Women Leaders Raise $16,000 for Grassroots Crisis Intervention

The 4th Annual Women Leaders for Grassroots Holiday Food and Wine Tasting raised approximately $16,000 for Grassroots, Howard County 24-hour crisis intervention center and shelter for the homeless.

Seasons 52 hosted the event, serving the restaurant’s seasonal specialties in its holiday-decorated private dining room. Decanter Fine Wines provided recommended wines for holiday entertaining. Approximately 100 women attended the benefit.

Presenting sponsors included Yolanda Bruno, Lisa Hussman, Elizabeth Kromm, Jean F. Moon, Courtney Odum-Duncan and Linda Odum of Odum Group@Remax 100, Mary Ann Scully of Howard Bank, Mary Kay Sigaty, Robin Steele, Jaki Ulman, Nikki Highsmith Vernick and Barb Van Winkle of Nancy Adams Personnel.

Grassroots Executive Director Ayesha Holmes thanked the attendees for their support and told a “success story” about a person served by Grassroots. The program also featured a video, “Don’t Do Nothing,” developed by Grassroots to encourage young people to alert adults and ask for help when they see a friend in distress or feel in distress themselves. The 6-minute video is being shown at local middle and high schools, faith congregations and civic organizations. The video is available at https://vimeo.com/bonnemaison/review/293182952/61641ed373

To request a “Don’t do Nothing” presentation, contact Cathy Smith, cathyvsmith@outlook.com. To make a donation, visit https://www.grassrootscrisis.org/ways-to-give/make-a-donation/.

About Grassroots

Grassroots provides the county’s only emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis intervention services. Professional crisis counselors staff Grassroots’ 24-hour hotline; see walk-in clients in need of immediate counseling; and operate the Mobile Crisis Team, which responds with the police to community emergencies. Grassroots also manages the county's emergency shelter for men, women and families who are homeless and serves as the single point of entry for the Coordinated System of Homeless Services. In addition, Grassroots operates the Day Resource Center in the Leola Dorsey Community Resource Center and manages the Cold Weather Shelter during the winter months. For information, visit www.grassrootscrisis.org