Through hardworking volunteers and community donations, the Lutheran Mission Society Compassion Center is a place where those in need can come to for help. The center provides emergency food, clothing, counseling, family education and household necessities. It also provides shelter for women (18 and up) who are pregnant and for single mothers and their children. There are currently eight Compassion Care Centers, including seven in Maryland and one in Pennsylvania.
This brick church with a white steeple sits in a quiet neighborhood on Parole Street, just off West Street in Annapolis. Cecil Memorial offers opportunities for fellowship, choir, bible study and programs for all ages. Services are held each Sunday at 11 am, except in the summer when they take place at 10am. Special services include a church-wide rally and celebrations for family and founder days.
Opportunities for community outreach include sponsoring a food pantry, an adopt-a-school program and tutoring. The church also has programs for children, including vacation bible school, praise dancers and scouting for both boys and girls.
Rich in history and tradition, Heritage Baptist Church has been a part of the community of Annapolis for more than a century. The church, which currently has a congregation of about 200 people, originated in 1903 when five members of the Eastport Baptist Church dreamed up its creation and raised enough money to see it through. The church's first location was on College Avenue and it remained there until the church moved to its current spot on Forest Drive in 1972. It was then that the Church became known to residents as Heritage Baptist. The church sanctuary includes four beautiful stained-glass windows, which were moved from the College Avenue facility. Reverend Henry Green serves as the church pastor.
Leadership Anne Arundel (LAA) is a non-profit organization that promotes local networking and leadership training. Programs include an executive leadership series, neighborhood leadership academy and the flagship series to build community knowledge. Application information is available on the website. The Greater Annapolis Chamber of Commerce joined the Anne Arundel Trade Council to form LAA in 1993. The office is located in Suite 200 of the Parole Station shopping center at the corner of West Street and Solomons Island Road/Route 2.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a voluntary organization of 56 national and international labor unions created in 1955 by the merger of the AFL and the CIO. The organization has a diverse membership of over 11.5 million. Professions represented include teachers, miners, firefighters, farm workers, bakers, doctors, nurses, painters and plumbers. For detailed information about membership, events and a chapter near you, please check the website.
Founded in 1966, the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre is a non-profit outdoor community theatre operated by volunteers. Each year between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the theatre features high-quality musicals and family-friendly shows at its unique historic outdoor setting in the heart of downtown Annapolis.
Led by Director LeeAnn Plumer, the City of Annapolis Recreation and Parks Department is located in the "Pip" Moyer Recreation Center at Truxton Park. The recreation center offers a variety of ammenities to its members at an affordable price including: group fitness classes, a rock climbing wall, cardio and weight machines and a four-lane track for walking and jogging.
Visit the city's website for more information about becoming a member of the "Pip" Moyer Recreation Center or to learn about other city parks and recreation facilites and upcoming events.
Located along the northwest shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Sandy Point is a 786-acre state park that provides breathtaking views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge while offering everything from boating, fishing, crabbing, swimming and hiking to wildlife viewing. Shelter rentals for up to 180 are available by calling 1-888-432-CAMP. There are 22 boat landing ramps and six finger piers, as well as a boat pump-out station. The park is the site of several favorite annual events, including the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival, the Maryland Seafood Festival and the holiday Festival of Lights.
The Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) is different from other art galleries in the area because it is a non-profit membership organization made up of both artists and art enthusiasts. MFA's Circle Gallery features one show a month, which rotates between national juried exhibitions and member shows featuring local artists. The member shows are important because they give local artists in the community without gallery representation the opportunity to showcase their work. Established in 1963, The Maryland Federation of Art is the "oldest, continuously run" nonprofit art organization in the state.
Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County is a non-profit working in conjunction with a variety of charitable organizations. The Center is a resource for individuals, groups and businesses interested in volunteering time and money. For a comprehensive directory of participating charitable organizations, visit its website.
Spanning more than 80 acres, Truxton Park is the city's main park, housing the new Roger W. Pip Moyer Recreation Center. In addition, it is home to the Penguin's Swim Team and a skate park. The park is equipped with benches, picnic tables, two playgrounds and nature trails. It also includes 12 tennis courts, three baseball fields, five basketball courts and a boat launch.
Located at the corner of Bestgate and Severn Grove roads, St. Philip's Episcopal Church has community roots dating back to 1870, and has been at its current location since 1969. Each Sunday, the church offers two worship services as well as Sunday morning study. Church members participate in events such as an annual crab feast, community outreach efforts and a variety of ministries. The church maintains an environmental ministry that includes planting rain gardens in an outdoor sanctuary and an ongoing recycling campaign. The expansive Family Life Center banquet hall is available for special events, reunions and receptions.
Visit the Annapolis Maritime Museum to learn about the heritage and natural wonders of the Chesapeake Bay. The museum campus is the site of the last remaining oyster packing plant in the area, the McNasby Oyster Company building and is dedicated to educating the public and school students alike, of the importance of protecting, cultivating, and stimulating the Chesapeake Bay's oyster population. The museum hosts many school groups with it's interactive exhibits, waterman boats displayed to show their working parts, a giant interactive clam and an 850 gallon tank filled with Chesapeake Bay water and some of it's inhabitants. The museum hosts meetings, community events, lectures and concerts, and is the launching point for the tours to the iconic Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse -- the most famous symbol of the upper Chesapeake Bay. Available for private events, the museum has 3 piers to fish and crab from, along with a covered picnic deck. A small gift shop features shirts and artwork.