Christ Church Gained a Silver Ladle!
Kudos to All Who Gained a Silver Ladle for Christ Church by Helping Families Through Bridges to Housing Stability
Supported by Christ Episcopal Church and 17 congregations of many faiths, Bridges to Housing Stability got a big boost in its mission to solve homelessness with housing in Howard County. An outpouring of donations brought in $32,968, exceeding a goal of $30,000 in proceeds from its Chili & Challenge Virtual Edition, a multipart event that included takeout chili on Sept. 13 and an online auction that concluded Sept. 16.
Christ Church won a Silver Ladle for the greatest pre-event contribution made earlier in 2020. Another Silver Ladle award went to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a Roman Catholic church, for having the most money in its virtual “tip jar.” The Golden Ladle went to a repeat winner of the award for best overall fundraiser, as First Presbyterian Church of Howard County also won in 2019 when the so-called “Hotter Than Thou” cook-off was held at Savage Mill. That’s when Christ Church made its debut in the decade-long competition at the urging of parishioner Jim Collins, who is a Bridges board member.
Many months ago before the pandemic, Christ Church held its own chili cook-off on Feb. 9, 2020, selecting Chuck Rees as the winning chef. The effort, which included the Youth Group’s collection from Souper Bowl Sunday, raised $1,000. That turned out to be enough to claim the Silver Ladle. After Bridges moved its key fundraiser online, Christ Church parishioners contributed nearly $1,000 to our virtual “tip jar” in addition to $375 in proceeds from ticket sales for chili and drinks supplied by the participating restaurants. Our grand total was $2,436. A hearty thanks to all who donated funds and/or those who bought tickets and took part in the festive, curbside pickup outside the Periodic Table on Sept. 13.
The announcement of the Silver and Golden Ladle awards can be seen in an informative video on YouTube in which Bridges’ leaders discussed the difference being made in the lives of Howard County residents who struggle to afford housing, such as Monique, who tells her family’s story. She is among 673 individuals helped in the past 12 months, during which Bridges rehoused 86 households, helped 66 households remain in stable housing, and provided 43 affordable rental units.
The nonprofit organization is among those supported by the Outreach Commission at Christ Church. For anyone who has suggestions about ways to help the community or want to get involved, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Your help is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.
