Holiday Hope: Shepherd’s Staff seeks help in its mission to assist Carroll residents in crisis

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series running through December profiling the five local charities that will benefit from the 2023 Holiday Hope campaign, sponsored by The Carroll County Times and The Kahlert Foundation.

The need for services provided by The Shepherd’s Staff has grown in recent years in Carroll County and continues to rise, according to the nonprofit’s executive director, Brenda Meadows.

“The need is great,” Meadows said. “There’s a lot of food insecurity out there and we’re trying to provide some wraparound services or some crisis services to help make them whole.”

The Shepherd’s Staff is a nondenominational Christian outreach and support center with locations in Westminster, Eldersburg and New Windsor. It offers fellowship, financial assistance, food, clothes, medical support and transportation, personal care products such as toothbrushes and toiletries, and other items for people in need.

Meadows said the organization has helped individuals purchase new work boots, repair a hot water heater, pay bills such as a mortgage or utilities, and meet other necessities.

The nonprofit has helped 420 new families this year as of mid-October, Meadows said. That’s more than the 360 new families the nonprofit helped in all of 2022. The Shepherd’s Staff provided services to 5,550 individuals last year, up from 4,500 in 2021.

“The number of folks that we’re serving is increasing just because of where the economy is right now, and we’ve had to modify the way we are providing our services because we’re running out of space,” Meadows said.

Those in need of donated goods or services are asked to make an appointment to receive help from The Shepherd’s Staff.

“For families that come in … we estimate they can save themselves about $3,000 to $5,000 a year if they utilize programs,” Meadows said. “That money can go back into their household budget and help them meet their bills, pay their mortgage, pay their insurance, utilize the funds for gas, or wherever they need that money.”

Ellen Finnerty Myers, executive director of The Kahlert Foundation, said The Shepherd’s Staff provides much-needed food and clothing year-round, but their holiday initiative to provide stockings for underserved kids goes above and beyond to help the Carroll community.

The Kahlert Foundation supports The Shepherd’s Staff with fundraising initiatives and is a partner in the Carroll County Times Holiday Hope Campaign.

“One of the things I love about Shepherd’s Staff that they do this time of year, is filling stockings and make sure they get those to homes in the community for Christmastime,” Myers said. “That’s always a really special added addition to what they do during the holiday season.”

The organization plans to distribute around 1,200 stockings this year, Meadows said. The Shepherd’s Staff also provides sacks filled with holiday gifts to homebound older adults.

Shepherd’s Staff is holding a free holiday concert for the community at 7 p.m., Dec. 9, at Winters Mill High School, 560 Gorsuch Road, Westminster. Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items and personal care products. Meadows said donations are encouraged, but not required.

“As a privately funded organization, we can’t do what we do without the community,” Meadows said. “Without their donations, whether it’s financial or in-kind, the people in crisis here in Carroll County cannot be served. And for us, it’s a blessing to be able to be here and be their hands and feet. We get to work directly with the folks that are struggling and try and make them whole, but it is on the behalf of the people in the community that we do that.”

The Holiday Hope campaign provides unrestricted funds that organizations can use in areas that need the most assistance.

To participate in Holiday Hope, donate online at http://bit.ly/cctholidayhope or write a check payable to one of the organizations below and send to: Holiday Hope, 332-140 Village Road PM8179, Westminster, MD 21157. Include the form found inside the print edition of The Carroll County Times to receive a thank you card from the organization.