Debt Shield Donates to Grassroots Crisis Organization, Shelter

Columbia, MD, April 30, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Employees at Debt Shield, a Maryland-based debt settlement company, made their latest group donation to Grassroots, a 24-hour resource and crisis center in Howard County, MD.

Grassroots is a crisis intervention facility in Howard County, MD, that provides 24-hour service to individuals and families seeking emergency and transitional shelter, counseling and education.

The organization was selected by Debt Shield Debt Consultant Ed McKay who has worked with Grassroots in the past.

"Because they have limited space at their shelter, local churches, including mine, work with them to provide cold weather shelter in the winter," explained McKay. "Each winter for the past several years our church has participated in hosting Howard County's homeless for a week and Grassroots provides staff to oversee the program and work with the church's team of volunteers."

In addition to shelter, Grassroots provides free walk-in counseling services, a "Mobile Crisis Team" of mental health professionals who responds with police to incidents in the community, several hotline numbers and other programs. Local callers can reach Grassroots by calling 410-531-6677; callers from any state can reach a crisis counselor by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

"Charitable giving is an important part of Debt Shield's mission," said Talent Development Director Jill Strider. "Even though our debt settlement program helps people throughout the country, we are especially proud of employees who are personally involved in the local community."

The donations were part of the employees' Denim Fund program where employees donate money in exchange for the privilege of wearing jeans on Fridays. Each employee enters his or her favorite charity into a random drawing to receive the collected funds.

To learn more about Grassroots, please visit their website at http://www.grassrootscrisis.org/.

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