QUEEN ANNE”S COUNTY COUNCIL OF HOMEMAKERS CLUBS
Early in 1936, 12 Homemakers in Queen Anne’s County organized with 212 women enrolled, and in September, 1936, the Queen Anne’s County Council was formed. A constitution and by-laws were adopted in March, 1937.
The Queen Anne’s County Homemakers organization continues to serve 75 years later with 6 clubs and approximately 80 members.
A Scholarship Loan Fund was established in June, 1937, with a deposit of $25.00 from the County Council Treasurer, with plans for each club to donate $5.00 annually. This loan fund continued until October, 1995, when the loan fund was closed and the money was used up an endowment scholarship fund with Chesapeake College.
On October 30, 1995, a check for $6664 was given to the Chesapeake College Foundation to open the Queen Anne’s County council of Homemakers Scholarship Fund. The fund is managed by the Chesapeake College Scholarship Committee, adhering to rules set up with them for the distribution of the interest from the fund as scholarships on an annual basis. The scholarships are available to Homemakers and their children or grandchildren from Queen Anne’s County or Kent County, and to those who are, or were, active members of a 4-H club in Queen Anne’s County or Kent County.
The scholarship fund was enhanced through a county- wide cookbook fundraiser, Chaired by Mary Alice Casey, while she served as county president; which added $7,000 in 2000 to the fund. Another $7,000 was added in 2005 when the State of Maryland matched the amount donated from the fundraiser. For several years, $500 was added annually, striving to reach a goal of $25,000 which was accomplished in 2006.
This scholarship fund will be a lasting legacy for Queen Anne’s County Homemakers.
In the past 5 years, the president has changed from Annabelle Taylor to Phyllis Boone, to Janet Adams, to Mary Ellen Leaverton to Kelly Somers. Projects have included the discarding of expired medicines, helping at the Queen Anne’s County Fair, sponsoring a scholarship at Chesapeake College, donation bags of groceries to area food pantries, supporting those at Crossroad Community, adopting needy families and giving backpacks with school supplies to area schools. Since 1994, the clubs have made and donated many quilts and afghans. Over the past 5 years, the clubs have donated approximately 20 quilts and afghans each year to Debra’s Angels, through the “Olde Kent Quilt Guild”, at the annual spring luncheon. The quilts and afghans are distributed to local hospitals and charitable organizations for Babies in need. The fellowships that have been shared, over the last 75 years, has been both productive and meaningful and has helped form many lasting friendships.