Churches and Charities That Help Seniors in Maryland

Bottom Line

Maryland has many local charities, churches, food banks, volunteer ride groups, home repair nonprofits, legal nonprofits, and caregiver support groups that may help older adults. The best first step is usually a local food bank, a faith-based charity, or a senior-focused nonprofit in your county. Call before you go. Hours, service areas, and funding can change fast.

This guide focuses on non-government help. For state benefit programs, see the broader Maryland benefits guide for a separate list of public programs and benefit paths.

What this guide covers

This guide is for Maryland seniors, caregivers, family members, and neighbors who need practical local help. It covers food, churches, basic needs, rides, home safety, caregiver support, legal help, clinics, and community-specific nonprofits. It does not explain county aging offices, state agencies, federal benefits, tax offices, or public housing programs.

You may see 2-1-1 in this guide. It is listed only as a referral tool. It can help you find local charities near your ZIP code. This is not a government program guide.

Contents

This guide covers food, faith groups, rent and utility help, older-adult nonprofits, rides, home repair, caregiver support, legal help, community-specific groups, call scripts, documents, a Spanish summary, and FAQ.

Fastest local places to ask for help

If you need help soon, start with the group that matches your need and your county. For food, search first. For rent or utilities, call first. For legal issues, apply as early as you can. If you are in danger, call 911. If you are thinking about harming yourself or someone else, call or text 988.

Local food banks and food pantries

Food is often the fastest need to solve because Maryland has several strong food networks. A food pantry may help even when a rent fund is empty. Many pantries are run by churches, synagogues, mosques, community nonprofits, and local volunteers.

Maryland Food Bank

The Maryland Food Bank has a Find Food tool that points people to partner pantries and county food resources. It also reminds visitors to contact a partner before visiting because hours, eligibility rules, and pickup steps may change.

Who it may help: Maryland residents who need groceries, pantry food, or a nearby food distribution site.

How to ask: Search by ZIP code, then call the pantry. Ask, “Do you serve seniors in my ZIP code, and what do I need to bring?”

Reality check: Some pantries serve only certain ZIP codes or require a referral. Do not wait until your food is gone if you can call earlier.

Capital Area Food Bank

The Capital Area Food Bank lists senior food help for adults over 60 in D.C. and parts of Maryland, including Montgomery County. Its senior grocery program may provide 25 to 30 pounds of food each month for income-eligible older adults.

Who it may help: Seniors over 60 in the served area who meet the program rules.

How to ask: Call the program line listed by the food bank and ask where to apply near your home.

Reality check: This is location-based. Some Maryland seniors will need a different pantry or food bank.

Manna Food Center

In Montgomery County, Manna Food Center provides food through public distribution sites, grocery vouchers, market-style programs, and support for people with mobility barriers. Manna also notes that it can deliver food directly to some older adults or people with disabilities.

Who it may help: Montgomery County residents who need food help, including older adults with mobility limits.

How to ask: Call 301-424-1130 and ask which distribution site or delivery option fits your situation.

Reality check: Manna focuses on Montgomery County. If you live elsewhere, start with the Maryland Food Bank tool.

Home-delivered meals

Meals on Wheels serves parts of Central Maryland with home-delivered meals for people who are homebound and unable to shop or cook because of age, illness, or disability. It may also connect some clients with grocery help and safety-net support.

Who it may help: Homebound seniors and adults with disabilities in its service area.

How to ask: Call 410-558-0923 and say you want to apply for home-delivered meals.

Reality check: Meals may have a fee based on income and expenses. Ask before you assume it is free.

Churches and faith groups that may help seniors

Many Maryland churches and faith groups help with food, small emergency aid, clothing, rides, or referrals. Help is usually local and limited. It may be tied to a parish, ZIP code, or city. You usually do not need to be a member, but you should ask.

Catholic Charities in Maryland

Answers for Aging is a free Catholic Charities phone-based information and referral service for older adults, families, friends, and caregivers. It can help callers think through housing, in-home care, community resources, and care planning.

Who it may help: Older adults and caregivers who need direction, especially in Central Maryland.

How to ask: Call 667-600-2100 or 1-888-502-7587 in Maryland and explain your main problem in one sentence.

Reality check: An information line may not pay bills. It can still help you avoid wrong turns.

Salvation Army local centers

The Salvation Army Central Maryland social services page tells residents to choose their county or local center because services are limited to that location. Some centers list food, shelter help, eviction prevention, and BGE turn-off help when funds and appointments are available.

Who it may help: Seniors and households in the listed service areas, including Baltimore County, Carroll County, Glen Burnie, Havre de Grace/Cecil County, and Howard County.

How to ask: Call the local center and ask, “Do you have appointments for rent, utility, food, or basic-needs help this week?”

Reality check: Funds can run out. A center may ask for a notice, lease, ID, and proof of income.

St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore

St. Vincent de Paul provides community services in the Baltimore region, including hunger, shelter, housing, and other poverty-related support. Local St. Vincent de Paul parish conferences may also help people close to the church area.

Who it may help: Baltimore-area residents facing hunger, homelessness, or hardship.

How to ask: Call 410-662-0500 and ask which program or local conference covers your address.

Reality check: This is not a statewide rent fund. You may be referred to another group based on where you live.

For a broader national list of faith-based options, use our church help guide as a backup, then call local Maryland congregations directly.

Charities that may help with rent, utilities, and basic needs

Rent and utility help is harder to get than food. Most charity funds are small. Some groups can pay a landlord or utility company only after you show a shutoff notice, eviction notice, lease, income, and expenses. Start early if you have a court date or a turn-off notice.

Interfaith Works in Montgomery County

Interfaith Works serves Montgomery County residents through food, clothing, referrals, and IW Connections. Its resource coordinators are bilingual in English and Spanish, and IW Connections lists emergency financial help for rent and utilities for eligible county residents.

Who it may help: Montgomery County residents with low income who need rent, utility, food, clothing, or referral help.

How to ask: Call IW Connections at 240-641-6307 or email iwconnections@iworksmc.org.

Reality check: Eligibility is tied to county residency and income. Funding is not guaranteed.

When a charity cannot cover the full bill

Ask whether the group can pay a small part if another charity pays the rest. Some landlords or utilities will not stop action unless the full past-due amount is covered. If the need is mainly a public benefit issue, use the separate emergency help guide instead of relying only on charities.

Local nonprofits that help older adults

Some Maryland nonprofits do not hand out cash, but they can help seniors solve the larger problem. That may mean case management, housing advice, caregiver support, meal delivery, home safety, or a warm referral to a partner.

Volunteer ride and transportation groups

Transportation help in Maryland is very local. Volunteer rides are best for planned medical appointments, grocery trips, pharmacy trips, faith services, and social visits. They are not for emergencies.

Neighbor Ride in Howard County

Neighbor Ride serves Howard County seniors with volunteer rides for medical care, shopping, faith activities, and social outings. Call 410-884-7433 to register. Book early because rides depend on volunteer drivers.

Senior Connection in Montgomery County

Senior Connection lists SeniorRides as a free escorted ride service for Montgomery County residents age 60 or older. It may allow up to six round trips per month. Apply before your first appointment.

Neighborhood Companions in Baltimore County

Neighborhood Companions focuses on transportation and companionship for older adults in parts of Baltimore County, especially Dundalk and Turner Station. Ask first if your ZIP code is served.

Home repair, ramps, and safety help from local groups

Home repair help often has waitlists. Start with urgent safety needs: no heat, unsafe steps, plumbing leaks, roof leaks, broken railings, or missing grab bars. Cosmetic work is usually not covered.

Rebuilding Together Baltimore

Rebuilding Together Baltimore provides no-cost home repairs to low-income adults over 60, families with children, and people with disabilities in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Call 410-889-2710 and ask if applications are open for your area.

Civic Works elder services

Civic Works lists elder services for older adults age 65 and over in Baltimore City or Baltimore County, including grab bars, handrails, structural repairs, and aging-friendly upgrades. It says emergency repairs are not provided. For Baltimore City HUBS intake, call 667-999-4827.

Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland

Habitat Metro Maryland lists repair and weatherization help for eligible homeowners in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. Repairs may include roof work, water heaters, plumbing, minor electrical work, zero-step entry, and accessible bathrooms. Call 301-990-0014 x 1019.

If your main need is rent, public housing, or a voucher path, use our Maryland housing guide instead.

Caregiver, companionship, and respite support

Caregiver help can mean a support group, a friendly caller, education, short respite, care planning, or help finding a local adult day program. A charity may not be able to pay a family caregiver. For that topic, see the caregiver pay guide and check the rules there.

Alzheimer’s Association Greater Maryland

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Maryland Chapter lists support groups, education, local resources, and a 24/7 helpline at 1-800-272-3900. It reports that more than 127,200 Marylanders live with Alzheimer’s and 258,000 caregivers provide unpaid care.

Who it may help: People living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, family caregivers, and friends.

How to ask: Call 1-800-272-3900 and ask for the nearest support group or care consultation.

Reality check: Support groups help with planning and stress. They do not replace in-home care.

Aging-in-place villages

A village is a member-based or volunteer-led local group that helps older adults stay connected at home. MoCo Villages supports Montgomery County village groups, while Village in Howard is a nonprofit in Columbia that offers activities, social connection, and services for older adults.

Who it may help: Seniors who want neighbor-to-neighbor support, social groups, small tasks, or local check-ins.

How to ask: Search for a village by ZIP code and ask about membership fees, scholarships, rides, and volunteer tasks.

Reality check: Villages are not home care agencies. They may not provide hands-on care, lifting, bathing, or medical help.

Free or low-cost legal and clinic-based help from nonprofits

Legal and clinic help can prevent a small problem from becoming a crisis. Call early if you have a court date, foreclosure notice, debt case, benefit notice, elder abuse concern, or health problem you have put off because of cost.

Legal help

Maryland Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to financially eligible people through offices and clinics. It says people can call 1-888-465-2468 or apply online.

MVLS offers free civil legal help through volunteer lawyers for Marylanders with limited income. Phone intake is listed as 410-547-6537 or 1-800-510-0050 on Monday through Thursday mornings.

PBRC provides direct legal clinics in specific areas, including tenants and consumers facing housing instability or debt-related court cases.

Reality check: Legal nonprofits may not take every case. If one says no, ask for the exact reason and a referral.

Health and dental clinics

Shepherd’s Clinic serves uninsured adults in parts of North Baltimore and asks patients to donate a small amount if possible. It offers medical, behavioral health, and wellness services.

UMD Dental has Special Care and Geriatric Services for older adults and people with special needs. Call 410-706-7039 for that clinic or 410-706-7101 for patient information.

If your main need is dental cost help, our dental help guide gives a fuller list of dental options in Maryland.

Local groups for rural, immigrant, LGBTQ+, Spanish-speaking, and community-specific seniors

Use community-specific groups when language, culture, identity, disability, or immigration status makes it harder to ask for help. These groups can be a safer first call for some seniors.

Immigrant and Spanish-speaking seniors

CASA provides immigration legal services in Maryland, including legal consultations and pro se help for people at risk of detention or deportation. It lists a legal hotline at 1-866-765-2272.

The Catholic Charities Esperanza Center in Baltimore serves immigrants with education, health care, immigration legal matters, family reunification, and general community support. It lists 667-600-2900 for contact.

Reality check: Immigration legal help can have waitlists. Ask whether the group can give a consultation, a referral, or a safety plan.

LGBTQ+ seniors

FreeState Justice is a statewide legal services nonprofit for LGBTQ+ Marylanders. It lists free legal services, policy work, and community education.

Reality check: FreeState Justice is not a general senior-service agency. It is best for legal or rights-related issues affecting LGBTQ+ Marylanders.

Rural and local community help

Rural seniors may need to rely on county food banks, churches, fire halls, local foundations, and volunteer groups. If you are on the Eastern Shore, in Western Maryland, or in Southern Maryland, search by county and town, not just by “Maryland.” Ask each pantry or charity if it serves your ZIP code.

If a senior is a veteran, also check the Maryland veterans guide because veteran charities and public veteran programs may follow different rules.

How to ask for help and what to say when you call

Most charities need a clear, short story. Write down your need before calling. Say your county, ZIP code, age, deadline, and what you have tried already.

Phone script for food

“Hello, my name is ____. I am a senior in ZIP code ____. I need food this week. Do you serve my address? What day are you open, and what ID or papers should I bring?”

Phone script for rent or utilities

“Hello, I am ____ years old and live in ____. I have a shutoff notice or eviction notice dated ____. Do you have emergency funds or a referral today? I can send my ID, income proof, lease, and bill.”

Phone script for rides

“Hello, I am a senior in ____. I need a ride to a medical appointment on ____. I can walk with a cane or walker. Do you serve my area, and how far ahead do I need to book?”

Phone script for home repair

“Hello, I am an older homeowner in ____. I need help with a safety repair: ____. Do you serve my city or county? Are applications open, and what documents do I need?”

Documents to have ready

You may not need every document for every charity, but having papers ready can speed up intake. Keep copies in a folder or take clear photos on your phone.

What local charities usually can and cannot do

They may be able to: give food, provide a ride, help with a small bill, make a referral, offer legal advice, deliver meals, add grab bars, give case management, or help you fill out an application.

They usually cannot: pay every past-due bill, move you the same day, provide 24-hour home care, fix a whole house, guarantee a lawyer, or bypass eligibility rules.

They may need time: many groups rely on volunteers, grants, donated food, or church funds. A kind person on the phone may still have no money left that week.

What to do if a charity says no

• Ask, “Is the problem that I live outside your service area, the fund is closed, or I do not qualify?”
• Ask for one referral that serves your ZIP code.
• Ask when to call back if funding opens monthly.
• Try a food pantry even if rent help is closed. Saving food money can help you cover another bill.
• If the issue is Medicare costs, use the Medicare Savings guide instead of calling random charities.
• If the issue is a tax bill on your home, use the property tax guide because public tax relief rules are separate.

Spanish summary

Resumen en español: Las personas mayores en Maryland pueden llamar a bancos de comida, iglesias, organizaciones sin fines de lucro, servicios legales y grupos de transporte voluntario para pedir ayuda local. Llame antes de ir. Pregunte si sirven su código postal, qué documentos necesita y si hay fondos disponibles. Para comida, empiece con un banco de comida o una despensa cercana. Para renta o servicios públicos, llame temprano y tenga lista su identificación, comprobante de domicilio, ingresos, contrato de renta y aviso de corte o desalojo.

FAQ

Can Maryland charities pay a senior’s rent?

Some charities may help with rent when funds are open, but help is usually limited and local. You may need an eviction notice, lease, income proof, and photo ID. Ask if the charity pays the landlord directly.

Where should a Maryland senior start for food help?

Start with a food bank or local pantry search by ZIP code. Call the pantry before going. Ask about senior boxes, delivery options, and any ID or referral rule.

Are volunteer rides available statewide?

No. Volunteer rides are usually county-based or ZIP-code based. Neighbor Ride, Senior Connection, and Neighborhood Companions are examples of local groups, but each has its own service area.

Do home repair charities help with emergency repairs?

Usually not. Many home repair nonprofits focus on planned safety repairs, ramps, grab bars, weatherization, and aging-in-place work. They may have waitlists and application periods.

Can a senior get free legal help in Maryland?

Possibly. Maryland Legal Aid, MVLS, PBRC, and other legal nonprofits may help with civil legal issues if the person meets case and income rules. Apply early if there is a deadline.

What if a charity says no?

Ask why, then ask for a referral that serves your ZIP code. Try another group, a food pantry, a faith group, or 2-1-1. Keep notes on who you called and what they said.

Last updated: May 1, 2026

Next review date: August 1, 2026