CEC Outreach News: September 16, 2021
Go for Gold! Help Fight Homelessness via Bridges to Housing Stability’s 2021 Chili & Challenge
Due to the pandemic, Bridges to Housing Stability is once again hosting a virtual event to raise critical funds to support programs that help individuals and families experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in Howard County find and maintain stable housing.
You can support this event in three ways (the first two will help Christ Church compete for the Golden Ladle!!): 1) purchase meal tickets ($20 each), a portion of which ($12) will be donated to Bridges; 2) donate directly; and 3) participate in Bridges’ virtual silent auction online. The congregation that raises the most money through 1 & 2 above (meal ticket proceeds and/or direct donations) by Friday, October 8, will win the Golden Ladle. Two runners-up will win silver ladles as Christ Church did in 2020, shown in this photo).
Help Christ Church go for the Gold and prevent homelessness by using this link to purchase meal tickets and/or donate directly: Bridges to Housing Stability - Christ Episcopal Church 's fundraiser (networkforgood.com)
1) Bare Bones Grill and Bar is providing three delicious chilis (beef, chicken, and vegetarian) this year with cornbread and coleslaw. Chili meals are available for purchase at the link above until Monday, October 4, 2021. All meals must be picked up curbside between 12 – 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 10. Bare Bones is located at 9150-22 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Curbside pickup details will be provided closer to the event date.
2) If you want to donate toward Bridges’ $12,000 goal for its operations and housing programs, please do so by Friday, October 8, through the Christ Episcopal Church link above. If you prefer to donate via check, please make it out to Bridges to Housing Stability (not Christ Church) and note Christ Episcopal Church/Chili & Challenge in the memo line. You must get it to Christ Church by Wednesday, October 6, so that we can take checks to Bridges in time to count toward our total on October 8.
3) Bridges’ virtual silent auction is being hosted by “Charity Auctions Today” between Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 9. The high-quality baskets will be available for viewing online soon. Please see the Christ Church event page on Bridges' website and future Gatherings notices for updated information. You can also check out Bridges’ web page Chili & Challenge (2021) – Bridges to Housing Stability (bridges2hs.org)
Alternatively, you can go to Bridges’ website directly to purchase meal tickets and/or donate. If you are purchasing meals, you can click on the congregation you are supporting in an information section after saying how many meals you want. If you are donating directly, you can enter Christ Episcopal Church/Chili & Challenge in the donor scroll box. If you do not want it to show publicly, click on the box.
Save the Dates: Grassroots Meal Drop-Offs on Monday, Sept. 20, Monday, Oct. 18
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: Sept. 20 and Oct. 18, 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 (see photos of July 19). 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.
Keep Up the Flow of Infant Care Items, Diapers to Support CCC
At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting Columbia Community Care (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 when the church office is open, but we ask that you call the office at (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. The bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall.
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.
