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Jocelyn and Sophia restock the shelved at the CCC food pantry

Service Year Spotlight: How Jocelyn and Sophia Found Purpose at Columbia Community Care

General / By

In the quiet moments before Columbia Community Care’s food pantry opens each morning, Jocelyn Ball and Sophia Smith are already hard at work. They might be arranging fresh produce deliveries, picking up items from Costco or Trader Joe’s, stocking and sorting items onto the shelves, or assisting volunteers who shop and deliver groceries to local […]

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graphic showing the cover of columbia community care 2024 annual report

Columbia Community Care 2024 Annual Report: Building Connections, Creating Change

Annual Report / By

We’re proud to share our 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a year of growth, impact, and community connection. What began as a simple Facebook post in March 2020 has blossomed into a vital community resource, serving 300-400 families weekly and creating transformative opportunities for youth and adults throughout Howard County. As we mark our fifth year

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a woman holds grocery bags with text overlay that reads: "breaking down barriers: understanding food access challenges in howard county" and the CCC logo at the lower center.

Breaking Down Barriers: Understanding Food Access Challenges in Howard County

Community, Hunger Relief / By

“Food insecurity isn’t just about hunger – it’s about deeply rooted systemic barriers that prevent people from accessing the nutrition they need,” explains Erika Chavarria, executive director of Columbia Community Care (CCC). “Even in an affluent area like Howard County, we see how these barriers impact our neighbors every day.” While Howard County appears prosperous

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Statement from Columbia Community Care on Recent Executive Orders

General / By

From Executive Director Erika Chavarria and CCC’s Board of Directors At Columbia Community Care, we remain steadfast in our mission to create authentic connections and community partnerships and to listen, and respond by providing resources and programs, while respecting the inherent dignity of every person.  Since the Executive Orders issued in January, we have heard

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a group of volunteers from Millers Grant pose with a site coordinator from CCC. A bouquet of flowers sits on a table in front of them.

Miller’s Grant Opens its Hands and Hearts to Columbia Community Care

Community, Hunger Relief, Stories, Volunteer / By

Once a month, a group of volunteers from Miller’s Grant, a retirement community in Howard County, head to the Columbia Community Care food pantry to volunteer. “We started out with volunteers helping at the distribution site in Long Reach,” said Monica Fortner, who coordinates the Miller’s Grant volunteers and serves as a liaison with CCC.

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Transformative Journeys: Highlights from The Black August Summer Institute

Stories, Youth / By

This summer, our young mentees and mentors from the STAND and PUSH programs traveled to Mexico for the Black August Summer Institute – a transformative experience hosted at Mud & Lotus Baja. This beautiful, palm tree-laden ranch set the scene for unforgettable experiences blending education, adventure, and personal growth. A Setting That Inspires With its

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