Northfield Elementary will be participating in the Change Matters campaign again this year to support Howard County's Grassroots Shelter and Crisis Intervention Center. We will be collecting small change from February 7th-15th. There will be a collection jug in each team area. Letters will be sent home to families on February 3rd with more information about the program. Click here to view the letter.
What is Change Matters?
Change Matters is a Howard County student community service and philanthropy initiative to benefit Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Grassroots provides the county’s ONLY emergency homeless shelter and 24-hour crisis intervention services. Change Matters was launched in 2008 by Howard High School students concerned about the increase in homeless people living along Route One. The campaign was so successful that it was implemented first in the other high schools, then in middle schools and, finally, in elementary schools. Change Matters is used as a vehicle to inform young people about poverty and homelessness in Howard County, share information about the services Grassroots provides, and engage them in philanthropic opportunities as a response to social issues. Most recently Change Matters has spread to faith communities, which share the belief that compassion, empathy and commitment to building a stronger community, can start at any age. Learning about those who are less fortunate than oneself is a message that has resonated with young people who have been very creative in coming up with ways to support Grassroots and the people it serves. On the most basic level, the fundraising component of Change Matters involves collecting change from young people in schools, faith based communities and elsewhere. The funds are directed to Grassroots services for families and individuals in crisis, including those in need of shelter. Impressively, Howard County students have collectively raised almost $234,000 since the first campaign. Change Matters is a campaign that empowers children to make a difference in their community by helping Grassroots provide needed services to the most vulnerable people living in Howard County.
For more information about Grassroots or Change Matters, please contact Kim Steffens at kimandtomsteffens@verizon.net or call 410-627-4600.
About Grassroots
Grassroots provides the county’s only emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis intervention services. Professional crisis counselors staff Grassroots’ 24-hour hotline and see walk-in clients in need of immediate counseling, operate the Mobile Crisis Team (which responds to community emergencies) and manage the county's emergency shelter for homeless men, women and families. For information, call 410-531-6006, or visit www.grassrootscrisis.org.