Food and Nutrition Programs
Frederick Soup Kitchen: The Frederick Soup Kitchen provides an evening meal seven days a week and serves over 2,400 meals per month. Started in 1984, the Frederick Soup Kitchen is staffed by a paid cook and over 250 volunteers who serve a free evening meal to anyone in need. The Frederick Soup Kitchen serves up to 110 people a night and more than 25,000 meals are served annually.
Frederick Foodbank: The FCAA operates the Frederick Foodbank that serves approximately 600 to 700 households each month. Started in 1983, the Frederick Foodbank is staffed by 50 volunteers and provides a 3- to 5-day supply of food to families and individuals that are experiencing an economic crisis and cannot afford their groceries.
Summer Food Service Program: Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Summer Food Service Program was initiated during the summer of 1994. The program provides a free lunchtime meal to children age 18 and younger and targets lower-income children who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year. The nutritious and balanced meals are served Monday through Friday during the months of June, July, and August at local parks and youth centers.
Backpack Program: Through a partnership with Hillcrest Elementary School, FCAA staff and volunteers fill 450 backpacks with nutritious food items every two weeks during the school year and school staff distribute the backpacks to children that are at-risk of hunger and malnutrition. The backpacks are filled with food items that children can easily prepare and eat when school meals are not available or parents may be working.
After-School Supper Program: FCAA staff members prepare and deliver an evening meal for students in an After-School Program operated by the Police Activities League (PAL); the meal is served at the PAL Center located in Lucas Village. Meal costs are reimbursed by the USDA.
Outreach and Transportation Programs
Outreach Services: FCAA outreach workers perform outreach to local shelters, streets, woods, and other areas where people that are homeless can be found. Staff members strive to meet people who are homeless, familiarize them with available resources, and build trusting relationships.
Transportation Services: On weekdays, the FCAA operates a free van run that transports people to a variety of health and human service agencies located around Frederick City.
Homeless Assistance Programs
PATH Project: The federally funded PATH Project provides case management, outreach, and transportation services to people that are homeless and have a serious mental illness. Initiated in 1992, PATH Project staff work closely with therapists and psychiatrists from other agencies to ensure adequate access to mental health treatment services for people who are homeless.
SOAR Program: The SSI/SSDI Outreach, Assessment and Recovery or SOAR Program helps people who are homeless and disabled to apply for disability benefits available through the Social Security Administration. In addition, the SOAR case manager assists people with obtaining necessary documents, such as birth certificates and photo identification cards, needed to apply for benefits.
Transitional Shelter: The Frederick Transitional Shelter for Homeless Families is a 31-bed shelter that was built by the City of Frederick and is operated by the FCAA. The shelter provides transitional housing and a wide range of supportive services for homeless families and physically disabled adults. The Transitional Shelter serves approximately 60 households on annual basis.
Green Jobs Program: The Green Jobs Program is a supportive employment program that aims to help homeless and chronically homeless individuals return to the workforce by offering case management, shelter, job coaching, and supportive employment. Two (2) individuals are employed part-time to perform a variety of beautification projects in downtown Frederick.
Energy Assistance Programs
Office of Home Energy Programs: The FCAA Office of Home Energy Programs administers several different financial assistance programs aimed at helping income-eligible households to be able to pay utility and fuel bills; minimize energy-related crises; and to assist in making utility, heating, and cooling expenses more affordable. Specifically, the FCAA Office of Home Energy Programs administers the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP), and the Utility Service Protection Plan (USPP).