The Horizon Councils are collaborating with three local elementary schools to raise awareness and funds for Grassroots, which provides Howard County’s only emergency shelter program and 24-hour crisis intervention services.

The campaign, called Change Matters, involves collection of coins from students and school staff at Hollifield Station Elementary School, St. John’s Lane Elementary School and Deep Run Elementary School.

Change Matters is a student community service and philanthropy initiative launched in 2008 at local high schools. In 2010, Change Matters was introduced as a Student Service Learning option in middle schools. This spring, the campaign will be implemented as an elementary school pilot, according to Cathy Smith, a coordinator of the Horizon Councils. 

The Horizon Councils and participating schools hope to expand public awareness of Grassroots’ crisis intervention services and the issues of poverty and homelessness in Howard County, as well as increase philanthropy by young people in the community.

Glenwood Middle School students recently visited Grassroots to film a video they are creating to promote Change Matters at the pilot elementary schools and elsewhere. Among the participants were (from l.) Horizon Councils coordinator Cathy Smith, Elaina Paul, guidance counselor Kelli Brandt, Chris Patchan, Jim Bob Schultz, Travis Lanterman and Kelly Swanhart.