Nonprofit Spotlight

Nonprofit Spotlight

Wrapping Arms 'Round Many, Inc. (WARM) was established in 2010 and is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. WARM collaborates with local churches and other community organizations to provide meals and safe overnight shelter to homeless adults in St. Mary’s County during the cold winter months from November through March.

The organization is run entirely by volunteers and has no paid staff. Funding sources are primarily grants and donations.

Eligible guests meet in the evenings at Church of the Ascension in Lexington Park where they are assessed and then driven in vans to the host site. Guests are vetted and any who are impaired or with a history of violence are excluded from participating in WARM. Each site hosts up to 15 guests each night for one week and most supplies including cots, linens, blankets, pillows, etc. are provided by WARM. Guests are then returned via van to Church of the Ascension the following morning.

"My mom kicked me out of the house because she didn't like my boyfriend, and I was pregnant. We didn't have anywhere to go because the shelters were all full. The WARM program helped us feel safe. Your people were really nice to us."
  - 2024 WARM guest

WARM's program is frequently at full capacity. Last season -- Nov. 2023 - March 2024 -- there were 18 nights where it was at or above capacity and many nights when it was close to full.

"I love the WARM program because it helps me and my friends. It's really rough out there. And your food is always good too."
  - 2024 WARM guest

Volunteers can serve as evening and overnight monitors, to provide meals including dinner and breakfast, and in other roles. Some church congregations are unable to host WARM guests in their facility but will provide volunteers and meals at a site hosted by another church.

“I smile as I remember the experience of sharing my heart and love for Jesus Christ with the WARM guests. The joy I saw in their faces was priceless as we ate together, sang familiar songs, played games, and listened to their stories of another night of warmth and safety.”
  - Phyllis Andrews, Lexington Park United Methodist Church

Volunteers enjoy interacting with WARM guests and spend evenings talking, playing games, mentoring, and providing fellowship with those being sheltered. There are many ways in which people can volunteer or otherwise support WARM. Please email or call for additional information or if interested in supporting this worthy mission.  WARM conducts monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. at Church of the Ascension, 21641 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park, Maryland, and all are welcome to attend.  


For more information, visit the nonprofit’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

The information used in this article was collected from WARM. 

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