Columbia Community Care: The Heart Behind the Mission
Listen to season 2, episode 12 of the MomTalk Maryland podcast, “Columbia Community Care: The Heart Behind the Mission”
MOMTALK MARYLAND | SEASON 2, EPISODE 12
A mile-long line for groceries can change how you see your own town. After COVID shut down schools, Erika watched fear ripple through students and families in Howard County, Maryland and she decided to act. What begins as a quick Facebook call for donations turns into Columbia Community Care, a volunteer-powered network built on trust, logistics, and neighbors who refuse to let families go hungry.
We talk through Erika’s origin story, from growing up in Columbia’s “bubble” to learning civic engagement the hard way at Wild Lake, where student protests and an ACLU-supported case cemented the power of young people using their voices. That same mix of conviction and community building shows up years later as she juggles virtual teaching with setting up food distribution sites, coordinating deliveries, and figuring out nonprofit systems in real time.
You’ll also hear why food insecurity is not only about unemployment. Erika breaks down the ALICE population (asset limited, income-constrained, employed) and why working families often do not qualify for SNAP or other services. We dig into how Columbia Community Care fills that gap with low-barrier support, partnerships across the county, and programs that now include youth mentorship and wellness for moms and those who mother. Then we look ahead to The Source, a 65,000-square-foot community center planned for the former Columbia Flier building, designed to bring youth spaces, a gym, a food hall, and health connections under one roof.
If this story moved you, there are so many ways to get involved 💛 Whether it’s volunteering your time, donating resources, or simply spreading the word, every small action helps strengthen the network that Columbia Community Care has built. ✨
🌐 https://columbiacommunitycare.org
It began with a Facebook post on March 11, 2020, two days before schools closed for the pandemic.
Three days later, the Columbia Community Care Facebook group was created with about 40 members
Today, through the support of hundreds of volunteers, donors, and community partners, Columbia Community Care (CCC) is able to provide food and services to hundreds of local individuals and families each week.
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