The following items are designed to help people and the communities in which they live. If you or someone you know needs help, look through this resource list and see if there is a group offering opportunities or aid.

American International Youth Student Exchange Program

American International Youth Student Exchange Program is currently seeking families to host high school students from Europe, South America, and Asia for the upcoming school year. The program offers qualified students a chance to spend a summer, semester or a school year with an America family as part of the home stay experience. AIYSEP is also accepting applications for American students wishing to study abroad. For more information contact 1-800-347-7575.

Apprenticeship Program Enrollment

The Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc is currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Apprenticeship Program. Trades are being offered in Electrical; Plumbing; Carpentry; Sheet Metal; Heating, Ventilation, Air Condition & Refrigeration; and Sprinkler Fitter. If interested please apply in person at the Chapter Office at 7801 York Road, Suite 360, Towson. Applications are accepted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. during the months of January through September. Call 410-821-0351 for more information.

Arthritis Foundation

Are you struggling to afford arthritis medications? The Arthritis Foundation has a free reprint, which lists options, assistance programs and other resources to help you. Call 1-800-365-3811.

Arthritis Foundation - Disabilities Act Requirements

If you have arthritis or another disability and have trouble pumping your own gas or must pay full service because you can't. The Americans with disabilities act requires self-serve gas stations to provide equal access to customers with disabilities. For a copy of these requirements, call 1-800-365-3811 or log onto www.arthritis.org.

Baltimore City Homeless Service

Are you temporarily without a place to live? Is your family in transition? If you are the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the Baltimore City Public School System, they can help. Call the Baltimore City Public School System Office of Homeless Services at 410-396-8904.

Baltimore City Living Resource Guide

Everything you need to know about renting or buying a home in Baltimore can be found in the free Live Baltimore City Living Resource Guide. Find it at your grocery store or library.

Baltimore 's Cultural Resource Guide

The greatest guide of arts and cultural activities in and around Baltimore City , surrounding counties and Washington , DC is now available on www.promotionandarts.com . Applications are available online if you're interested in submitting a listing to the guide. Call 410-752-8632.

Better Bedrest

Support service for women in Howard County and surrounding areas on bedrest due to high-risk pregnancy. Will offer emotional support, referrals and discounts on community resources. Call 410-740-7662.

Community Mediation

Got conflict? Try mediation. The Community Mediation Program offers FREE mediation services in order to help resolve conflict. They also provide community education and conflict resolution training. It works. Call (410) 467- 9165.

Compassionate friends of Maryland

Compassionate friends of Maryland is a self-help organization offering friendship and understanding to bereaved parents. For more information, call (410) 321-7053.

Crime Victims

If you or someone you know are the victim of a crime you have certain legal rights that may include compensation for your financial losses. To learn more about how to protect your rights call the victim legal help line at 1-877-VICTIM-1.

External Diploma Program

Adults who are interested in an alternative way of earning their high school diploma should consider the MD External High School Diploma Program. Most graduates take six months to a year to finish the program. The program is self-paced and flexible, so each adult is able to adapt it to his or her needs. Attend an information session to learn more. Call 410-918-4284 for more information.

Expert Advice on Animals

Experts from the Humane Society are available to answer questions about a wide variety of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds, guinea pigs, and other small animals. For assistance call (410) 833-8848.

Franciscan Center

Franciscan Center urgently needs Men's Clothes & Toiletries for the poor. The Franciscan Center is an emergency outreach program that provides a variety of programs, including a hot meal each weekday, a food pantry, clothing service and AIDS and emergency outreach. The Center has a critical need for used and new men's clothes and toiletry items to fill its clothing bank in order to continue providing emergency assistance to those in need. Needed items include: new, clean, or used items for me like t-shirts, dress shirts, under garments, work pants, dress pants, suits, jackets, ties, outerwear, socks, deodorant, soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and wash clothes. Sample sizes are ideal b/c many of the men are homeless or transient. Call 410-467-5340 or www.franciscancenterbaltimore.org .

Free Prescription Program

The Maryland Medbank Program provides access to medications at NO COST to chronically ill, underinsured and uninsured Marylanders. To find out if you qualify, call 410-821-9262 or log onto www.medbankmd.org.

Fuel Fund of Maryland

Fuel Fund of Maryland supplements resources for those experiencing hardship with essential home energy needs. They provide emergency assistance for low-income families who cannot pay their gas, electric or oil bills. Based on the circumstances, the Fuel Fund may assist needy families who do not qualify for other government programs. To find out more, call 410-821-3022 or log onto www.fuelfundmaryland.org.

HARBEL Free Homebuyer Workshop

The HARBEL Housing Partnership holds two to three workshops each month at various locations. Workshops include discussions on credit, budget, affordability, house hunting, home inspection, financing process and other Loan and Buyer programs. For reservations, call 410-444-9152.

The Hearing and Speech Agency

The Hearing and Speech Agency is dedicated to meeting the speech, language, and hearing needs of Maryland's children and adults. Many children and adults go without needed hearing aids because they cannot afford to buy them. The donation of a used hearing aid, even a broken one, can give the gift of hearing to a child or adult. To donate a hearing aid, call 410-243-3800 or send to The Hearing and Speech Agency, 2220 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.

Home Sharing Service

Looking for safe affordable housing? Consider St. Ambrose home sharing, a nonprofit match service that screens carefully and checks references. Call (410) 366-6180.

Homeless Service

The newly updated "Street Card", a Baltimore County Resource, is a folded, wallet-sized listing, available to homeless people. It provides information about shelters, legal assistance, job skill training and employment, food, health care, clothing and income assistance. To obtain multiple copies, call (410) 887-6196.

Hope Through Heroes

The Arthritis Foundation has just launched a virtual online area for people to provide tributes and memorials for loved ones with arthritis. Visitors to www.arthritis.org can create their own mini-site featuring photos and memories. Call 1-800-365-3811.

KidsPeace Maryland

KidsPeace Maryland is urging citizens to see a foster child off to school by becoming a foster parent today. All qualified parents will receive financial assistance and free training. To find out more about becoming a foster parent, please call KidsPeace Maryland at 1-877-266-8460.

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault is seeking African American or Caucasian woman who have survived a sexual assault. By participating in a University of Maryland research study and answering questions about your experience, you can help improve services and treatment for assault victims throughout Maryland . All interviews will be conducted in a confidential and compassionate environment with a woman trained to support assault survivors. For information, call 410-757-4841.

Maryland SPCA

The MD SPCA mission is to prevent the cruel and neglectful treatment of animals and to foster the humane relationship between animals and people. They are a private, non-profit, independent organization. They operate primarily in the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Their mission is accomplished through education, advocacy, active direct care, population control, and screened adoptions. For more info call 410-235-8826.

Mental Illness

Did you know that 1 in 5 families is coping with severe mental illness of a family member. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill will be hosting an educational program for 12 weeks to help families who are coping with a mental illness in their family. To join this FREE program call (410) 435-2600.

Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League

The league is looking for loving homes for their Gentle Giants. They have about 75 Great Danes currently needing permanent homes or foster homes. If you have a big heart and are interested in adopting a big dog, please call 410-945-5454 or log on to www.mid-atlanticdanerescue.com

New Africa Organization

New Africa Organization exists to identify and nurture individual strengths, skills, and talents of our kids; to help them make a conscious connection between education and economic prospects; to develop skills for work-related projects; to support and build business as a mainstay in the African American community; and to teach empowerment and economic independence. The NAO provides an after-school program for boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 17. To find out more, call 410-493-4984.

Public Safety Information

Know what to do in an emergency? Find public safety information and the complete Baltimore County Emergency Operations Plan in your local library and at www.co.ba.md.us.

Quit Kit

The American Lung Association offers a free smoking cessation packet to those who want to quit smoking. To receive a quit kit or to locate smoking cessation group in your community, call 1-800-LUNG-USA.

RESOLVE

RESOLVE provides timely, compassionate support and information to those experiencing infertility and works to increase awareness of infertility through advocacy and public awareness. The volunteer-led Washington DC and Maryland Area Chapters serve the unique needs of those struggling to build a family, as well as the professionals working with the infertility community. For more information about infertility, medical treatments, and adoption resources contact their helpline at 202-362-5555 or log onto www.resolvedc.org.

Resource Network

A project of Kennedy Krieger Institute available for consumers, families and professionals who need quick and easy access to information on developmental disabilities and resources in Maryland. Network eliminates the need for individuals to make multiple calls or conduct lengthy website searches. (800) 390-3372 or www.resourcenetworkatkki.org.

Safe Return Program

Safe Return Program is the only nationwide program that assists in the identification and safe, timely return of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia who wander and become lost. For more information, call (800) 272-3900 or log onto www.alz.org.

Sankofa Dance Theatre

Sankofa Dance Theatre serves the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area by offering performance, artistic training, cultural outreach, as well as community classes in African drumming and dancing. SDC offers classes in traditional African dance and drum. Call for details 410-669-DRUM. They are located at 2901 Druid Park Drive.

Specialized Trauma Treatment And Recovery Center

The STTAR Center is a not-for-profit counseling center in Columbia, MD that provides specialized trauma treatment and crisis intervention services to victims of child abuse, sexual assault , other violent crimes, auto & other accidents and other psychological trauma.   We treat both male and female adults and children.  For more info, please visit us at www.sttarcenter.org , call our 24 hour hotline at 410-997-3292 or our office number is 410-290-6432.

Stop Smoking Classes

The Black Mental Health Alliance offers FREE ongoing sessions held at various locations citywide. New sessions begin monthly. Pre-registration is required. Call 410-225-7600.

Survivors of Incest

Survivors of Incest a 12-step, self-help recovery program for adult survivors of child abuse is available through Survivors of Incest Anonymous. Call (410) 893-3322.

Tot Line

The Anne Arundel County Public Library has teamed up with Tot's Line, a County information and referral service, to educate parents and caregivers on issues pertaining to caring for their newborn to five year-olds. Tot's Line offers a free help line for Anne Arundel County parents. For advice or referrals, parents or caregivers can call toll-free, 877-817-8687, to submit a question and speak confidentially with a trained child development specialist. For more info, go to www.totsline.org.

Translation Service

The Baltimore County Public Library has contracted with Language Line Services to provide telephone translations in 140 languages for any type of customer service interaction. To access the Language Line Service, call 410-887-6127 or visit any Baltimore County Public Library.

Vehicle Donation

Donate your used vehicle to the National Kidney Foundation. FREE TOWING is provided. Call (410) 494-8545.

OR

Donate your used vehicle to the Arthritis Foundation to help fund research, education and services. Call Cars To Cure Arthritis 1-800-287-3423.

OR

Vehicle Donation The American Lung Association says "Your No-Longer Needed Vehicle Can Help Kids With Asthma Breathe Easier". Call (888) 300-LUNG to donate your used vehicle today.

Victims of Assault

TurnAround Inc. offers FREE individual and group counseling for survivors of rape, incest, child sexual assault and domestic violence. A full range of programs are available. Call (410) 828-6390.

Visual Artists

The Howard County Arts Council is now inviting Baltimore area visual artists to present some of their work for sale in their Gallery Shop. For more information, call (410) 313-2787.

Volunteer Maryland

Make a difference in your community—become a Volunteer Maryland Coordinator! You will organize volunteers to meet a critical need. This is a one-year commitment as a member of the AmeriCorps (domestic Peace Corps). Extensive training, living allowance, healthcare, and a post-service education award provided. Full and part time opportunities available. Must possess strong writing abilities, basic computer skills, and have access to reliable transportation. Call 410-514-7270 or log onto www.volunteermaryland.org

Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore

Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore, Inc., is a non-profit organization that inspires and guides people, especially underserved women, to transform their dreams of entrepreneurship into thriving businesses. For more information, call 410-727-4921 or log onto www.webinc.org.