Community Action Council of Howard County's mission is to diminish poverty, enable self-sufficiency and advocate for low-income families and individuals.  CAC's programs include early childhood education, housing assistance, energy and weatherization, and food assistance.  
CAC of Howard County Newsletter, Summer 2016
Message from the President
 
   
O ur Call to Action, as we approach the holiday season, is to help End Hunger in Howard County. Not just for the season but on an ongoing basis.
 
It can be done. It will take a collective action and an intentional and purposeful means of addressing an issue that impacts more than 27,000 of our residents. But, we move forward knowing that we are problem solvers in Howard County and together there isn't anything we can't do.
 
Here are some stats to help us solidify our call to action:  50 million Americans struggle to put enough nutritious food on the table. In Maryland, it's 13% of the population - that's 760,000 children, youth, adults and senior citizens. In Howard County, 7.3% of our friends, neighbors, and families are going hungry and are food insecure.
 
As a community we can take action in a multi-prong fashion that helps support families who are in an immediate need as well as in a sustainable fashion. While the homeless remain the most visible faces of hunger, the need for food assistance is also rising among children, seniors, and working families. We see it every day at the Howard County Food Bank.
 
You can make a difference and there are many ways that you can help us End Hunger in Howard County. Supporting the Howard County Food Bank in directly helping families in need is one approach:
 
This is how your contribution helps Howard County children, adults and families:
$50     Helps to feed a person for a few days.
$100   Helps to feed a person for a week.
$200   Helps to feed a family for a week. 
$500   Helps to feed multiple families over a week.
$1200 Helps to feed a child 2 meals a day for a school year.
 
There are also other ways of getting involved and supporting the End Hunger in Howard County efforts. You can help by volunteering at the Food Bank or at our Community Garden, or by advocating for policies and legislation that allow for more Maryland students to start the school day with a healthy breakfast in the classroom or by simply talking to our elected officials and letting them know that you are interested in this issue and how you feel about the importance of access to nutritious food for those struggling to make ends meet.
 
You can also go on our   Facebook and write a statement of pledge that "I believe that no one should go hungry and I will stand shoulder to shoulder with CAC as we work to End Hunger in Howard County. I will help create awareness that more than 27,000 in Howard County are feed insecure and need our help as a community."
 
Please visit our website to learn more about what we do to support this cause.
 
To volunteer at CAC, please email Sarah.
 
And please don't forget that #GivingTuesday is right around the corner on November 29th. Support CAC by donating directly or promoting our organization on  Facebook   and  Twitter .
 
 
Have a safe and happy holiday season and thank you for your continued support of CAC. 

WE HAVE MOVED! 
The HOWARD COUNTY FOOD BANK will open its doors to donors on November 18th and to clients on November 28th.  The new address is: 9385 Gerwig Lane, Columbia, MD 21046


Hundreds of CAC Clients Look Forward to 
Bountiful Thanksgiving Dinners
More than 800 low-income people who live in Howard County have been invited to CAC's 12th annual Turkey Distribution. With help from CAC staff and volunteers, they will receive turkeys and fixings galore for traditional Thanksgiving feasts. 



Picture from 2015: County Executive Allan Kittleman assisted a CAC client with her Thanksgiving Dinner from last year's Turkey Distribution. 



Check out Hunger Campaign at Wegmans Columbia 

Once again this year from now until November 26th, Wegmans of Columbia is collecting donations at the register to contribute to CAC's Thanksgiving efforts. Please consider shopping this month at Wegmans and contributing a few dollars to their "Check out Hunger" campaign. 
Wegmans Columbia  
8855 McGaw Road
Columbia, MD 21045


Holland Dinner Shines a Spotlight on Service


A crowd of more than 400 people left CAC's annual Holland Awards Dinner at Turf Valley Resort on Oct. 20 feeling inspired by speeches about the importance of serving others.  The event, which raised almost $200,000, also honored the Howard 7 Rotary Clubs. 


UPCOMING EVENTS
 
NOW through Nov. 26, 2016
Check out Hunger Campaign at Wegmans:
8855 McGaw Road, Columbia, MD 21045
Money collected at the registers supports CAC's Thanksgiving efforts.

November 18, 2016
Food Bank donations NOW being accepted at the new location:
9385 Gerwig Lane, Columbia, MD 21046

November 22, 2016
Turkey Distribution
11am-2pm
St. John Baptist Church

November 29, 2016
Giving Tuesday
Join us in our online giving campaign.

CAC CHAMPIONS!
 



WE HAVE THE MOST AMAZING STAFF! 
As each CAC team member works and strives for excellence in our quest to enable others to enhance the quality of their lives and to share in the promise and opportunity of our community, we realize it takes a tremendous team effort from each and every member of our staff.  Read here about why these 6 were selected this quarter. 

NEW FACES!

 
Welcome & get to know CAC's  NEW EMPLOYEES. 


Glen Mar Family 5K and 1-Mile Walk

 
For the first time in its four-year history, participants in the
Glen Mar Family 5K and 1-Mile Walk  got soaked - and not from sweating.  But that didn't stop the event, held Oct. 1, from raising $7,800 for the Howard County Food Bank, the highest amount it has ever raised.
 
The event started and ended at Glen Mar United Methodist Church in Ellicott City and included the almost legendary hills surrounding the area.
 
Three hundred pounds of food participants brought to the event or collected at the fall church-wide food drive were also given to the food bank.  More will be donated after Glen Mar's Early Learning Center completes its food drive.
 
 





When shopping online through Amazon, especially this holiday season, consider using our UNIQUE AMAZON LINK  to make your purchases.  This link is the same Amazon site you are used to, just has a unique way of tracking towards OUR organization & donates a portion of your purchase to CAC. 

Win-Win!  Please tell your friends & bookmark this unique link for future purchases. (The link can also be found on the donation page of our WEBSITE).
 


 
HELP US HELP HOWARD COUNTY
CAC's dedicated staff of  100  employees provides services for 35,000 Howard County residents.  That's a lot of people relying on us every day to provide basic services.

And we've done a pretty good job so far.

But the need for our services has increased 243% over the past six years, so we are seeking help from the Howard County community to k eep up with the demand.

  
We have many ways for you to give - financially, through in-kind donations and by volunteering. Your generous donations help CAC:
  • Operate the Howard County Food Bank
  • Administer the Head Start program for almost 300 pre-K children
  • Provide energy/weatherization help
  • Offer housing assistance to prevent homelessness.
To secure your commitment to CAC and Howard County residents living in poverty, please contact Brad Dwin at 410-313-3714 or  [email protected]. He would be thrilled to walk you through all of CAC's many contribution options.

You can even visit our web site and donate directly.