Find Help In Charles County
211 has your back Charles County. Find essential resources in communities like Waldorf, Saint Charles, Bennsville, Accokeek, Hughesville, Indian Head, Potomac Heights, Pisgah, Holly Haven, and other nearby cities.
Search the 211 Community Resource Database by ZIP code and need.
Find food in Charles County
The Southern Maryland Food Connection is a collection of local organizations committed to making it easy to find food pantries in Charles County.
You can view the list of 40 pantries in cities throughout Charles County, like Waldorf, Nanjemoy, La Plata, White Plains, Hughesville, Port Tobacco, Bryans Road, and Indian Head.
Find food near you.
Summer Meals for Children: Lunch on Us
The Charles County Public Schools offers free hot meals for any child between the ages of 2 and 18 during the summer months. The child must be present, but does not have to be a Charles County resident, and no ID is needed.
The Lunch on Us program is available during the summer, and the food must be eaten on-site.
Charles County Public Schools also offers a Meal on the Move program during the summer. The meal truck will provide free cold breakfast and lunch for children for a few days. Meals are offered while supplies last at sites throughout the county.
Check with the school district for the dates and locations.
Help with Government Assistance Programs (DSS)
The Charles County Department of Social Services can help connect you to government programs that can help your family and also to specialized programs including:
- SNAP (food stamps)
- TCA (Temporary Cash Assistance and TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)
- Emergency Cash Assistance (EAFC)
- Foster parenting
- Fatherhood
- Medical
- Child Protective Services
If you have a question about child support, food stamps or another individual matter, call the customer call center at 1-800-332-6347.
The Department of Social Services is located at:
200 Kent Avenue
La Plata, Maryland 20646
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Main Number: 301-392-6400
Call Center for Individual Cases: 1-800-332-6347
WIC in Charles County
The Health Department in Charles County provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthy supplemental foods through the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC).
The program is available to qualifying moms-to-be, postpartum moms and children. The program is available to:
- Pregnant women and up to 6 weeks after pregnancy
- Postpartum women up to 6 months after a child is born.
- Breastfeeding moms up to a baby's first birthday.
- Infants up to their first birthday.
- Children up to age 5.
Other qualification guidelines apply.
There are offices throughout Maryland, including Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's County, and in Lexington Park, Solomons Medical Offices, and the Nanjemoy Community Center. Availability may vary by location.
Charles County Health Department
The Health Department also provides several other services, including programs to:
- improve your health
- Examples:
- lose weight
- manage chronic diseases
- diabetes prevention and more
- Examples:
- HIV prevention and testing
- dental clinic
- immunizations
- cancer screenings
- behavioral health support (mental health and substance use)
- disability services
There are also other programs that can help you and your family with your health.
Learn more about the programs offered by the Charles County Health Department and insurance programs offered by the state of Maryland to support families in need of medical care.
Help with essential needs
LifeStyles, Inc. in La Plata provides help, hope, and transformation. Their services include: food
- community clothing closet
- housing support
- transportation
- tax help
You can also dial 211 to get connected to essential resources.
Energy Assistance
If you need energy assistance to lower the cost of your utility bill or avoid a turn-off notice, there are grants available through the Office of Home Energy Programs. Read 211's guide to utility assistance.
If you need help filling out the application or have questions about the income guidelines or program details, contact the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee (SMTCCAC, Inc.) for local help with the state utility grants.
You can also contact your utility if you’ve fallen behind on your bills. Washington Gas and SMECO may offer a payment plan.
explore assistance programs
Learn about benefit programs and how to connect with support.
Housing
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Utilities
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Taxes
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explore assistance programs
Learn about benefit programs and how to connect with support.
Utilities
Electric, gas, and water bill assistance programs
Housing
Rental payments, eviction prevention, homeless shelters
Taxes
Free tax preparation help, software, tax credits
