LEONARDTOWN — When the overnight temperature drops this winter, dozens of St. Mary’s County residents without a home will depend on a van ride to reach a warm bed and a hot meal. The county says it needs more people willing to drive those vans.
St. Mary’s County Government is recruiting volunteer drivers for WARM, short for Wrapping Arms ‘Round Many, the rotating church-based shelter that opens its 2026-27 season Sunday, Nov. 8, and runs through March 21, 2027, according to a county news release issued Nov. 2. The Department of Aging & Human Services coordinates the drivers.
How WARM works
For readers new to the county, WARM is not a single building. Since it began in 2009, the program has grown to more than 50 participating churches, the county said. Congregations take turns hosting guests overnight, providing shelter and a hot meal, while faith communities, human service agencies, county departments and individual volunteers share the work.
Because the host site changes, guests need a dependable ride. That is where the drivers come in. Each day has two shifts, available seven days a week throughout the season:
- Evening: Pick up guests at 5:30 p.m. at the Church of the Ascension on Great Mills Road and drive them to that night’s host church.
- Morning: Arrive at the host church by 7 a.m. and return guests to the Church of the Ascension.
Drivers use county-owned vans, which are parked at the Three Oaks Center on Lei Drive in Lexington Park. Volunteers must be at least 18 and hold a valid driver’s license, the release says.
Why the timing matters
The call comes less than a week before the shelter opens, and every unfilled shift is a night when guests may have no way to reach the host site. The season spans roughly four and a half months, from early November into the first days of spring, which covers the stretch of the year when exposure is most dangerous.
Homelessness has drawn wider attention across Southern Maryland this fall. In Charles County, commissioners recently recognized National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month with LifeStyles of Maryland, which runs homeless and housing case management there. The release did not say how many guests WARM served last winter or how many drivers it still needs.
How to sign up
Residents interested in driving can contact Cynthia Brown, Human Services Division manager, at 301-475-4200, ext. 1846, or Cynthia.Brown@stmaryscountymd.gov. More about the program is on the county’s WARM page.
