Missions

Open Doors Food Pantry (ODFP)

On the third Saturday of every month the Open Doors Food Pantry distributes food to community members in need from 8:30am - 10am (April - October) and 10am - 11:30am (November - March). Our distribution is drive-thru style with volunteers loading the trunks of the cars as they pass through the back parking lot of the church.


 

Each month we provide a full cart of groceries (an assortment of canned and boxed food supplemented with fresh produce or frozen meats as available) to more than 100 local families. The ODFP receives food and support from the Maryland and Howard County Food Banks, Mt. Zion UMC, the Columbia Town Center Rotary, the Boy & Girl Scouts, the Clarksville Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic Charities, Pepsi Corporation, local businesses and individuals.

Our Facebook page provides updates of delays or closings due to inclement weather or other events, announcements of upcoming distribution dates, and our volunteer sign up link is posted the week before distribution.

Those wishing to volunteer on distribution day must be 16 years of age or older, or 12-15 years old accompanied by an adult or guardian. Please arrive 30 minutes before the start time and sign-in at the volunteer table in the back parking lot. Volunteers must wear closed-toed and closed-heel footwear (no sandals, clogs or flip-flops) and clothing appropriate for the weather as some duties may require working outdoors. Please bring necessary forms for community service hours if desired.

For more information please contact Carol Hill: opendoorsfoodpantry@gmail.com

We will be open on the following dates

2024
January 20th  8:30am - 10am

February 17th  8:30am - 10am

March 16th  8:30am - 10am

April 20th  8:30am - 10am

May 18th  8:30am - 10am

June 15th  8:30am - 10am

July 20th  8:30am - 10am

August 17th  8:30am - 10am

September 21st  8:30am - 10am

October 19th  8:30am - 10am

November 16th  10am - 11:30am

December 14th (2nd Saturday of December)  10am - 11:30am

 

Winter Homeless Shelter

For the last 25 years (except 2021 due to COVID-19), Mt. Zion UMC has hosted a week-long cold weather shelter, providing overnight accommodations, a hot dinner and breakfast, a bag lunch, and other services for 20 to 30 homeless men. Some years, we have provided the same services for 6 to 10 women.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Rod Barr: rodkbarr@gmail.com

Sandwiches for DC Homeless

For almost 30 years, Mt. Zion volunteers have made sandwiches each month for Martha’s Table, which provides a daily meal to more than 1,000 homeless persons in Washington, DC. To date, Mt. Zion has provided Martha’s Table with at least 400,000 meat and cheese sandwiches.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Rod Barr: rodkbarr@gmail.com

Camp Hope/ Appalachian Service Project (ASP)

Each year (except 2020/2021 due to COVID-19) Mt. Zion has sent a team of 25 youth and adults to Camp Hope in Frostburg, MD, for a week to repair the homes of Western Maryland homeowners. When the 2021 Camp Hope program was again cancelled, a youth/adult team was sent to Wise, VA to repair the homes of low-income residents in Southwest, Virginia. 

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Sarah Blough: sarahblough@comcast.net

Salvation Army Howard County Thrift Shop

Mt. Zion provides volunteers who work on a regular schedule at the Thrift Shop and also provides financial support of its operation.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Margaret Rose: gcrose@aol.com

Ames Church Support

Mt. Zion has provided support to Ames UMC, an inner-city Baltimore church, through winter clothing drives, provision of school packs and supplies, and funds for emergency repair to the leaking church roof. The Open Doors Food Pantry has supplied Ames with Thanksgiving turkeys and fresh produce. 

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Fred Towner: fdtowner@comcast.net

View the Thanksgiving Basket Distribution Event

Volunteers-in-Mission (VIM) Disaster Relief Trips

Mt. Zion teams have made many week-long Volunteers-in-Mission rebuilding trips to North Carolina, Mississippi, New York, Georgia, and Illinois after hurricanes and floods. We completed the construction of a new home in Pass Christian, MS, for a family who lost their home in Hurricane Katrina, for which Mt. Zion raised $55,000 and provided 85 man-weeks of labor. 

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Rod Barr: rodkbarr@gmail.com

UMCOR Disaster Relief

The Mt. Zion missions budget regularly provides support for United Methodist Committee on disaster relief efforts. The church also sponsors special congregational offerings to provide greater support of victims of major national and international disasters.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Ken McLaughlin: McLaughlinken5@gmail.com

Hopi Native American Indian Reservation

For a number of years, Mt. Zion has sent members to support the operation of a Methodist School on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Belinda Norton: belinda.norton@verizon.net