Our Community

Non-profit Organizations

West County is home to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations and initiatives that provide resources indispensable to the operation of our community.

Sarah's House
On the edge of Fort George G. Meade Army Base, Sarah’s House provides emergency shelter for as many as sixty-six people and transitional housing for twenty-two families.  As a supportive housing program for homeless families, Sarah’s House is much more than just a safe place to sleep.  Our goal is to effect positive change in the families we serve by providing parenting classes and workshops, employment programs, licensed childcare, counseling, and transportation, all aimed at assisting our guests to achieve independence and strengthen their families.

Rotary Club of West Anne Arundel County
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. The West County division is one of over 31,936 Rotary clubs in 166 countries. Though not a definitively political, charitable, or religious organization, rotaries concern themselves with everything pertaining to good citizenship and the election of good men and women to public office, work to exemplify the charity and the sacrifices that one should expect from people who believe that they have a responsibility to help others, and has been built on those eternal principles that have served as the moral compass for people throughout the ages. The Rotary Club of West Anne Arundel County meets every Thursday at 7:30am at the Kaufmann's Restaurant in Gambrills, MD.

Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland                                                                         The Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland is an organization dedicated to the pursuit of an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other. BBB sees trust as a function of two primary factors – integrity and performance. Integrity includes respect, ethics and intent. Performance speaks to a business’s track record of delivering results in accordance with BBB standards and/or addressing customer concerns in a timely, satisfactory manner. BBB ensures that high standards for trust are set and maintained. They exist so consumers and businesses alike have an unbiased source to guide them on matters of trust. BBB provides educational information and expert advice that is free of charge and easily accessible.  Businesses that meet their high standards are invited to join BBB, presented to local Boards of Directors (or designees) for review and acceptance as a BBB Accredited Business. It is therefore a dependable resource of objective, unbiased information on businesses.

Partners In Care, Inc.                                                                                                               Partners In Care is a community nonprofit empowering older adults to remain independent in their own homes. Our innovative programs utilize the concept of reciprocity. Founded in 1993 and now embracing 2600 members, service-exchange is the foundation for our network of support for seniors. The objective is to build community by engaging people to help each other with the myriad tasks involved in everyday living.

Bridges Community Development Center                                                                            The vision of the Bridges Community Development Center is  to make a positive and measurable impact on youth and their families in the West Anne Arundel County region with the hope that all youth be inspired to reach their full academic and professional potential. Bridges provides a safe environment for mentoring today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaderss through educational, recreational, and extracurricular activities that foster personal and academic development for youth. Bridges hopes to help young people discover the importance of personal development and being active citizens who commit their time and energy to their community while encouraging youth to stay in school, graduate, go to college, and reach their personal post graduation goals.

Odenton Heritage Society                                                                                                   Since its formation in 1989, the Odenton Heritage Society has been working to preserve the town's unique social, cultural and architectural history. Because of its efforts, the Society has become a vital part of the Odenton community. One of the Society's earliest achievements was to purchase and restore Odenton's first bank, Citizens State Bank, to use as a small museum. Since then, they have acquired the former Masonic Hall and former Bethel Methodist Church.  These three buildings comprise the OHS Historical Center. Support for the Odenton Heritage Society's programs is provided by membership dues, contributions, grants, fundraising events and sales of Society materials. Activities include an annual Holiday Open House at the bank museum, a recognition dinner to honor membership and community preservation contributions, museum displays, traveling exhibits, historical publications, a newsletter and other special events.

Partners in Care                                                                                                             Partners in Care is a community nonprofit which provides support and opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. The center provides services that allow individuals with disabilities to enjoy increased self-determination in leading a more independent, valuable, and functioning role in society. Their programs are professionally managed and individually designed to empower these adults to exercise a higher level of control over their lives. Providence provides employment, vocational, recreational, retirement, medical day care, and transportation services to more than 450 adults each day. The Center operates seven sites throughout Anne Arundel County and is governed by a volunteer board of directors.