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

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 of service, we continue to evolve while staying true to our founding mission.

2024 Highlights

A New Home on the Horizon

In April 2024, we announced an exciting partnership with Columbia Concepts to redevelop the Columbia Flier building into \”The Source\” – a multi-use community center that will offer physical and mental healthcare, a food hall, gymnasium, recording studio, and numerous educational and employment resources. This new center will create over 100 jobs and serve as a hub where our community can connect, engage, and thrive together.

Transformative Youth Programs

One of our proudest achievements was sending several youth mentees to the Black August Summer Institute in Mexico. These young people gained invaluable knowledge about Revolutionary Black history, sustainable agriculture, and essential life skills while developing self-pride and confidence. Through our partnerships with S.T.A.N.D HoCo and P.U.S.H, we continue to create life-changing opportunities for young people.

Community Celebrations

Our 4-year anniversary celebration in March and our inaugural Holiday BonBon Bash in December (featuring performances by Doug E. Fresh and a special appearance by Governor Wes Moore) were tremendous successes, bringing together supporters, partners, and community members to celebrate our collective impact.

Ongoing Hunger Relief Efforts

Throughout 2024, our food distribution remained the cornerstone of our work, with hundreds of dedicated volunteers contributing thousands of hours to ensure no neighbor goes hungry.

Looking Forward

As we move through 2025, we\’ll continue strengthening our community partnerships, amplifying our advocacy efforts, and enhancing our outreach.

Columbia Community Care remains steadfast in our commitment to create authentic connections, provide critical resources, and respect the inherent dignity of every person we serve.

Download the full 2024 Annual Report to learn more about our impact, finances, and vision for the future.

2024 Annual Report Final

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Shelly Brown stands behind a table with CCC information.

Courtroom Advocate and Community Champion

For three decades, attorney Shelly Brown has stood beside young people at their most vulnerable moments—in courtrooms where a single decision can alter the trajectory of an entire life. It’s work that requires equal parts legal expertise and fierce compassion, and it’s shaped everything about how she shows up in the world. Which is exactly why she found her place as a Board Member with Columbia Community Care.

Roxana of Gardyn-Doula smiles whille look at a tree, with text overlay reading: "The winter is a time when we feel like everything is dead, but plants and trees are actually rooting and taking in nutrients to prepare for growth. In a lot of indigenous cultures, cedar represents protection and resilience because when everything else is dying, it stays green and strong. That's a way to become inspired."

Rooting and Growth: How Circles Help Women Bloom

“The winter is a time when we feel like everything is dead, but plants and trees are actually rooting and taking in nutrients to prepare for growth,” she explains. The circle focused on this through conversation and meditation, with participants crafting small bundles of cedar branches. “In a lot of indigenous cultures, cedar represents protection and resilience because when everything else is dying, it stays green and strong,” Roxana says. “That’s a way to become inspired.”