Assistance Center of Towson Churches

What Assistance Center of Towson Churches does

Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consortium of more than 50 churches that delivers emergency food and financial assistance to residents of northern and central Baltimore County and northern Baltimore City. Founded in 1985 out of a Lutherville food-pantry ministry begun in the 1970s, ACTC operates from a main center at 116 W. Pennsylvania Avenue in Towson (behind Calvary Baptist Church), supported by a warehouse in Timonium and satellite drop-off sites at partner churches. The organization distributes approximately 5 tons of food per week — including biweekly groceries, weekday homeless lunches through a partnership with Prologue, Inc., and seasonal Thanksgiving baskets (3,472 households served in a recent year) and Christmas gifts. It also administers limited emergency financial assistance funded entirely by donations, providing $300,000 in housing assistance and helping 250+ families avoid eviction in 2021.

The business model is donation-driven: ACTC generates no revenue from service fees, runs on roughly five paid staff (Executive Director, Director of Development, Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant, and Center Operations Supervisor) plus an extensive volunteer base, and is governed by an 11+ member Board of Directors. Funding comes from individuals, member churches, corporate partners including Giant Foods, ShopRite, and Whole Foods Market, and the Maryland Food Bank, which serves as the primary wholesale food supplier. Go-to-market is community-led: ACTC reaches both clients in need and donors through church networks, word-of-mouth, a Facebook presence, a monthly email newsletter, and its website. Distribution is conducted on-site at the Towson center (Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m., plus Wednesday 4–7 p.m. for groceries) and off-site at Prologue, Inc.'s 609 Baltimore Avenue location for homeless services. No proprietary technology, AI/ML, mobile applications, or API infrastructure has been identified; operations rely on standard web, email, and social-media tooling. The organization holds no patents, has made no acquisitions, and operates as a single-jurisdiction Maryland nonprofit without subsidiaries or parent entities.

Name

Assistance Center of Towson Churches

Legal name

Assistance Center of Towson Churches

Website

https://actcserves.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC) is a 501(c)(3) consortium of 50+ churches providing food assistance, emergency financial aid, and homeless services to residents of northern and central Baltimore County and northern Baltimore City, funded entirely by donations and operated by roughly five paid staff plus volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Social Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Emergency food assistance
• Social services nonprofit
• Food pantry services
• Homeless services
• Community charity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Towson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ACTC relies entirely on donations from individuals, churches, organizations, companies, and foundations to fund operations and provide emergency assistance to community members in need.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ACTC provides emergency food assistance through bi-weekly grocery distribution and weekday lunches for people experiencing homelessness, plus limited emergency financial assistance for rental eviction prevention and BGE utility bills. The organization also offers referral services to community resources (Maryland 211, Maryland Food Bank, eviction prevention, BGE assistance programs) and operates seasonal programs including Thanksgiving baskets and a Christmas children's gift program. All services are free of charge, funded entirely by donations, and delivered through a Towson-based center with church, grocery, and nonprofit partners.

Product overview

Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC) is a consortium of churches providing emergency social services rather than a technology product company. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering a coordinated portfolio of charitable programs including food assistance (groceries and homeless meal services), emergency financial assistance for rent and utilities, referral services to community resources, and seasonal programs (Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gifts). All programs are supported by volunteer efforts and donations from partner churches, organizations, and individuals in the Baltimore area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Assistance Program Provides groceries every two weeks for residents in the ACTC service area, with food pickup available Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Wednesdays 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for groceries only. Designed for residents of specified service-area zip codes experiencing food insecurity.
• Homeless Services Through the Prologue, Inc. partnership, delivers weekday lunches, toiletry bags, and extra weekend food to people experiencing homelessness, plus limited clothing referrals and mail pickup at 609 Baltimore Avenue, Towson, MD 21204.
• Emergency Financial Assistance Provides limited, donations-funded financial assistance for rental eviction prevention and BGE utility bills to residents of specific service-area zip codes, available once since October 2020.
• Referral Services Connects clients to other sources of help including Maryland 211, Maryland Food Bank, COVID-19 resources, eviction prevention information, BGE assistance programs, and computer access through Baltimore County Public Library.
• Thanksgiving Basket Program Annual Thanksgiving food basket giveaway providing complete holiday meals including turkey and all fixings to families in need. Provided Thanksgiving baskets to 3,472 households in a recent year.
• Christmas Gift Program Annual Christmas gift program for local children run in partnership with Mount Calvary AME Church and Kiwanis Club of Loch Raven, matching families with sponsors to provide holiday gifts.
• Volunteer Program On-site and off-site volunteer opportunities including receiving and processing food donations, packing grocery bags, transporting food, and professional or administrative support for ACTC operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributes 5 tons of food weekly to those in need
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Prologue, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership begun in late 2024 to provide indoor food services for people experiencing homelessness. ACTC delivers weekday lunches, toiletry bags, and extra weekend food to Prologue's location at 609 Baltimore Avenue, Towson.
• Maryland Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACTC is a distribution partner of the Maryland Food Bank, receiving food supplies for distribution to community members in need.
• A Can-Can Make a Difference (Adopt-a-Block)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeeding arm of Adopt-a-Block organization that supports ACTC's food distribution efforts.
• Giant FoodssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Giant stores (York Road Plaza, fairgrounds, and Drumcastle locations) make regular donations of fresh food to ACTC. Giant also ran a promotional campaign where $1 per bouquet was donated.
• ShopRite TimoniumsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal ShopRite store makes regular donations of fresh food to support ACTC's food distribution.
• Whole Foods MarketsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWhole Foods Market stores (Goucher Commons and Towson Row locations) make regular donations of fresh food to ACTC.
• Havenwood Presbyterian ChurchsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner24/7 food donation drop-off location in rear parking lot for nonperishable items.
• Ascension LutheransupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonday 12:00-2:00pm food donation drop-off location at 7601 York Rd.
• Woodbrook Baptist ChurchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThursday 12:00-2:00pm food donation drop-off location. Also serves as primary donation site after Trinity Episcopal transition.
• Valley BaptistsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner1st Thursday of each month 5:00-6:00pm food donation drop-off location at 1401 York Rd.
• 50+ Participating ChurchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of churches including Arnolia United Methodist, Ascension Lutheran, Babcock Memorial Presbyterian, Calvary Baptist, Central Presbyterian, and many others who provide volunteers, donations, and support for ACTC's mission.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Maryland Food Bank: Statewide food bank that is both ACTC's supplier and a broader competitor in the same Baltimore-area food assistance space. Operates a much larger distribution network and food sourcing operation across Maryland, serving similar low-income clients.
• Catholic Charities of Baltimore: Large regional faith-affiliated social services agency operating food pantries, emergency financial assistance, and homeless outreach across the Baltimore area. Directly comparable service mix (food, rent/utility help, referrals) at significantly greater scale.
• Salvation Army Central Maryland: Operates food pantries, emergency rent/utility assistance, and homeless services across Baltimore. Comparable combined food + housing + utility assistance model with substantially broader geographic reach and donor base.

Direct peers

• Baltimore Hunger Project: Local Baltimore-area nonprofit focused on weekend food backpack programs for food-insecure students and their families. Direct comparable in mission (combating food insecurity) and donor-driven nonprofit model serving Baltimore County/City residents.
• Moveable Feast: Maryland-based nonprofit delivering medically tailored meals to food-insecure individuals living with chronic illnesses. Shares the food-distribution-to-vulnerable-populations mission and operates on a donation-funded model in overlapping Baltimore-area service zones.
• Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland: Central Maryland nonprofit providing meal delivery and food assistance to seniors and vulnerable residents in Baltimore County/City. Comparable in providing recurring food support to low-income clients through a donation-driven model in the same geographic catchment.
• Beans & Bread (Our Daily Bread): Long-running Baltimore City program providing daily hot meals and food assistance to people experiencing hunger and homelessness. Closest direct comparable on daily lunch distribution and food pantry services for low-income Baltimore-area residents.
• St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore: Catholic faith-based nonprofit providing emergency assistance (food, rent, utilities, clothing) to neighbors in need across Baltimore, including Towson-area parishes. Direct comparable in faith-driven emergency aid model and service portfolio.

Regional players

• Prologue, Inc. Baltimore County nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness, with whom ACTC launched a 2024 partnership to deliver weekday lunches at Prologue's Towson location. Adjacent service population (homeless individuals) with overlapping Baltimore County service area.

Others

• Hearts & Homes for Youth / Baltimore County Food Allies: Baltimore-area nonprofit ecosystem addressing youth housing instability and adjacent human services needs. Comparable in being a regional nonprofit serving vulnerable Baltimore County populations and competing for similar donor mindshare, though with different primary mission focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Assistance-Center-of-Towson-Churches-100039085190831

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Assistance Center of Towson Churches