Mt. Hebron has been a prominent asset to the community for collecting and distributing money to people in need through fundraisers like the Canned Food Drive and Pennies for Patients. When Mt. Hebron found out that Howard County’s only homeless shelter, Grassroots, received nearly 33,000 calls from people and families in need, it began the Change Matters project. Change Matters is focused on raising money and providing support for people in need, even after the holiday season. Change Matters has raised over $100,000 to fund programs and services for Grassroots.

One of the biggest supporters and sponsors of the Change Matters fundraiser, Guidance Counselor Ms. Trish Derwart, said, “It has been huge to the Grassroots crisis and has served the people who come in there. It has many different uses from transportation to supplies, and Grassroots does so much. That the money is going to a great cause.”  

In order to emphasize the importance of the cause, Mt. Hebron participated in a competition with longtime rival, Centennial High School, to raise more money for Grassroots.

The Change Matters program has been providing services for eight years now. It originally started as a pilot project at Howard High School in 2008. Since then, high schools, middle schools and elementary schools all around Howard County have taken part in this program. For example, in 2013, Ellicott Mills Middle School received the “Change Matters Superhero” award. Deep Run Elementary School and St. John’s Lane Elementary School were deemed as a “Two-Year Change Matters Champions” for being the pilots for the elementary school level.

Change Matters will continue to help people in need and raise awareness about events occurring in our community. The 2017 Change Matters campaign raised $1,370.38, breaking last year’s fundraising total or $951.12.

Senior Mikaili Robertson said, “My involvement in the community has grown a lot as a senior because I’ve begun to realize the value of helping those in need and the good that it brings back. Mt. Hebron is consistently providing support in the community and sets an example on how to give back.”

Bringing change to the community has always been an ongoing theme at Mt. Hebron High School, and next year, they hope to raise even more money to help those in need.