CEC Outreach News: August 12, 2021
Children at “Camp Inspiration” Benefit from Christ Church Parishioners’ Donation to General Outreach Funds
During four weeks of summer camp at a church in West Baltimore, families could choose to pick up their children at 6 p.m. rather than earlier. That option made it much easier for working parents, and it enabled their kids to enjoy fun and summer learning opportunities for as long as possible. The extended care was funded in part by a contribution from Christ Church.
Camp Inspiration is held by St. Luke’s Youth Center, which operates from the former St. Luke’s Episcopal parish on N. Carey Street as the nonprofit SLYC. On August 6th, parishioners Michon Semon and Nancy Winchester were in the audience to applaud the end-of-camp presentation hosted by St. James, Lafayette Square. Toddlers to teens were performing.
“Camp Imagination is a place where imagination, creativity, fun, and education come together,” says SLYC. “Camp experiences inspire a love of learning through mindfulness and the arts.”
The day camp serves 28 youth from ages 5-13 and involves 11 teen leaders and six professional art instructors. Children receive more than 60 hours of reading and academic enrichment.
As a member of the Outreach Commission, Michon had obtained facts on the worthy efforts by SLYC, and the commission responded by approving a $500 donation for the camp. The funds came from the Christ Church parishioners’ contributions to General Outreach. So thanks to all on behalf of the SLYC participants and each child’s extended family.
Camp Inspiration is part of SLYC’s year-round community engagement program whose supporters include the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, among others. SLYC holds after-school academic and youth leadership programs for youth ages 6 to 17 and involves families in the West Baltimore neighborhood through its “Moms on a Mission” program. To get information or to become a supporter, contact SLYC Director Amanda Talbot at amanda@bmoreslyc.org.
Save the Dates: Grassroots Meal Drop-Offs on Monday, Aug. 16th; Monday, Sept. 20th
Once again, parishioners and volunteers who join their efforts are looking ahead to the monthly meal that we provide at Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Save the dates: August 16th and September 20th, arriving between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Plan to bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for their pantry to be enjoyed round-the-clock by the 50 residents of the live-in facility on Freetown Rd.
To sign up, use our electronic registry no later than noon on the Sunday prior to the meal on Monday. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to view requested items and to tell coordinators what you’ll bring. As usual, co-coordinator Nancy Winchester acquires fried chicken at Weis and meets the other volunteers. Nancy then transports the hot or cold foods to Freetown Road for handoff to the staff of Grassroots.
Christ Church continues to support Grassroots’ Day Resource Center (DRC) at the Dorsey Center. The DRC has not yet resumed the hot meals that Christ Church had helped serve prior to the pandemic, but it fulfills other needs of our homeless friends.
Grassroots lists some other needs for curbside distribution at the DRC or for the pantry at the Freetown Road facility. Look for its attached file at our sign-up link. For any questions contact Nancy or co-coordinator Shahra Toth or email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
To further help our neighbors in need, some parishioners take it upon themselves to provide the evening meal for the 50 adults and children at Freetown Road. It’s your choice to provide an entree and side dishes, or just the entree. Cook in your own kitchen, or order out. Or purchase 12 rotisserie chickens to make a meal. Grassroots continues to discourage lasagna or other pasta dishes. Here is a link to the sign-up list that has openings through August 31st.
Thanks to all who Supplied Kids’ Gift Bags for Columbia Community Care
For a summer celebration, Columbia Community Care (CCC) brought cheer to children in Howard County on Saturday, August 7th. Parishioners at Christ Church pitched in as CCC’s three distribution sites offered gift bags full of small toys, treats, and books for kids ages 3 to 10 years old.
Organizer Sue Sharff Castonguay, a member of the CCC group on Facebook, used that social media to express gratitude to Christ Church for its generosity in contributing gift bags and her thanks to Vestry and Outreach member Diane Phillips Laguerre and her brother for delivering them.
At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting CCC by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Please put any of these items in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. You can drop off items on weekdays until 2 p.m., but we ask that you call the church office (410) 381-9365 ahead of time.
Donate Personal Care and Cleaning Supplies for FISH in Bin on our Breezeway
Organizers for FISH of Howard County request household cleaning supplies such as liquid dish soap, bleach, and cleanser as well as personal items such as deodorant, shampoo, and bath soaps. At present, its pantry has an adequate supply of groceries. The bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall.
SEAFARER’S Donation Requests
We could use your help in gathering the following items. Delivery is made and the date is announced when the number of collections gets reasonably accumulated. Contact Carolann Sawyer with any questions.
Bible in modern English (or Tagalog, Russian, or Chinese)
Times/Newsweek/etc. up to 3 months old
Sports Ill/People/etc. up to 6 months
Cars/Computers/Consumers up to 1 year
Reader’s Digest up to a couple of years
National Geographics post-2000
Books (except for Bibles) are less often requested, but some seafarers do appreciate action novels, as well as picture books about Baltimore or the U.S.
Action/adventure DVD’s. Recent popular CDs.
Religious books (in easy English), DVDs, CDs; rosaries.
Clothing - men’s jeans, other sturdy pants (no bigger than XL) or shorts, T-shirts, warm outerwear, and non-skid shoes/boots (in good condition only), and gloves, hats, scarves, and warm socks.
In general, if you have suggestions about ways to help the community, if you want to get involved, or if you need assistance, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Your help is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.
