OUR HISTORY
Organizational History and Purpose
Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc. (LARS) was founded in 1987 by a group of faith and
community leaders who united to help people in need. Our mission is to empower individuals
needing housing, food, and financial assistance to achieve well-being and stability. Our service area
consists of parts of Prince George's, Howard and Anne Arundel counties in South Central Maryland.
LARS' first client base consisted of 15 individuals who met with caseworkers in a borrowed church
office space. LARS has since grown significantly in staffing, physical presence and programming. In
2010, the State of Maryland awarded funds for the renovation of LARS headquarters at 311 Laurel
Avenue, and in March 2024, LARS acquired the adjacent property to expand the capacity and
resources available to the community. This growth has enabled LARS to accommodate the 30-60+
households who seek our help each day and to house the community’s largest food pantry.
In February 2022, LARS welcomed Shannon Mouton as Executive Director. She is accountable for
daily operational excellence and compliance with standard operational processes, human resources
policies and fiduciary duties. To optimize staff resources, LARS engages the specialized expertise of
third-party providers in accounting, human resources and information technology. These external
services help to standardize and maintain best practices and tools for the efficiency and quality of
daily operations.
The LARS Board of Directors, headed by Sherri Dotson, MS, MBA, is responsible for mission-based
leadership and strategic governance. The Board consists of seven professionals from within the
community who bring their time, treasure and talents to the LARS organization.
For 38 years, LARS has operated as a central source of support for area residents facing food
insecurity, eviction risk, financial crisis and homelessness. Today, LARS employs 17 staff members,
welcomes 237 volunteers and assists more than 1,500 households annually.
Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc. (LARS) was founded in 1987 by a group of faith and
community leaders who united to help people in need. Our mission is to empower individuals
needing housing, food, and financial assistance to achieve well-being and stability. Our service area
consists of parts of Prince George's, Howard and Anne Arundel counties in South Central Maryland.
LARS' first client base consisted of 15 individuals who met with caseworkers in a borrowed church
office space. LARS has since grown significantly in staffing, physical presence and programming. In
2010, the State of Maryland awarded funds for the renovation of LARS headquarters at 311 Laurel
Avenue, and in March 2024, LARS acquired the adjacent property to expand the capacity and
resources available to the community. This growth has enabled LARS to accommodate the 30-60+
households who seek our help each day and to house the community’s largest food pantry.
In February 2022, LARS welcomed Shannon Mouton as Executive Director. She is accountable for
daily operational excellence and compliance with standard operational processes, human resources
policies and fiduciary duties. To optimize staff resources, LARS engages the specialized expertise of
third-party providers in accounting, human resources and information technology. These external
services help to standardize and maintain best practices and tools for the efficiency and quality of
daily operations.
The LARS Board of Directors, headed by Sherri Dotson, MS, MBA, is responsible for mission-based
leadership and strategic governance. The Board consists of seven professionals from within the
community who bring their time, treasure and talents to the LARS organization.
For 38 years, LARS has operated as a central source of support for area residents facing food
insecurity, eviction risk, financial crisis and homelessness. Today, LARS employs 17 staff members,
welcomes 237 volunteers and assists more than 1,500 households annually.
Program Description
LARS operates several interrelated programs to meet our clients’ basic needs and support their long-term successes. Since 1987, the Emergency Services Program (ES) has been a central source of
support for area residents in crisis. Services include a food pantry, financial assistance, vouchers for clothing, eyeglasses and furniture, and referrals to social services and medical, wellness, and drug
treatment providers. FY 2024, ES case managers served 1,443 households, accounting for 4,441 individuals, processed 8,317 total client visits, distributed 21,718 bags of groceries (equivalent to
108,590 meals) and dispensed 86,826 diapers. LARS provided $213,854 in eviction prevention aid.
LARS operates several interrelated programs to meet our clients’ basic needs and support their long-term successes. Since 1987, the Emergency Services Program (ES) has been a central source of
support for area residents in crisis. Services include a food pantry, financial assistance, vouchers for clothing, eyeglasses and furniture, and referrals to social services and medical, wellness, and drug
treatment providers. FY 2024, ES case managers served 1,443 households, accounting for 4,441 individuals, processed 8,317 total client visits, distributed 21,718 bags of groceries (equivalent to
108,590 meals) and dispensed 86,826 diapers. LARS provided $213,854 in eviction prevention aid.
LARS established the Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSH) in 2010. The $1.3M program is 85% funded by the HUD Continuum of Care program. It is available to anyone who is chronically disabled and experiencing homelessness—regardless of sobriety, mental health treatment outcomes or criminal history. This life-changing program operates on the principle that stable housing is a basic human right and a critical foundation for individuals to achieve long-term health and stability. The program provides extensive case management to support and transition the chronically homeless into stable housing. All residents have the right to self-determination and are treated with dignity and respect. PSH currently provides stable residency for 49 northern Prince George's County households. The LARS PSH Program has been named the #1 housing program in Prince George’s County for four consecutive years.
LARS has recently expanded the ES program to increase access to nutritional and well-being services for underserved communities. In 2024, LARS launched THRIVE: Targeted Help, Resources and Inclusion for Vulnerable Elders to bring mobile food delivery and care coordination services to residents in low- and moderate-income senior communities. LARS has successfully piloted THRIVE at the Park View senior community and currently serves 64 low-income senior households. We have delivered 1,098 bags of groceries and are conducting weekly visits to clients who request care coordination.
Our clients’ struggles to find a path out of poverty led us to launch our Self-Sufficiency Program
(SSP) in 2016. LARS uses a one-on-one, client-centered case management approach to develop
everyone’s plan forward. Case managers employ the framework developed by the national
nonprofit Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) to follow each client’s progress across multiple life
areas: family stability, health and well-being, financial management, education and training,
employment and career management. The LARS Self-Sufficiency Program currently serves 25
enrollees.
(SSP) in 2016. LARS uses a one-on-one, client-centered case management approach to develop
everyone’s plan forward. Case managers employ the framework developed by the national
nonprofit Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) to follow each client’s progress across multiple life
areas: family stability, health and well-being, financial management, education and training,
employment and career management. The LARS Self-Sufficiency Program currently serves 25
enrollees.
LARS is piloting our Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) initiative via a local impact grant. Studies show that GBI programs are a less bureaucratic and more effective way to assist families in escaping poverty. For the pilot phase, six SSP households are receiving $500 a month for five months with the commitment to use the funds toward agreed-upon personal goals.Creating pathways to housing is an essential element of the LARS mission and daily work. LARS is launching a Transitional Housing Program (THP) in 2025 to further address the growing homelessness problem in our community. The program will provide temporary residency for up to 19 men and women experiencing homelessness as they move toward independence. While in the program, they will reside in fully furnished dormitory-style single-person rooms and receive intensive case management to work toward self-sufficiency and housing stability. Residents will have access to self-sufficiency training, employment support, educational opportunities, and physical and mental health services. Upon exiting THP and moving to permanent housing, each client is offered ongoing enrollment in SSP.
Independent Charities of AmericaCharities certified as "Best In America" must provide evidence of their program activities and demonstrate the scope, range, and benefit of their services. Promotional and fundraising materials must be honest, accurate, and non-deceptive, and charities are required to be fully IRS-compliant. Of the 1,000,000+ charities operating in the United States today fewer than 2,500 have been awarded this seal.
Catalogue for Philanthropy Greater WashingtonAfter a careful vetting process, the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington has selected LARS to be part of the Class of 2021-2022. LARS has undergone an extensive review process, and has met the Catalogue’s high standards. Potential donors can be confident that the nonprofits in the Catalogue are worthy of their support.
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GuideStar Platinum Participant
LARS is proud to be a GuideStar Platinum participant. Platinum lets us show quantitative metrics on the progress we’re making toward our mission. Check out our Nonprofit Profile. We have taken this extra step to show our commitment to transparency and to give donors and funders an easy way to evaluate us.
Partners For Wellness
LARS was selected to receive the Capital Area Food Bank’s Partners for Wellness designation as part of an initiative to promote healthier food options to DMV area families in need! Out of 444 CAFB partnering pantries, only 29 received this special designation. LARS is excited to be part of this commitment to ensure that our clients are receiving proper nutrition! |
