ACTC (Assistance Center of Towson Churches)

March and September are Central's Months
to collect food for ACTC.
In November we collect Thanksgiving Baskets

Fill a bag using this list of foods. Bring the bag back to Central and we'll make sure it gets to ACTC.

The ACTC (Assistance Center of Towson Churches) provides food for approximately 550-600 individuals per month. Along with the 3-5 day supply of food provided for each family, ACTC gives a coupon for use at SuperFresh so that some perishable items, such as bread and milk, can be purchased. Street bags are provided for some 40-50 homeless men in the Towson area.

While ACTC is grateful for the donations of all food items, the clients benefit most from the items on the following list:

Cereal (cold)
Canned Fruit
Tuna
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Rice
Spaghetti
Spaghetti Sauce
Soup

Dry Milk (in quart envelopes)
Canned Vegetables (corn, peas, green beans, etc)
Canned Tomatoes
Potatoes (canned or boxed)
Macaroni & Cheese
Pork & Beans
Pasta Meals (with meat)
Canned Meat (beef stew, chili, Spam, etc.)
Saltines (boxes with individual packages)

3/2006: This year we have been hit especially hard with assisting families that need financial help for their BGE bill, eviction prevention and pharmacy assistance.

Food can be delivered to ACTC, which is located behind Calvary Baptist Church at 120 W. Pennsylvania Avenue between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, Mondays through Fridays. Marked bags can also be left for pick-up behind the CPC's Welcome Center near the water fountains on Sundays.

If you would rather make a financial donation, please write your check to:
ACTC (120 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Towson, MD 21204).

Any questions? At CPC, contact Maria Wetherington. Thank you for your continued prayers, support and compassion.

Thanksgiving Baskets

Central will once again be assisting ACTC in providing baskets for needy families for Thanksgiving. Our committment/goal this year is to donate 100 (or more!) baskets. A list of SPECIFIC items to be included in baskets is shown below. If you want to donate other items, please do so in a separate bag. Past efforts have been overwhelming. Over 1,300 families have benefited from this project alone. Baskets can be placed behind the Welcome Center. Bags need to be returned to the church by Sunday, November 19th (2006). Thanks for helping to make this another success! If you are available to help transport baskets, please call Robin Shano.

2 cans meat/main dish (i.e.: beef stew or chili; 15-24 oz.)
4 cans vegetables (i.e.: green beans, peas or corn; 15 oz.)
1 can sweet potatoes/yams (23-29 oz.)
1 box instant mashed potatoes
1 large can fruit (20-30 oz.)
1 cranberry sauce
2 pkg. macaroni & cheese
1 box cake or brownie mix
1 bag or box of stuffing mix
1 lb. bag or box of rice

The above list has not changed this year, but please be careful when packing. Put large cans on bottom and lighter or bagged items on top to ensure the stability of the bag. Identify, again this year, on each basket whether its contents are complete or incomplete. This identification on each bag helps the committee be sure that each family receives a complete Thanksgiving basket.

It is requested that items be packed in a double paper grocery bag inserted in double blue plastic bags with handles (with heaviest items at the bottom) or in an appropriate size box. Packing items in a reusable small plastic basket or trash container would be a welcomed bonus.

If you prefer, you can give a monetary donation of $25 to ACTC, which would cover the cost of the items in a bag, , make check payable to ACTC, and contact Maria Wetherington. Thank you.

Helping Stranded or Homeless Individuals

Over the last several months, ACTC has received many phone calls asking for information about sheltering stranded or homeless individuals. Please refer these people to our office, if we are open. Our computers often have a lot of information in helping us to determine whether sheltering would be appropriate. If the request comes at a time we are not available, the following information has been compiled to aid you in knowing how to handle the situation, in a manner other than handing over money.

The Department of Social Services hot line phone number for appropriate shelter information is 410-583-9398. This number is staffed by one individual (with a pager). You will be asked to leave your phone number, the call will be returned as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the answer is often that all shelters are full in Baltimore County. The following two shelters in the City will take an individual if they show up at their door. They are:

ACTC is not presently sheltering single men in motels, only women with children, referred by churches or the Department of Social Services. We recommend that you not shelter in motels. There are a great many people going from church to church getting a few nights shelter from each. In the long run we do a disservice by not encouraging these individuals to start the process of being responsible for their problems by going to DSS to utilize the long term help available to them. That step will not be taken as long as there are no strings attached to your giving what is being requested.