10/05/2026
What a way to kick off our 40th Anniversary Season!
On October 1, we welcomed community leaders, partners, donors, volunteers, and friends to the LARS Campus to celebrate an exciting milestone: the unveiling of LARS Way and a first look at the future of our campus.
For nearly 40 years, LARS has been a place where families facing hardship can find help, hope, and support. Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Keith R. Sydnor and the City of Laurel, the new LARS Way street sign now marks the place where thousands of neighbors have turned for assistance.
And yes—there were also goats at our kickoff event!
A herd of 21 goats joined the celebration by getting to work clearing overgrowth behind our campus, helping prepare the site for a new parking lot as part of our upcoming renovation project.
Our campus renovation will help us serve more families across South Central Maryland with:
✅ A welcoming new entrance and lobby
✅ Improved accessibility and safety
✅ A pantry lift to streamline food deliveries
✅ A dumbwaiter to move groceries more efficiently
✅ Expanded parking and easier access for families, volunteers, and staff
This project comes at a critical time. Last year alone, LARS served more than 10,000 families, distributed nearly 23,000 grocery bags, provided over 41,000 diapers, and helped families access more than $1.3 million in rental assistance and eviction prevention support.
Construction begins in November, and while we are 65% funded, we still need community support to bring this vision to life.
As we celebrate 40 years of serving our neighbors, we're building a campus that will serve our community for decades to come.
To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit laureladvocacy.org
