Our Mission

    In a loving response to our Lord Jesus Christ’s command to feed His sheep, The Shepherd’s Staff exists to reach out to those in crisis, to aid those in need, to support those in trouble, to seek out and encourage pathways to self-sufficiency, and to be a witness for Christ in our community.
 

Our History

    The vision for a cooperative crisis center began in 1989 with the Westminster Ministerium. In 1991, The Shepherd’s Staff opened its doors in a tiny space donated by the Human Services Programs of Carroll County and, in 1992, the organization moved to larger quarters provided by the Westminster United Methodist Church.

    Subsequently, in 1994, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church offered The Shepherd’s Staff a ten-room house located at 30 Carroll Street in downtown Westminster. Presently, it is from this location that assistance is available to anyone in Carroll County.

    Today, The Shepherd’s Staff operates with a wide range of outreach programs and services. Local churches, organizations, businesses, schools, and individuals support this grassroots ministry with financial contributions, product / service donations, and hundreds of hours of volunteerism.

    The Shepherd’s Staff does not receive funding from federal, state, or county agencies and, therefore, is totally dependent on community generosity and its own fundraising efforts.