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
2025
January 18th 9:30am - 11:00am
February 15th 9:30am - 11:00am
March 15th 9:00am - 10:30am
April 19th 9:00am - 10:30am
May 17th 9:00am - 10:30am
June 21st 9:00am - 10:30am
July 19th 9:00am - 10:30am
August 16th 9:00am - 10:30am
September 20th 9:00am - 10:30am
October 18th 9:00am - 10:30am
November 15th 9:00am - 10:30am
December 20th 9:00am - 10:30am
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
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022 and August 18, 2024
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
Ames Memorial Back to School Bash, August 27, 2022
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