Where Your Generosity Makes a Difference
The mission of The Mustard Seed is to give back to the community in meaningful ways that help make Elkridge a stronger, more compassionate place for everyone who lives here. Every donation and purchase plays a vital role in supporting this mission.
Below, you’ll find more information about how the funds generated through your generosity are used to directly support community outreach and those in need.
The Mustard Seed is made possible entirely through the kindness of dedicated volunteers who freely give their time and talents. Because of their service, we are able to steward donations responsibly and direct as much of the shop’s proceeds as possible back into the community—maximizing the impact of every gift and every visit.
Grace Episcopal Church
A portion of the funds received through The Mustard Seed Thrift Shop is used to support the ongoing needs and ministries of Grace Episcopal Church. These funds help cover essential repairs and facility improvements, ensuring that the church remains a safe, welcoming, and accessible space for worship, fellowship, and community outreach.
Support also extends to Grace Episcopal Church’s Vacation Bible School, which is offered free of charge each year to children from our community and beyond—providing a nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and feel supported.
In addition, proceeds help sustain several vital church ministries, including Loving Embraces, whose volunteers lovingly handcraft blankets for children in hospitals. Funds also support back-to-school initiatives, pastoral care outreach, and community-focused missions such as Pregnancy Center outreach, Pack for Success, hat and glove collections, and many other programs that respond to the evolving needs of our neighbors.
Through these efforts, every donation helps extend care, compassion, and hope—strengthening both our church and the community we are called to serve.
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
Items in our shop that are not sold or that we are unable to use are thoughtfully donated to Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), where they can continue to serve a meaningful purpose. By sharing these items, we help support VVA’s mission and ensure that donated goods continue to make a positive impact beyond our walls.
VVA partners with The Mustard Seed through weekly pickups, allowing us to responsibly and efficiently pass along items that can benefit veterans and their families. This partnership helps reduce waste while extending care and support to those who have served our country.
To learn more about Vietnam Veterans of America and the important work they do, please click the photo to visit their website.
Store Cards For The Hungry
Each month, a portion of The Mustard Seed Thrift Shop’s sales is dedicated to supporting individuals and families who reach out to Grace Episcopal Church for help with food insecurity. These funds enable the church to provide $50 grocery store gift cards to households in need, offering immediate assistance during difficult times.
Gift cards may be used at Giant Food or Green Valley Grocery Store, allowing families the flexibility to purchase food that best meets their needs. In addition, Grace Episcopal Church operates a small pop-up market, where recipients can receive essential food and hygiene items at no cost. This extra support helps stretch grocery dollars further and reduces the financial burden on families during times of hardship.
Through this program, every purchase at The Mustard Seed helps provide nourishment, dignity, and care—meeting neighbors where they are and offering support when it is needed most.
GrassRoots Crisis Intervention
Clothing and shoes are essential needs for individuals experiencing homelessness. When we receive clothing that cannot be placed on our racks or items that do not sell in the shop, we thoughtfully pass those donations along to Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, where they can directly support people facing housing insecurity and crisis.
By sharing these items, we help ensure that donated clothing continues to provide warmth, dignity, and practical support to those who need it most. This partnership allows us to extend the reach of every donation and respond to critical needs within our community.
To learn more about the vital work of Grassroots and the many ways they support individuals and families in crisis—and how you can help—please click the photo to visit their website.
Dress For Success
When we receive professional clothing that may not sell in the shop—or that could make a meaningful difference for someone preparing to enter or re-enter the workforce—we thoughtfully donate those items to Dress for Success.
Dress for Success provides professional outfits at no cost to individuals seeking employment, helping them approach interviews and new opportunities with confidence and dignity. By sharing these garments, we help remove barriers and support individuals as they take important steps toward financial stability and self-sufficiency.
To learn more about Dress for Success and the life-changing work they do, please click the photo to visit their website.
