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A new organization, Community Ministries of Calvert County CMCC), is hoping to duplicate the success of Service Makes Individual Lives Exciting (SMILE) Incorporated. The new group is comprised of six churches local in the north and central portions of Calvert County.The Calvert Interfaith Council recently launched CMCC and Tuesday, Oct. 25, representatives gave the Calvert County Commissioners an overview of the new ministry.

The Rev. Charles Harrell of Trinity United Methodist Church explained the founding churches began discussing the need for CMCC in Sept. 2010, after it was announced that Catholic Charities in Prince Frederick would be closing, leaving a void in services to local residents in need.

Harrell said representatives of SMILE, which has been a longtime ministry in the southern area of Calvert, along with representatives of the local United Way, assisted the six churches with starting CMCC.

The six founding churches of CMCC are: All Saints Episcopal Church, Christ Church, Smithville United Methodist Church, St. Edmonds United Methodist Church, St. John Vianney Catholic Church and Trinity United Methodist Church.

“We’re excited about it,” said Harrell. “We think there’s a need.”

“We have a shared responsibility to reach out,” stated the Rev. Margaret E. VanAuker of All Saints Episcopal Church. "We hope to open our doors by January 1.”

According to Harrell, CMCC will provide financial assistance to families in emergency situations. Once CMCC obtains its 501(c) status from the federal government, it may begin fundraising activities.

The mission of CMCC will be to provide assistance, either directly or in cooperation with other agencies, to those in need of emergency assistance.

“SMILE has operated like a very efficient business,” said Commissioners’ President Susan Shaw [R].

Harrell added that more churches are expected to become CMCC members and that the ministries first headquarters will be located in space provided by St. John Vianney at 440 Main Street, Prince Frederick.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com