or kathie@grassroots.org. grassrootscrisis.org.
Wish List: Gift cards to food stores, Target, Walmart; new pillows, twin-size sheets, bath towels and wash cloths; new sport shirts (Ravens, Redskins, Steelers, Terps) for adults and teens; new pajama sets, bath robes and slippers for men and women.; cleaning supplies; disinfectant, cleanser, laundry detergent, fabric softener sheets and bleach; new toys (no games, please) for kids ages 2 to 13.
• The Arc of Howard County is the oldest and largest nonprofit organization that provides services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Howard County. 11735 Homewood Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042. archoward.org .
Wish List: Need two digital cameras, small percussion instruments, new pots and pans, blenders, packaged/new linens, new/unused towels and vacuum cleaners. Contact Lisa Kawata at 410-730-0638, Ext. 271 or lkawata@archoward.org.
• Success In Style provides free business wardrobes and coaching to disadvantaged men and women seeking employment. Successinstyle@verizon.net. successinstyle.org. Proceeds from Charity's Closet, a thrift boutique for women and teens; Phil's Closet, a thrift shop for men; and Cherie Amour bridal resale all benefit Success In Style. Charity's Closet is open for shopping and donations drop-off, located at 8600 Foundry St., New Weave Building, ground floor, at Savage Mill, in Savage. 301-498-5035.
Wish List: Clothing donations for men and women especially plus sizes; big demand for plus-sized suits; jewelry; handbags, especially black; new undergarments for men (T-shirts, briefs and boxers); new dress socks for men; queen-sized panty hose and knee highs in black and brown; mirror; round racks; women's shoes, especially size 8 and up; men's shoes, especially size 11 and up. Also need wedding dresses, maids and mom dresses, evening shoes, veils, jewelry and tuxedos. Volunteers are needed for all three resale shops, which raise funds for Success In Style. Volunteer help needed Tuesday through Sunday. The Success in Style location in Laurel needs help on Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Contact Missy Burke at missyatcharitys@gmail.com.
• Operation Welcome Home (MD) provides a military hero's welcome several days a week at BWI International terminal to personnel returning home from overseas deployments. Go to web page or Facebook page for information on dates and times of the events. A phone line is updated by 9 a.m. each morning, when events are expected. 410-630-1555.
Wish List: Volunteers are needed to attend welcome home event by cheering, clapping, shaking hands and saying thanks. Many of there servicemembers do not have families in the area as they are en route to their hometown. They are extremely surprised with the outpouring of the local community.
Community organizations, schools, scout and church groups are invited to organize collections drive to gather snacks for the troops. Items include candy, snack-size cookies, chips, cheese and cracker packages, granola bars and water. Volunteers needed to write "Welcome Home" cards to fill the snack bags. Chorus groups, or small quartets, needed to entertain the families while they are waiting for their loved ones.
• FEED THE 500 is an event dedicated to giving away a week's supply of groceries to food insecure military and civilian families the week before Christmas. Tracy Price is working with her team of dedicated volunteers from the Philemon Ministry and surrounding communities. This event started in 2009 and has been consistent in its efforts to meet the goal of feeding 500 families every year since then.
Food will be distributed to families Saturday, Dec. 20, but money needs to be raised so FEED THE 500 can feed as many as possible. Sites where food will be distributed: Bowie, Fort Meade (military families) and Baltimore. FEED THE 500 has partnered with various organizations in the area and will provide them a list of families.
Wish List: FEED THE 500 is funded solely on donations. The breakdown of funding to feed one, three, five, 10 and 20 families follows. Any donation is welcome. Individual sponsorship levels: $37.50, one family; $112.50, three families; $187.50, five families; $375, 10 families and $750, 20 families. For corporate sponsorship and what each level includes, contact Tracy Price at 240-606-5987.
• Neighbor Ride is a volunteer-based nonprofit transportation service that helps Howard County senior citizens stay active, independent and connected to the community by providing transportation for medical appointments, social outings, religious services, fitness activities, educational pursuits, shopping and other personal needs. neighborride.org .
Wish List: New drivers are especially needed now, as demand for transportation service continues to grow. Daytime, evening and weekend volunteer opportunities are available and drivers may choose to provide rides that are convenient to their homes, offices and daily routines. No set schedule is required. Parents are also welcome to bring their children along when volunteering for a wonderful intergenerational experience. Contact Patrice Cerwonka or Rosemary Noble at 410-884-7433 or volunteer@neighborride.org.
• Maryland Therapeutic Riding is a premier Accredited Therapeutic Riding Center that offers therapeutic horseback riding lessons for children and adults with physical, mental and emotional disabilities.
Wish List: During holiday season, volunteers are needed to provide loving care to horses and assist with facility projects and barn maintenance while riders are away. Year round, volunteers, ages 14 and up, needed to assist with riding lessons and throughout the week to assist with horse care, barn and facility maintenance. For more information about volunteering, go to horsesthatheal.org or contact Julianne at volunteer@mtrinc.org or call 410-923-6800.
• Volunteer Center Serving Howard County Holiday Guide to Giving 2014 is a resource for volunteering and donating during the holidays. To access the guide, go to volunteerhoward.org and click on the 2014 guide to view online or download. 410-715-3172.
Wish List: Volunteer and donation needs of local nonprofits are listed in guide.
• Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County's Holiday Volunteer Guide 2014 includes a variety of volunteer opportunities along with charitable organizations' wish lists for items that can make a real difference for people who are less fortunate. Receive a free copy at Volunteer Center, 2666 Riva Road, Suite 130, Annapolis, MD 21401, or by sending request to Iask.aacvc@outlook.com. Download from aacvc.org/resources.
Wish List: Gifts of time and in-kind donations for charities listed in guide.