Food Pantry and Garden: Helping the Hungry in Elkridge

There are hungry people in Elkridge.

Despite the fact Howard County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, about 1,150 Elkridgeans are living below the poverty level, according to the 2011 Census.

Want to help out your neighbors?

The Elkridge Food Pantry and Garden is a community-based assistance organization that has been providing  free groceries to people in need since 1986. Operated by volunteers, the pantry is open on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month, from 4 – 8 p.m. You can find it at the Good Samaritan Outreach Center, 5646 Furnace Ave.

Drop boxes are also located at Green Valley Market, Elkridge Family Dentistry and St. Augustine Catholic Church. 

And now, you can find the Pantry on Facebook.

The Pantry is always in need of donations. Items need to be "regular" sizes, not Costco (bulk) sizes, so that space in the pantry can be used efficiently. 

Items to donate:

• peanut butter
• jelly
• tuna
• cereal
• pancake mix/syrup
• 1 lb box of sugar
• mac and cheese
• oodles of noodles
• spaghetti o's/chef boyardee
• canned ham/chicken
• canned fruits 15oz size
• cake mixes/icing
• green beans/corn/peas/mixed veg 15oz size
• condensed soups
• ketchup/mustard
• laundry soap
• shampoo
• adult tooth brushes
• tooth paste
• soap
• deodorant
• shaving cream
• razors