We offer several opportunities to reach out and help our community. For more information about a service program, contact the person listed below, or one of the Outreach Committee Co-Chairs:

Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS)

Serving the greater Laurel area by assisting homeless and low-income individuals and families in crisis with Homeless Outreach, Emergency Services and Transitional Housing. We participate in the Homeless Mini Walk each fall, which supports the work of LARS and helps LARS receive major grants to fund their work with people in need. Contact: Lewis Taylor at LJTaylor@Venable.com.

Food Banks

We support three food banks with a variety of goods throughout the year located at Grassroots Shelter (Columbia), LARS, and Elizabeth House (Laurel). You may leave goods in the two large labeled baskets located at our front doors (the two doorways that face Scaggsville Road.)

Food Bank Shopping List:
Cans: tuna, chicken, Spam, vegetables, fruit, soup, baked beans, Spaghetti-O’s, etc.
Boxes: cereal, dessert mixes, granola bars, crackers, etc.
Non-Perishable: peanut butter, mac and cheese, rice, beans, pasta, powdered milk, side mixes, etc.
Paper Products: toilet paper, paper towels, etc.

Souper Bowl for Caring

As we prepare to enjoy the Super Bowl, let us take this opportunity to help those in need enjoy a meal. Please bring in non-perishablefood items on January 22, January 29 andFebruary 5. We will also take a monetarydonation on February 5th which will go tobuy food for the LARS food pantry.
Last year we collected $765.00 and 840 fooditems. Let’s beat that in 2012!!

For more information about Souper Bowl for Caring, visit their website: http://www.souperbowl.org/

Elizabeth House

On the first Saturday of every month volunteers to staff Elizabeth House to help feed the people of Laurel. Sign up to volunteer at the Outreach Bulletin Board located to the left as you enter our Fellowship Hall or contact: Carolyn and Tyrone Taylor at 301-953-2557 or donbri12@comcast.net

Grassroots Shelter

This non-profit organization in Columbia provides emergency shelter, a transitional housing program and a 24-hour hotline. We support Grassroots with donations of food, money and volunteers.

For one week in the summer, a team of teens and adults from Emmanuel take on a work project. Locations have included Frostburg, MD, the Gulf Coast, and Gatlinburg, TN.  Contact: Donna Meoli at the 301-725-5200 or eumcyouth@cocmast.net. 

Winterhaven

Each February we host homeless men and women as our guests at Emmanuel for one week. Winterhaven is a collaborative program of many faith-based organizations that provide shelter and food during the winter months. Contact: Nancy Herron at 301-725-4364 or nancrabs4@yahoo.com.

American Red Cross

Emmanuel holds blood drives to assist the Red Cross in their efforts. Visit The Red Cross to view a list of upcoming drives at Emmanuel, or to sign up to donate. You can also call 1-800-272-2123, or 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment to donate using sponsor code 13952. Any questions should be directed to Elaine Williams at dekka25@yahoo.com.

Volunteer In Mission (VIM) Opportunities

Offers you a chance to participate in a mission trip to another country where you provide assistance to communities in need and develop personal relationships with people whose lives are very different from your own. Have a look at a newsletter from our missionaries Nan and Miguel and see the many blessings our mission dollars help to provide. 

Emergency Assistance to Individuals/Families in Crisis

Throughout the year we respond to individuals and families who are in crisis in our community with financial assistance and food cards for groceries.

Adopt-A-Family Christmas Gifts

Each year we adopt 10-15 families through the LARS Adopt A Family program and collect gifts for needy families. Contact: Nancy Herron at 301-725-4364 or nancrabs4@yahoo.com.

Lay Pastoral Care Team

Emmanuel has a Lay Pastoral Care Team comprised of a group of devoted, compassionate people.  We are available if you need us.  We are there to share your joys and your sorrows, and to pray with you.  We are there in times of death, illness, divorce, loneliness.  Please contact Jennifer Nance at jennifer.nance@comcast.net

Emmanuel Green Team

The Emmanuel Green Team is leading us to be a greener church.  The Green Team is guided by the Methodist Social Principals which state that:

All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings. God has granted us stewardship of creation. We should meet these stewardship duties through acts of loving care and respect.

Methodist Social Principals ¶160

What does our Green Team do?

The Emmanuel Green Team promotes environmentally sustainable practices at Emmanuel UMC through educational events, leadership in worship services, community recycling days, a newsletter column and more. Click here for a description of our active Green Team programs. Contact Liz Feighner, the chair of the Green Team for more information EUMCgreenteam@gmail.com