Getting help from the Salvation Army in Harford and Cecil Counties
The Salvation Army has served Harford County, Maryland since 1886 — one of the longer continuous presences of any charitable organization in the region. Today its local corps serves residents of both Harford and Cecil Counties from a single location in Havre de Grace, operating under the Central Maryland Area Command.
- One thing worth knowing before you go: The Havre de Grace office is no longer open for walk-ins. Services are available by appointment or online application. If you need help, call 410-939-3535 to schedule an appointment, or visit http://sa-md.org/centralmaryland to apply online for most programs.
The corps is located at 300 Rear Seneca Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD 21078, and can be reached at 410-939-3535. The corps covers a wide geographic area. Cecil County residents — including those in Elkton, North East, and Perryville — are within the service area and can call the same number to access emergency food and financial assistance. There is no separate Cecil County corps for social services.
Food assistance: pantry and monthly distribution
The Havre de Grace corps runs a food pantry that distributes nonperishable groceries and occasional frozen meat on a drive-thru basis. Distribution generally takes place on Thursdays each week; households are eligible once every 30 days and a photo ID is required. A second distribution will often occur on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from noon until the food runs out.
Food assistance is open to residents of Harford and Cecil counties, including people who are homeless, teens, young adults, and adults in any living situation. No income verification is required to receive pantry food — a photo ID is the primary document needed.
Financial help for rent and utilities
The Salvation Army can provide short-term emergency financial assistance to help prevent eviction or utility shutoff. Assistance is available to residents of Harford, Cecil, Baltimore, and Howard counties. Funding levels change by season and available donations, so the amount that can be offered at any given time varies. Call 410-939-3535 to learn what is currently available and to request an appointment — walk-in requests are not accepted.
When you call, it helps to have a copy of the bill or shutoff notice ready, along with identification and any documentation of your household income. Case managers may provide referrals to other local programs as part of the intake process.
Summer camp: Camp Rappahannock in Virginia
One of the least-known programs at the Havre de Grace corps is the summer camp scholarship for children and teenagers from low-income families. The Salvation Army offers spots at Camp Rappahannock, a residential overnight camp located in Richardsville, Virginia in Culpeper County — about 70 miles south of Washington, D.C. The camp is accredited and has been operated by the Salvation Army for more than 100 years.
Camp runs throughout the summer in one-week sessions. There are two age groups: children ages 8 to 12, and teens ages 13 to 17. Transportation to and from the camp is provided. Campers swim, hike, do outdoor skills training, work on crafts, and spend a week away from home in a structured and supervised environment. For many children in Havre de Grace and Bel Air who have not had the opportunity to travel or spend time outdoors, a week at Camp Rappahannock is an experience they would not otherwise have.
Spots are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are handled online at https://adminicamp.com/. Families interested in sending a child can also call the corps at 410-939-3535. Apply early in the spring — camp runs June through July.
Holiday assistance: Angel Tree and food baskets
The Salvation Army's holiday programs in Harford and Cecil counties run from fall through December. The Angel Tree Program provides toys and gifts for children ages 12 and under. Parents or guardians register their children during a sign-up window in the fall; a photo ID, proof of custody, proof of residency, proof of income or need (such as a SNAP benefit letter), and birth certificates for eligible children are required at registration. Gifts are distributed before Christmas.
Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets are also distributed, typically on a drive-thru basis with one basket per household. Photo ID is required. Dates and sign-up windows change each year — call 410-939-3535 in the fall to confirm the current schedule and registration period.
The local corps partners with area civic groups, churches, and businesses to run Angel Tree donation spots throughout the county, which is how it generates the gifts distributed to families.
Pathway of Hope
The Central Maryland Area Command offers Pathway of Hope, an intensive case management program designed for families with children who want to break a cycle of poverty and achieve longer-term stability. Rather than providing one-time assistance, Pathway of Hope works with a family over time to identify goals — around employment, housing, finances, or education — and connects them with the services and support needed to reach those goals. It is available through the Harford/Cecil corps as part of the broader Central Maryland program. Call 410-939-3535 to ask about enrollment.
How to get help
The starting point for all Salvation Army services in Harford and Cecil Counties is 410-939-3535. The office is located at 300 Rear Seneca Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD 21078, and is accessible by appointment on weekdays. For online applications and more information, visit sa-md.org/centralmaryland. Camp Rappahannock applications are handled at adminicamp.com.
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