As one of the local congregations belonging to Community Ministry of Montgomery County, we support a number of their programs. We eat out at restaurants participating in the Thanksgiving in February program, donating part of their profits from a designated day to local food banks. We contribute funds to the Thanksgiving Hunger Relief Drive. We donate clothing and household items to the Interfaith Clothing Center, where low-income families can shop at no cost. We also put together infant layette sets for the ICC, which they give to new mothers who would not otherwise have the items needed for their newborns.

New Hope has four 'adopted families' in the area, who receive assistance from us throughout the year in the form of holiday food baskets, gifts, school supplies, clothing and other items as needed. We maintain regular contact with them in an effort to provide the encouragement they need as they struggle with social and financial issues.

In 1996, New Hope became a Community Angel, joining a new program that pairs a social worker from Child Protective Services of Montgomery County with a community organization. Through our Adopted Social Worker, we are able to meet the emergency needs of area children that cannot be filled through other count agencies. We have provided baby equipment, gift certificates, household items, filled gift bags, Christmas presents, school supplies, food certificates, parenting handbooks and funds for counseling.

As each fall approaches, we have a large school supply drive for area children. We provide supplies to the children in our four 'adopted families', to children referred by our social worker, to a local school, and to the Interfaith Clothing Center.

Our annual Christmas Tree of Stars is a favorite project that has grown to amazing proportions over the years. We decorate a small Christmas tree with stars, each listing a gift for someone on our long list of recipients. The wrapped gifts are returned to the church on the Sunday before Christmas, and presented and blessed during our worship service. What a sight to behold as the children of the church carry forth this array of presents, which has increased with each year.  We give to our adopted families, the residents of Laytonsville and Adrianne's Havens, and to many children referred by our social worker.