Change Matters Superheroes

From December 2 through December 19, our school is proudly participating in an educational fundraising campaign called -- Change Matters -- to benefit Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center -- Howard County’s only 24-hour homeless shelter and crisis center.

Since 2008, Change Matters has been teaching children about homelessness in Howard County, the services Grassroots provides, and reminding students that they are never too young to make a difference in the lives of people who need help.

Grassroots depends upon the generosity of the community to support its free services to people with a personal, mental health, family, or shelter crisis. Counselors staff Grassroots’ 24-7 crisis hotline; see walk-in clients; provide suicide prevention and outreach programs; operate the Mobile Crisis Team and Day Resource Center; and manage the emergency overnight shelter and cold weather shelters.

Last year there were 602 homeless children attending 76 public schools in Howard County. Our support of Grassroots means that people in need get a second chance to re-establish their lives and the lives of their family members…so we are happy to join other leading Howard County elementary, middle, and high schools by supporting Grassroots.

To kick off our campaign week, Kim Steffens, an authorized representative of Grassroots, presented the campaign to Kindergarten –grade 5 students during today's lunch shifts.

Your child will be asked to share information with you about Change Matters and ask your permission to donate change. There will be a Change Matters collection jar for each grade during our campaign week and your donation will go directly to Grassroots services.

If you are able to donate, please send the change in your child’s lunch bag or backpack between December 2-December 16. If you have any questions about this campaign, please feel free to visit the Grassroots website or reach out to Mr. West, assistant principal, at charles_west@hcpss.org.

For more information about Grassroots, please visit their website: www.grassrootscrisis.org.

Bushy Park Elementary School | 14601 Carrs Mills Road, Glenwood, MD 21738 | 410-313-5500 | bpes.hcpss.org