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One community organization puts is mission right in its name: Olney Help.

And it is that desire to pitch in and help that has propelled the all-volunteer nonprofit to its 40th year of providing short-term emergency assistance in the form of food, money or access to resources from other agencies to residents of Olney, Brookeville, Sandy Spring and Ashton.

Olney Help was founded in 1969 by parishioners from local churches, including many Quakers, said director Marilyn Simonds.

"They wanted to help their neighbors," she said. "When they heard of someone in need, they would take care of it themselves — the money came out of their own pockets."

Over the years, the organization has become more structured, but is still run entirely by volunteers and is governed by a board of directors.

Simonds said that while other area Help organizations have dissolved due to a lack of volunteers, Olney Help continues to thrive.

"We have a good many volunteers who have been with us for many, many years," she said. "They are very faithful and supportive."

Because there are many volunteers, each is required to work only one or two days each month.

Volunteers respond to requests for assistance, deliver food to clients and sort food in the pantry.

Typically, a client will leave a message on an answering machine requesting help. The "officer of the day" responds, and determines the person's needs. If it is a need for food, a supply of fresh and canned/boxed food is delivered. If it is a need for monetary assistance to pay rent, utilities or prescription medication, the client is directed to a financial counselor who makes payment arrangements.

"If we can't accommodate their needs or they live outside our area, we direct them to other organizations that can help them," Simonds said.

Ruth Filbert, who serves as the organization's food coordinator, said the organization now gets as many requests for financial assistance as it does for food assistance.

Olney Help receives food and financial donations to carry out its mission from schools, places of worship and individuals.

The food pantry, located in an Olney garage, has shelves lined with cans of tuna, soups and vegetables, jars of peanut butter, boxes of cereal, and other staples.

"We usually get 90 percent of our food during November and December, and that will last us all year," Simonds said. "By the end of summer, these shelves will start to look pretty bare.

Olney Help provided 40 Thanksgiving baskets last week and expects to deliver about 45 Christmas baskets this year, numbers that Filbert said are significantly higher than in previous years.

Despite the increase in need, Simonds said the organization is in pretty good shape, although donations are always appreciated.

"We've got a great set-up," she said. "This community is extraordinarily responsive — if we ask for something, they give it to us."