Columbia-Patuxent Rotary Donates Motel Boxes to Aid Grassroots

Columbia-Patuxent Rotary members packed and donated 20 “motel boxes” to help Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center in Howard County. These are specialized care packages supporting families and individuals who are homeless or in transition while staying in local motels to await more permanent housing.

Their motel rooms often lack full kitchen facilities. Boxes typically contain non-perishable food items, snacks, and sometimes hygiene products. Specific examples include canned goods with pop-tops, crackers, peanut butter, and tuna pouches. The goal is to provide essential food and supplies. Boxes are frequently supplemented with supermarket gift cards so families can purchase fresh food.

Columbia-Patuxent Rotary’s donation also got support from Wegmans and Von Paris Moving. Anna T. Katz, Director of Grants and Support for Grassroots, thanked the club and said: “These boxes are arriving just in time. We have lots of folks in motels due to the dangerously cold temperatures.”

Columbia-Patuxent Rotary is the largest and most active of Howard County's seven Rotary Clubs. Weekly meetings are held on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at JAM Eateries. Visitors are always welcome.