Maryland 211
- General help
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free, confidential referral line and search for local help with food, housing, utilities and more.
Who it's for: Anyone.
Maryland
21 resources in Maryland, plus programs open to everyone.
The map needs an internet connection. The list below still works.
Pins mark main service locations. Scroll the list and the map follows. Check each website for hours and other sites.
In Maryland
Start here: benefits and programs
Maryland Food Supplement Program (SNAP food benefits)
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Apply for or learn about Food Supplement Program, the state's food benefits program (SNAP), which helps pay for groceries.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Maryland WIC
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Nutrition support, healthy foods and breastfeeding help for pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children under 5.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Maryland Health Connection
- Health care
- Low cost
- Online or statewide
The state's health insurance marketplace. Enroll in Medicaid or a plan with financial help.
Who it's for: Maryland residents; costs depend on income.
Maryland Medicaid (Maryland Department of Health)
- Health care
- Free
- Online or statewide
The state Medicaid program, with free health coverage for eligible residents.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Maryland Benefits Portal (myMDTHINK)
- Benefits
- Free
- Online or statewide
Online portal to apply for and manage food, cash and medical assistance.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Maryland Department of Human Services
- Benefits
- Free
- Online or statewide
State agency that runs food assistance (SNAP), cash assistance and energy assistance.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs
- Utilities
- Free
- Online or statewide
Help paying heating and electric bills for income-eligible households.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Local help and services
Maryland Food Bank
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Statewide food bank supplying pantries and meal programs. Use the site to find food near you.
Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers
- Health care
- Sliding scale
- Online or statewide
Association of Maryland's community health centers, which charge based on income. Find a center near you.
Who it's for: Open to everyone; fees adjust to income.
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
- Housing
- Low cost
- Online or statewide
State housing agency with rental assistance, home-buying help and lower-cost home loans.
Maryland Legal Aid
- Legal help
- Free
Free civil legal help for low-income Marylanders on housing, benefits, family and consumer problems.
Who it's for: Income-eligible Maryland residents.
- Allegany/Garrett office, Suite 204 138 Baltimore St, Cumberland, MD 21502 Directions
- Anne Arundel office, Suite 204 2024 West St, Annapolis, MD 21401 Directions
- Baltimore City office 500 E Lexington St, Baltimore, MD 21202 Directions
- Baltimore County office, Suite 305 215 Washington Ave, Towson, MD 21204 Directions
- Cecil/Harford office 103 S Hickory Ave, Bel Air, MD 21014 Directions
- Howard County office 3451 Court House Dr, Ellicott City, MD 21043 Directions
- Lower Eastern Shore office 113 Broad St, Salisbury, MD 21801 Directions
- Midwestern Maryland office, Suite 11 22 S Market St, Frederick, MD 21701 Directions
- Montgomery County office, Suite 430 600 Jefferson Plz, Rockville, MD 20852 Directions
- Prince George's County office, Suite 200 8401 Corporate Dr, Landover, MD 20785 Directions
- Southern Maryland office, 3rd floor 15045 Burnt Store Rd, Hughesville, MD 20637 Directions
- Upper Eastern Shore office, Suite 101 106 N Washington St, Easton, MD 21601 Directions
Libraries, parks and things to do
Enoch Pratt Free Library
- Education
- Free
Free books, computers, programs and public tours at Baltimore's central library and its neighborhood branches.
Who it's for: Free library card for Maryland residents; many programs are open to all.
- Central Library 400 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201 Directions
Baltimore Museum of Art
- Things to do
- Free
Free general admission to a large art museum with sculpture gardens. Reserve a free ticket before visiting the galleries.
Who it's for: Open to everyone.
- 10 Art Museum Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218 Directions
Glen Echo Park
- Things to do
- Free
Free arts park with picnic areas and a playground, plus classes and performances (some of which cost money).
Who it's for: Open to everyone.
- 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD 20812 Directions
Maryland State Parks
- Things to do
- Low cost
- Online or statewide
State parks and forests with trails, beaches and picnic areas. Some parks charge a day-use fee, so check before you go.
Who it's for: Open to everyone; fees vary by park.
Monocacy National Battlefield
- Things to do
- Free
Free Civil War battlefield park with walking trails and a visitor center. No entrance pass needed.
Who it's for: Open to everyone.
- Visitor center 4632 Araby Church Rd, Frederick, MD 21704 Directions
The Walters Art Museum
- Things to do
- Free
Free admission to an art museum covering ancient to modern art, in Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood.
Who it's for: Open to everyone.
- 600 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201 Directions
Ways to give back
Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
The state office that supports volunteering and national service (AmeriCorps) in Maryland. Use the site to find programs and opportunities.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Habitat for Humanity in Maryland
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find a local Habitat for Humanity in Maryland to volunteer on home builds and repairs or in a ReStore.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Volunteer at Maryland Food Bank
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Help sort and pack food and support hunger relief in your community. Sign up on Maryland Food Bank's website.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Available everywhere
Start here: benefits and programs
211 Helpline
- General help
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free, confidential referral line connecting you to local help with food, housing, utilities and more. Dial 211 or search online.
Who it's for: Anyone.
SNAP (Food Stamps)
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Monthly benefits for groceries. Applications are handled by your state; the USDA page links to each state's office.
Who it's for: Income and household-size rules apply.
WIC
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Food, nutrition counseling and health referrals for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children under five.
Who it's for: Income-based; apply through your state or local WIC agency.
Medicaid and CHIP
- Health care
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free or low-cost health coverage for people with limited income, and for children through CHIP. Apply through your state.
Who it's for: Income and household rules vary by state.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Mental health
- Free
- Online or statewide
24/7 free, confidential crisis support by call, text or chat.
Who it's for: Anyone.
Benefits.gov Benefit Finder
- Benefits
- Free
- Online or statewide
Federal questionnaire that shows which government benefits you may qualify for.
Who it's for: Anyone; answers are used only to match programs.
Free Tax Help (VITA)
- Benefits
- Free
- Online or statewide
IRS-certified volunteers prepare tax returns for free and help claim credits such as the EITC.
Who it's for: Generally households earning about $67,000 or less.
HUD Find Shelter and Housing Help
- Housing
- Free
- Online or statewide
Links to emergency shelter, housing counseling and rental assistance offices near you.
Lifeline Phone and Internet Discount
- Utilities
- Low cost
- Online or statewide
Monthly discount on phone or internet service for qualifying households.
Who it's for: Income-based, or enrollment in SNAP, Medicaid and other programs.
LIHEAP Energy Assistance
- Utilities
- Free
- Online or statewide
Federal program that helps with heating and cooling bills. Apply through your state or local agency.
Who it's for: Income-based.
Local help and services
Feeding America Food Bank Locator
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find the food bank that serves your ZIP code.
HRSA Find a Health Center
- Health care
- Sliding scale
- Online or statewide
Locator for federally funded community health centers that charge based on income and never turn people away for inability to pay.
Who it's for: Open to everyone.
SAMHSA National Helpline
- Mental health
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free, confidential treatment referrals for mental health and substance use, in English and Spanish, 24/7.
Who it's for: Anyone, including people without insurance.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Safety
- Free
- Online or statewide
24/7 confidential support, safety planning and referrals for people experiencing domestic violence.
Who it's for: Anyone.
Legal Services Corporation: Find Legal Aid
- Legal help
- Free
- Online or statewide
Directory of LSC-funded legal aid organizations offering free civil legal help.
Who it's for: Income-eligible individuals.
National Diaper Bank Network
- Family
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find a local diaper bank for free diapers and baby supplies.
Head Start
- Education
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free early learning and family services for children from birth to age five in low-income families.
Who it's for: Income-based.
Libraries, parks and things to do
Every Kid Outdoors
- Things to do
- Free
- Online or statewide
A free pass for fourth graders and their families to visit national parks, lands and waters for a year.
Who it's for: Fourth graders and their families.
Museums for All
- Things to do
- Low cost
- Online or statewide
Free or reduced admission to participating museums across the country for people receiving SNAP benefits. Bring your EBT card and a photo ID.
Who it's for: People receiving SNAP benefits.
National Park Service Entrance Passes and Free Days
- Things to do
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free entrance days at national parks, plus discounted or free passes for eligible groups.
Who it's for: Open to everyone on free days; passes have their own rules.
Ways to give back
American Red Cross: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Volunteer with disaster relief, blood drives and services for military families.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
AmeriCorps
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Service programs across the country where members tackle local needs full or part time, some with a living allowance and help paying for school.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Volunteer opportunities for adults 55 and older through RSVP, one of the country's largest senior volunteer networks. You choose how, where and when to serve.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Become a Big
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Mentor a young person. It takes about an hour a week, and your local agency will guide you through the process.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Boys & Girls Clubs: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Volunteer at a local club as a mentor, tutor or activity leader for kids and teens.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
CASA and GAL Volunteers
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Become a trained volunteer who speaks up for a child in the foster care system.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Catchafire
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Use your professional skills, such as design, marketing or tech, to help a nonprofit for a few hours.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Feeding America: Volunteer at a Food Bank
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find a food bank near you and sign up to sort, pack and hand out food.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Habitat for Humanity: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Help build or repair affordable homes, or work in a local Habitat ReStore. No experience needed.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Idealist and VolunteerMatch
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Search thousands of in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities by cause and location. VolunteerMatch is now part of Idealist.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
IRS Tax Volunteers (VITA and TCE)
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Get free training to help people in your community prepare their taxes at no cost.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Meals on Wheels: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Deliver meals and a friendly visit to older neighbors, on a schedule that fits yours.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Medical Reserve Corps
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Community volunteers, medical and non-medical, who help their neighborhoods prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Points of Light Engage
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Search volunteer projects and events near you, or start a project of your own.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
United Way: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find your local United Way to volunteer on community projects and food drives, or to help families get on solid financial footing.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Volunteer.gov
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Volunteer on public lands, such as national parks, forests and wildlife refuges.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.