You must be 15 years of age to work in the shelter. However, projects such as collecting needed items are available for younger volunteers. Please see our volunteer page.
Yes, most high school students that volunteer here are working towards completion of their community service hours.
This would be on an individual basis. Volunteer Coordinator would make determination based on how much supervision they need, the offense committed, etc.
Simply click here to go to our donations page to contribute online through a secure credit card form or PayPal.
Grassroots has a wish list of items that we need every day. Donations can be dropped off at our main location at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A, Columbia, MD 21045.
No, unfortunately we do not have the storage space to take donations of used children’s items. We work with several thrift shops in the area to obtain such items when we need them.
There are a number of local organizations who accept donations of used clothing. Please contact the individual organization for specific donation requirements.
Success in Style/Charity’s Closet
8600 Foundry Street, New Weave Building
Savage, MD 20763
301-498-5035
http://www.successinstyle.org
*Accepts donations of clean, like-new professional women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories. Please call or visit their web site for more information.
Grace Community Church
8200 Old Columbia Road
Fulton, MD 21759
240-553-1090
Grace Community Church Clothes Closet
*Operates a “Clothes Pantry” for those in need. Please call or visit their web site for drop-off and labeling requirements.
Laurel Thrift Store
9880 Washington Blvd N
Laurel, MD 20723
301-953-0090
*Accepts donations of clothing and other items. Please call for hours of operation.
Day Resource Center, a Grassroots program
at the Leola Dorsey Community Resource Center
10390 Guilford Road
Suite A (first floor)
Jessup, MD 20794
301-776-9900
web site: http://www.daycenter.org/
e-mail: daycenter@verizon.net
*Accepts donations of men’s and women’s jeans (need lots of men’s), t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, sweaters, thermal underwear, heavy shoes, hats, gloves, tennis shoes, socks, underwear.
Open 3 days a week.
Mondays 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wednesdays 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Saturdays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Salvation Army Family Store
10350 Guilford Avenue
Savage, MD 20763
301-776-4888
*Accepts donations of outdoor clothing men and women, jeans, t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, shoes, hats, gloves, socks, new men’s underwear (boxers or briefs).
A crisis is unique to every individual. Generally, a crisis is a situation where there is a traumatic or stressful change in a person’s life that may leave him or her feeling overwhelmed and in need of assistance. Crisis counseling provides education, guidance and support. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call our Grassroots Crisis Hotline at 410-531-6677. We are available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Please tell the person to call the Grassroots Crisis Hotline at 410-531-6677. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are calling about a housing issue, are seeking shelter or temporary housing, please contact the coordinated homeless system on the Grassroots hotline. They will listen to the situation and provide additional information and resources. Their phone number is 410-531-6677.
No, we accept calls from anyone, anywhere.
Yes, we offer free walk-in crisis counseling. However, there may be short wait depending on availability of counselors.
No, we answer calls on a variety of topics including suicide, family and relationship problems, shelter needs, violent or threatening domestic situations, loneliness or depression, and chemical dependency issues, among others.
No, callers may remain anonymous.
Grassroots is located at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia, Maryland in Howard County. Our crisis center is near the intersection of Routes 108 and 29.
Yes, we get this question posed to us every once in a while. Despite what our name may imply, Grassroots is not involved in landscaping, lawn mowing, or yard work.
Joe Eldred joined Grassroots in 2023 as director of Homeless Services where he oversees the emergency shelter programs and the Grassroots Day Resource Center. He started his career in homeless services nearly 20 years ago, having previously worked in education, after participating in a homeless count in Seattle. He has held every position in affordable housing from Onsite Property Manager to Director of Housing and Property Management.
Over his years, Joe has run all types of housing offerings including those for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use issues, seniors, farm workers, and those with disabilities and HIV/AIDS. He has also worked with many different types of funding programs including HUD, PRAC 202, PRAC 811, USDA Rural Housing funds and funding services designed to break the cycle of homelessness like Continuum of Care and the Maryland Homelessness Solutions Program. Joe has had the opportunity to see how housing programs differ throughout the country, working in Seattle, Chicago, Harrisburg, PA and Ventura, CA, among others.
Nancy Campbell supervises the operations of Grassroots, including HR, finance, emergency shelter, homeless services, case management and facilities. She has more than 30 years of experience in managing organizations’ operations activities, mostly in the human services field.
Community support is a passion for Nancy. She feels that mental health and homelessness often co-occur, and her goal is to develop strong strategic plans that meet the needs of Grassroots’ clients. She looks to make a difference by effectively working with our programs and staff to explore what we can offer to the community. She pays special focus on efforts that help individuals adjust while in the emergency shelter, as well as those that help them achieve stable housing. Nancy has her PMP, master’s degree in Psychology and MBA, and is currently in school to pursue a Doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Management.
Laura Willemin oversees all of the clinical and crisis services at Grassroots, including the crisis line, walk-in services, 988 crisis chat and text services, Mobile Crisis Team, substance use disorder program, urgent care mental health services and Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. She joined Grassroots in 2021 having previously served as manager of the Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Services for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. She also worked in Prince George’s Child Protective Services, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in the community.
Laura’s career has been concentrated in intense, fast-paced, high-acuity, safety-related and high-risk areas of practice. She appreciates the opportunity to support individuals and families during the most difficult or intense circumstances they may experience through the lifespan. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C).