Ellicott Mills Middle Launches Change Matters Campaign

Ellicott Mills Middle School recently kicked off its school-wide Change Matters Campaign, a student community service and philanthropy initiative to benefit Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, Howard County’s only emergency shelter program and 24-hour crisis center.

The goals of the campaign are to educate young people about homelessness in Howard County, the crisis intervention services provided by Grassroots, and how philanthropy can respond to social issues.

The sixth graders were introduced to the Howard County Public School’s Student Service Learning program through an introduction about homelessness in Howard County and Grassroots services. The seventh grade team focused on Grassroots crisis services and learned how the Mobile Crisis Team was on site the night of the Ellicott City flood. Mental health and suicide prevention were the topic of discussion for eighth graders.

All three grades will participate in a walkathon during the Spring of 2017. Proceeds from this activity will go directly to support Grassroots services. Ellicott Mills Middle School has been a Change Matters Champion for the last six years, helping to raise over $30,000 for Grassroots.

Grassroots operates Howard County’s only emergency shelter for homeless men, women and families and the Grassroots Day Resource Center. In addition, the nonprofit operates a 24-hour crisis intervention service, staffed by professional crisis counselors who field calls to its 24-hour hotline and see walk-in clients in need of immediate counseling. As part of its crisis intervention services, Grassroots operates the county’s Mobile Crisis Team, which responds to family emergencies.

Grassroots is located on Freetown Road in Columbia. For information, call 410-531-6006, or visit www.grassrootscrisis.org.

Ellicott Mills Middle School’s launch of its Change Matters campaign included (from l.) Eighth grade teachers and Student Service Learning Coordinators Greg Mushro and Dana Riley, Principal Chris Rattay, Howard High Security Resource Officer Phillip T. Lilly, Change Matters Coordinator Cathy Smith, Grassroots Crisis Counselor Amanda Ganoe and Security Resource Officer Sergeant Jason Morrill.