Dear Friend,

I am pleased to announce that I have awarded Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc. (LARS) a $20,000 Emergency Special Appropriation Grant to support Laurel area families facing serious financial challenges. LARS will use these funds in collaboration with our local partners Fish of Laurel, Inc. ("Elizabeth House") and St. Mary of the Mills Parish.

As a group, LARS, Elizabeth House and St. Mary's will purchase food for their pantries, provide meals, and provide emergency financial assistance to residents facing evictions or utility cutoffs. Contact each organization to learn what resources they will be providing.

LARS has staff working in the office three days per week, distributing food, diapers, face masks, and toiletries. Requests for financial assistance are being handled over the phone. Case managers are also delivering groceries and cleaning supplies to seniors and families in our housing program.

Elizabeth House is an all-volunteer meal kitchen and food pantry serving the Greater Laurel area that has been serving the Laurel community for over 30 years providing a daily hot, nutritious dinner for people 365 days a year. Dinner clients also receive a bagged lunch to hold them over to the next day. Elizabeth House also has a food pantry providing grocery assistance by appointment only.

St. Mary of the Mills Parish provides groceries and bagged lunches from their pantry on a weekly basis.