Elizabeth House
{{short description|Nonprofit food pantry in Maryland, U.S.}}
Elizabeth House is a nonprofit food pantry and soup kitchen in Laurel, Maryland. It was founded in 1988 and is managed by Fish of Laurel.
History
The Elizabeth House was founded in 1988 and is named after a volunteer veteran Elizabeth "Betty" Colnaghi. In the 1970s, Colnaghi began using her basement as a food pantry to serve low-income residents of the Laurel area. This later grew to include emergency financial aid and transportation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/laurel/ph-ll-elizabeth-house-renovations-20171012-story.html|title=Property management company 'spruces up' Elizabeth House in Laurel|last=Michaels|first=Andrew|website=Laurel Leader|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=2019-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415174128/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/laurel/ph-ll-elizabeth-house-renovations-20171012-story.html|url-status=dead}} Since the 1990s, leadership at the Elizabeth House has disputed with City of Laurel Officials including City Administrator Ernest Saccanelli and Police Chief Roy Gilmore over how to best help the homeless population. Elizabeth House director, Robert Colnaghi stated that the two officials told him "we should not serve those people from Howard County that we're a magnet for homeless people from Anne Arundel, Howard and Montgomery counties."{{Cite web |last=Penn |first=Ivan |date=September 29, 1995 |title=Soup kitchen operator says Laurel is upset over out-of-town homeless |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-09-29-1995272122-story.html |access-date=2019-04-15 |work=The Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}} Saccanelli believes the services offered by social programs including the Elizabeth House attract more homeless to the city.
The Elizabeth House serves people in Prince George's County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County. The number of people supported by the organization has grown since its foundation. Boy Scouts of America collect donations that provide additional support in the holiday season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/11/28/charities-struggling-to-do-more-with-less/42d3d2d5-20be-4735-98d3-88411ab783c5/|title=Charities Struggling to Do More With Less|last=Otto|first=Mary|date=2002-11-28|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2019-04-15|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}} In August 1995, Elizabeth House served approximately 50 to 75 homeless people a night.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/clip/30630599/the_baltimore_sun/|title=Dutch visitor continues his effort to stay in U.S.|last=Penn|first=Ivan|date=August 18, 1995|website=Baltimore Sun|language=en|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=2019-04-15}} According to Laurel officials, in 1995, the Elizabeth House served roughly 70 to 90 people annually.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/clip/30630546/the_baltimore_sun/|title=Hostility arises in Laurel over homeless|date=September 29, 1995|website=Baltimore Sun|language=en|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=2019-04-15}} In November 2011, the Elizabeth House provides three bags of groceries to 20 families a week and 40 bagged lunches a week. In total, its 240 bags of groceries and 1,120 hot meals and bagged lunches a month.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/clip/30630366/the_baltimore_sun/|title=Nonprofit sees giving peak during the holidays|last=Rector|first=Kevin|date=November 24, 2011|website=Laurel Leader|language=en|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=2019-04-15}}
The former Laurel Mall hosted food drives to benefit the Elizabeth House.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/clip/30630439/the_baltimore_sun/|title=Laurel Mall begins food drive to benefit Elizabeth House|date=March 19, 1999|website=Baltimore Sun|language=en|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=2019-04-15}}
See also
{{portal|Food}}
References
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Category:1988 establishments in Maryland
Category:Buildings and structures in Laurel, Maryland
Category:Food banks in Maryland