The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County (VCSHC) was founded in November 2001 as a clearinghouse, recruiting potential volunteers and referring them to local non-profit and governmental agencies seeking volunteers.  Additionally the VCSHC provides:

• capacity building opportunities,
• best practices trainings & resources and consultations to local nonprofit and governmental agencies,
• orientations and information sessions to community members, and
• volunteer recognition options to individuals, agencies, groups, and businesses.

The VCSHC was created from a partnership formed by the Association of Community Services of Howard County, Columbia Association, The Columbia Foundation, Maryland Governor’s Office for Service and Volunteerism, The Horizon Foundation, Howard County Association of Volunteer Administrators, Howard County Department of Citizen Services Community Service Partnerships program, and the United Way of Central Maryland’s Community Partnership Program.