Grassroots is grateful for all the wonderful ways the community find to support the organization. Here are a few recent highlights:
Compassionate Help — Thank you to everyone at The Catholic Community of Ascension and St. Augustine in Elkridge for the donation of over 10,000 items of food, grocery store gift cards and $5,531 in financial donations. As in years past, over 120 church volunteers packed and delivered 160 boxes of provisions to Grassroots, some of which were recently distributed to Ellicott City flood victims staying in motel shelter. The photo shows volunteers making their way around the assembly line of items for packing in boxes for distribution to families sheltering in motels.
Pie-ing Benefit — Staff and students at Wilde Lake High School held a fundraiser for Grassroots on March 14, Pi Day, to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Students paid to enter a raffle to “pie” a favorite teacher. Raffle winner Avery Trinh is shown here pie-ing guidance counselor Brian Mazzeo while Principal Rick Wilson looks on.
Big Pi — students and staff at Centennial High School raised $2,379.47 for Grassroots during their Pi Day benefit activities.
More Pi — Representatives of Mt. Hebron High School recently presented a check for $2,332.11 to Grassroots from their Pi Day benefit. At the presentation were (from l.) Principal Joelle Miller, Grassroots staff member Anna Katz, math teacher Sara Tagget, Grassroots youth coordinator Cathy Smith, and Jon Wray, Howard County Public School System Coordinator of Secondary Mathematics.
Agents of Change — Students from the club, “Be the Change,” at Patuxent Valley Middle School are advocating that middle and high school ID cards and agendas include Grassroots’ hotline number so it is always accessible in times of need. Students wrote and produced a video and sent it to Frank Eastham, Howard County’s Chief School Management and Instructional Leadership Officer, in the hope he would advance their request. To check out their Grassroots Crisis Hotline video, click here.
Tournament Fun — The NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament inspired a Long Reach High School tournament fundraiser for Grassroots. Beyond the Badge, a local non-profit foundation comprised of police officers who donate their time to engage youth in sports, joined in the fun. The students raised $701, and Beyond the Badge donated $299 more for a $1,000 gift to Grassroots. Shown with Beyond the Badge representatives are students from the tournament’s Thrill Team (from l.) Billy Cutsail, Elijah Modeste, Lance Bergersen, Jason Hall, Rashaad Calahan, Tony Camden, Jason Sagel and Ramone Martine.
Housing Sales Help Homeless Partners Laura and Lisa Kittleman of The Kittleman Group are donating a portion of their team’s housing sales commissions to Grassroots, with the goal of contributing $12,000 per year. Lisa Kittleman is a member of the Grassroots Board of Directors.
Thank You for Your Service — After years of conscientious service, Alice Wade and Tim Samuels, who has been treasurer, are retiring from the Grassroots Board of Directors. The duo have served in a number of capacities, overseeing operations and helping Grassroots fulfill its mission. We are grateful for their commitment to the people served by Grassroots. Above is a photo of Alice and Tim receiving certificates of appreciation from Board President Mary Lasky.
Sumo Wrestlers Raise Funds — Joining the Buy a Day of Service campaign for Grassroots, the Glenelg High School Gladiators on the Horizon club organized a Sumo Wrestling competition as a fundraiser. Selected to participate were GHS staff members Chris Rosas and John Male, Michelle Oland and Leila Chawkat. The tournament raised $3,112.97, and the donated funds “purchased” three 12-hour days of service at Grassroots, which tracked the number of hotline calls, walk-in clients and others helped during the three days and sent the information to the school to be shared with students.
Young Philanthropists — The annual Change Matters campaign, a student community service and philanthropy initiative, continues to attract generosity. Pointers Run Elementary School recently collected $1,283.71 from students and staff. Among those bringing the proceeds to Grassroots were (from l.) Marcus Hadeed, Matthew Kim, Evelyn Rose, Alex Murphy, Grassroots staff member Anna Katz, Lauren Smith, Maya Aminian and Jeanne Ryu.
Empty Bowls The annual fundraiser sponsored by the Howard High School National Art Honors Society and the Culinary Arts Department raised $1,303 for Grassroots. Among those participating were (from l.) Sarah Greenbaum, Erika Hansen, Grace Sweet, Principal Nick Novak, Kyaisha Bryant and Khiya Dukes.
More Empty Bowls — Staff and students provided the homemade soup and bread for the Wilde Lake High School National Art Honor Society benefit which raised $617 for Grassroots. Participants included (front row from l.) Hawa Ahmad, Imani Younger, Abiola Morakinyo, Julie Davis, Khalea Conway and (middle row from l.) Adriana Rosas, Mengjie Lin, Elena Poulos, Noella Moon, Dashae’ Coley Epps and (back row from l.) Wonee Pak, Maya English, Sarah Williams, Ryan Newsome and Raul Cordero.
Annual Visit — As they have for several years, Glenwood Middle School 6th graders recently collected money and food items to create “motel boxes” for families staying in temporary shelters. Students and staff raised $1,082, and collected enough food items to create 12 complete motel boxes. Gift cards to local grocery stores were also donated. Selected students delivered the motel boxes to Grassroots and participated in a tour of the facility. Participating students included (from front to back) Jacob Borek, Ashley Ford, Eden Laug, Ava Roberti and Herica Garcia. Also helping were Gwen Baker, Tim Iannarino, Finn Reynolds, Reganne Leach, Nicole Spratley, Charlotte Connolly and Jamie Shaw.