Washington County Community Action Council Inc

The Washington County Community Action Council, Inc. (CAC) was founded in 1965 under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty.  CAC is the designated community action agency for Washington County MD, and as such is tasked with the mission of assisting the citizens of our community who are in economic need while promoting self-sufficiency.  Over 16,000 Washington County citizens live at or below poverty level.  Poverty is a formidable foe that impacts our friends and neighbors in Washington County, but it is not an undefeatable one.  Each day CAC wins battles against poverty; family by family, individual by individual.  CAC provides critical programs and services to strengthen Washington County's citizens.  CAC helps provide basic human needs such as food and shelter to individuals, families, children, the elderly, and the disabled.  CAC offers assistance with an electric termination, empty fuel tank, or threat of eviction.  CAC provides solutions to transportation obstacles so that people can get to work.  CAC weatherizes homes to reduce energy costs and facilitates programs to help families save and buy a home of their own, pay for education, or purchase a vehicle.  CAC has over 40 programs to assist and educate the individuals and families in our community.  What most people do not know is that the majority of CAC's clients are employed and struggling to provide for themselves and their families, but simply do not earn enough to pay for the necessities of life, much less take care of the comforts many of us take for granted.  Imagine if you barely make enough to pay for rent and utilities...you still need to buy food, laundry detergent, gas for your car, the list goes on.  What if an appliance or your car break down...how do you pay for that? What if someone in the household loses their job?  Can a single parent, with three children, earn minimum wage and still afford daycare and transportation to and from work?  These are the situations that CAC's clients face on a daily basis.  Tough economic times have affected not only the citizens of Washington County but also the organizations that have been established to assist our friends and neighbors in need.  CAC has experienced funding cuts over the past few years that continue to affect the programs and services we provide to the community.  It is only through the kindness and generosity of community donors like yourself, that CAC can continue to offer the wide array of assistance and education that gives our friends and neighbors a hand up not a hand out.  Thank you for taking the time to consider Washington County Community Action Council, Inc. a worthwhile cause.