CEC Outreach News: March 11, 2022
Volunteer to Make Decorated Treats or Healthy Side Dishes to Brighten the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday for Our Homeless Neighbors
If you’re eager to celebrate next week as St. Patrick’s Day approaches, why not start on Monday, March 14? Consider baking or buying cookies and decorating them. Or get creative with green frosting that you add to a pound cake or cupcakes.
The folks at the Dorsey Center’s Day Resource Center (DRC) are thrilled when Christ Church volunteers bring holiday-themed treats. And the same goes for the residents of the Live-in Facility operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center.
We can predict the warm welcome because diners at each of the locations, which are both overseen by Grassroots, were certainly pleased with the Valentine-decorated treats that Christ Church delivered on Feb. 14. On that day, the Outreach Commission once again consolidated our approach to feeding the hungry by providing a meal to each group of needy neighbors.
We’ll do it again on Monday. As usual, Christ Church will purchase fried chicken at Weis and depend upon your bringing side dishes to make the meals. Keep in mind that we’re cooking – and decorating – for two separate groups of diners.
The first group is made up of about 40 homeless friends at the DRC near Rt. 1 in Jessup. After a couple of shutdowns during the pandemic, Grassroots reopened the DRC on a modified basis. A team of four Christ Church volunteers will be serving a midday meal in person on our usual day – the second Monday of the month.
The second group of diners resides at Grassroots’ Live-in Facility, where the staff serves the food. We have been providing an evening meal menu – fried chicken and side dishes cooked by parishioners – on a monthly basis since early in the pandemic.
If you’re cooking only for the Live-In Facility’s evening meal, plan to arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the pantry to be enjoyed round-the-clock by the 50 residents. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to view a menu. Please sign up by noon on Sunday.
If you're cooking or volunteering for the midday meal at the DRC, plan to arrive between 12:45 and 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the DRC pantry. Click on a different link, called the Christ Church Dorsey/DRC Meal link on SignUpGenius to view requested items and indicate how you’ll help.
If you're cooking or bringing pantry items for both meals, plan to arrive between 12:45 and 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. The dish and supplementals for the evening meal can be left in the Parish Hall kitchen. Or, depending on the dish or the supplemental item, such as cookies or fruit, you can do that on a Sunday if your items are clearly marked.
To volunteer in person to serve the midday meal at the DRC, you’ll need a flu shot and full vaccination against COVID-19. For questions, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org to get in contact with co-coordinator Nancy Winchester.
Both the DRC and the Live-In Facility have wider needs for their pantries and welcome in-kind donations to be dropped off for delivery on the second Mondays. Look for the monthly needs list under the words “Related Files” on each of the sign-up sites.
Inviting One and All to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach
What better time than the impending arrival of Spring to get more fully involved in helping others! The Outreach Commission invites you to join in during our monthly meeting to learn more about opportunities in 2022. It will be held virtually at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 14. Information on how to join the meeting by Zoom or by phone will be provided in our Monday email.
CCC Continues to Call for Community-Wide Help to Establish Its Pantry
The all-volunteer organization Columbia Community Care (CCC) has obtained a site to establish a new pantry and has set dates for a weekend clean-up. It is recruiting volunteers to work various shifts on Saturday, March 19, and Sunday, March 20 at a county-owned building that was once home to the Columbia Flier. It is located at 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway.
For information, go to the CCC Facebook Group or check online for two separate signups. The first is a good opportunity for youth looking for school-required service hours. Go to CCC’s sign-up form for volunteers. The second asks for people to lend or donate cleaning and painting supplies by using a separate online sign-up form.
At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue CCC by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Please put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall.
Join Small Delusions in Helping Provide Support for Ukrainian Refugees
On Sunday, March 20th at 2:00 p.m. join us in New Brick as the wonderful band, Small Delusions, performs a concert to help raise funds for Ukrainian refugee families. The United Nations reports that nearly one million people have already fled the catastrophic situation in their homeland, and that number will likely rise exponentially. For a few hours on the 20th, we will have an opportunity to hear classic sounds while raising funds for a very worthwhile cause.
Small Delusions - Jan DeBoissiere, JB Hanson, and Shannon Pruitt - used to be part of a larger group called Delusions of Grandeur. As they say, "Our delusions are still there; they are just smaller." They have performed together for over six years, and we're thrilled to have them back at Christ Church.
We'll have more info in the coming weeks, but if you wish to donate in the meantime you can use the Refugee Ministry online form. Just select "Ukrainian Refugee Ministry" from the MEMO dropdown menu, and Christ Church will direct those gifts toward relief for the people of Ukraine.
African Team Ministries - Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who helped with or bought merchandise from the African Team Ministries booth this year. We raised over $800 for the artisans in Kenya. To learn more, go to their website. See you next year!
Baltimore Seafarers News
As a reminder, the Women of Christ Church gather donations for Seafarers throughout the year. At this time, they are looking for magazines, cards, notebooks, gloves, hats, and scarves. If you’d like to donate any of these items, the "Seafarers" box is under the table in the Tower Room of New Brick.
Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway
Organizers for FISH of Howard County are continuing to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill its shopping lists. The yellow bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Thanks for your contributions to our neighbors in need.