These groups meet regularly.
ALS Resource support group — First Saturday, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Educational support for ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) patients, family members and friends. Owen Brown Interfaith Center, Conference Room 116B, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. 301-978-9855 or http://www.ALSinfo.org.
Caregiver's support group — First Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. Medical Pavilion at Howard County, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite G010, Columbia. 410-740-5858.
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America — First Tuesday, 7 p.m. Medical Pavilion at Howard County General Hospital, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite 100, Columbia. For exact dates and location, Brad Thomas, bradley.e.thomas@gmail.com.
HIV support group for men and women — First Thursday, 6-7 p.m. Howard County Health Department, 7180 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia. 410-313-6267.
La Leche League of Columbia — First Friday, 10 a.m. Breastfeeding information and mother-to-mother support. Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia. Ann, 410-309-4940; Bernadette, 301-421-1177; or Katie, 410-461-3423. http://www.lllofmd-de-dc.org/columbiaii.shtml.
MOMS Club of Ellicott City-Central — First Wednesday, 10 a.m. Support and social group for at-home moms serving the areas west of New Cut Road, 104 and 108, but south of Route 40 (generally the 21042 and 21043 ZIP codes). First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3604 Chatham Road, near Miller Branch library. http://www.geocities.com/momsclubofec_central or momsclubofec_central@yahoo.com.
MOPS-Mothers of Preschool Children (through age 5) — First Monday, Chapelgate Presbyterian Church, Marriottsville. Speakers, mentor support, playgroups and activities. Faye, mops@chapelgate.org.
National Federation of the Blind —First Tuesday, 7-9 p.m. Central Maryland chapter. Senior Plus Center, East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. 410-715-9596.
Near Death Experience — First Sunday, 3-5:30 p.m. Main cafeteria, building No.1, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel. 410-531-3330 or http://www.marylandiands.org.
Sjogren's Syndrome support group meeting— May 6, 1-2:30 p.m. Topic: Dry Eye. Speaker: Dr. Andrew Morgenstern, director of the Dry Eye Clinic at Washington Eye Physicians and Surgeons. Holy Cross Hospital, Room Edu 2. Bonnie Schneider at ronandbon@verizon.net.
Young Widows and Widowers group — First Tuesday, 6:30-9 p.m. A social and support group. Jilly's, 10300 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City. 410-740-7810.
These groups meet regularly.
Abusive relationships — Mondays, 7-8:30 p.m. Domestic Violence Center of Howard County, 5457 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 310, Columbia. Free childcare. 410-997-0304.
Adult Children of Alcoholics — Wednesdays, 7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, 9325 Presbyterian Circle, Columbia; Saturdays, 12:45 p.m., Serenity Center, 9650 Basket Ring Road, Columbia. 410-796-4680.
Adults with Parental Loss Grief Support Group — Wednesdays, April 4-May 9, 6:30 p.m. Gilchrist Hospice Care, 5537 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 433, Columbia. Registration required. 443-539-4086 or GHC_bereavement@gilchristhospice.org.
Alcoholics Anonymous — Sundays, 7 p.m. Share experience, strength and hope with each other to solve this common problem and help others to recover. Laurel Regional Hospital, 7300 Van Dusen Road, Laurel. 301-497-7914 or 410-792-7636.
Bereaved Parents of Baltimore — Monthly sharing groups in Lutherville, Westminster and Columbia. Self-help grief support for parents, grandparents and siblings mourning the loss of a child. Monthly newsletter. 410-321-7053.
Cancer group for young adults — Mondays. Free professionally-led support groups for young adults affected by cancer in Columbia. 410-964-0202.
Caregiver Support Group — Thursdays, 10 a.m., on a semester basis. For friends and family of people with aphasia. Sponsored by the Loyola Clinical Centers, under the auspices of Loyola University Maryland. Loyola Clinical Centers, 410-617-1200 or http://www.loyola.edu/clinical-centers. 8890 McGaw Road, Columbia.
Chemically Dependent Anonymous — Fridays, 5 p.m. A fellowship of recovering addicts and alcoholics. Serenity Center, 9650 Basket Ring Road, Columbia. 1-888-232-4673. http://www.cdaweb.org.
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous — No weigh-ins. Sundays, 8:30-10 a.m. Columbia Serenity Center, 9650 Basket Ring Road, Columbia. 781-321-9118.
HIV/AIDS — Monday evenings in Columbia. For meeting location, time and more information, 240-606-3093; or the health department, 410-313-2333 or 1-866-313-6300.
Mother Loss Workshop — May 8, 6 p.m. For adults who have experienced the death of a mother. Gilchrist Hospice Care-Howard County, 5537 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 433, Columbia. Registration required. 443-539-4086 or ghe_bereavement@gilchristhospice.org.
