Christ Church Outreach News: April 4, 2024
LAST CALL: Here’s a Chance to Meet FISH Volunteers at A Potluck Dinner - This Sunday at Christ Church
We’re invited to a potluck dinner this Sunday, April 7th at 5 p.m. right here at Christ Church. Join us in the Great Hall of New Brick to welcome FISH of Howard County. As an all-volunteer organization, FISH is bringing together its volunteers.
If you’re among those of us who routinely shop for extra grocery items to feed the less fortunate, this is a great chance to learn how the items make their way to those in need. As FISH says in its invitation: “ALL are welcome –phone volunteers, delivery volunteers, other volunteers, potential volunteers, plus spouses and friends….It’s a nice opportunity for new volunteers to meet the friends whose voices you hear on the phone and for everyone to get together, enjoy good food and have a great time.”
FISH is a neighbor-to-neighbor nonprofit organization that, since 1976, has helped county residents who have legitimate crisis needs. It provides emergency food, referral information and limited financial assistance for such things as eviction and utility turnoff prevention and medicine.
Food aid is typically a 7-to-10-day supply that is delivered to the home. In 2023, that amounted to 3,000 meals. It also offers hygiene, paper, and laundry supplies.
Christ Church, acting through the Outreach Commission, has supported FISH for many years. Parishioner Andy DeLong, who volunteers as the treasurer of FISH, is expected to participate in the potluck dinner event. Plan to attend and say hello.
Please RSVP by contacting two other FISH volunteers. Please tell one of the women who are organizing the dinner how many are coming and what you will bring. Email Kathy Raab, who can be reached at raab@umbc.edu or Nula Lu Roberts, nuala4ney@aol.com.
Whether you will be able to attend, or not, keep collecting items. Put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the basket at the altar or in a marked yellow bin on the breezeway between the Parish Hall and Old Brick. FISH provides committed support to select families in need. The neighbors you help give thanks for all you do in their support.
Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting on Monday, April 8
Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, April 8th at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. Look for Church notices about online activities. See you on Zoom!
Help the Homeless on Monday, April 8, by Preparing a Dish for Grassroots’ Live-In Facility or Serving a Meal at Its Day Resource Center
On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church provides a hot midday meal for the homeless at the Day Resource Center (DRC) and drops off dinner at a live-in shelter whose 50 residents include about 20 children.
A team of volunteers led by parishioner Shahra Toth makes side dishes and desserts that we serve in person at the DRC, which the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center operates. To join us on Monday, April 8, please sign up by Sunday, April 7. If you wish to volunteer or bring food for the midday meal, our DRC online signup form describes the procedure. We most recently took part on March 11th.
The drop-off time is 12:45 p.m. in the Christ Church parking lot near Old Brick for DRC’s food, drinks, and supplemental items such as fruit and granola bars. In-person volunteers gather at that time to car-pool to Jessup. Later, parishioners who cook or shop for the evening meal at Grassroots’ Live-In Facility arrive in the Old Brick parking lot between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. Get details in our Grassroots online signup form.
Grassroots staff serves the evening meal at its Freetown Road facility. It’s efficient to provide for both venues on the same day. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried chicken entrees. Thank you!
Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers and Other Baby-Care Items
Columbia Community Care (CCC) will reopen its three distribution sites on Saturday, April 6, after closing them last week for the Easter holiday. Those who need groceries and other necessities can find information by going online to the “I Need Help” portion of CCC’s website.
You can learn how to volunteer at the sites or at the pantry operated by CCC by visiting the “I Can Help” portion of its website. Look for updates on the CCC Facebook Group.
Please continue to collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers for CCC. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sundays. The Christ Church point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents.
Lake Elkhorn Middle School Needs Your Help
Lake Elkhorn Middle School will be inviting families to two workshops this spring to support them in the challenging job of being parents. Tracey Williams, the counselor at LEMS, has asked Christ Church to supply a dinner for the families and provide childcare during the workshops. The first workshop is Wednesday, April 10th, and the second is Tuesday, May 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the cafeteria.
We need adults and high school students who can serve food to all and play games with the children, ages Kindergarten to 8th grade. Please contact Deacon Denise deacondenise@christchurchcolumbia.org or Cathy Whittaker catharinewhittaker@gmail.com if you can help on either or both of these dates.
Enjoy Food and Drink to Help Support DreamBuilders!
Come join us at Bushel & Peck restaurant in Clarksville, MD on Wednesday, May 15th at 4 p.m. for an evening of dining, refreshments, and fellowship in support of DreamBuilders. In June of this year, DreamBuilders will be building three homes in Hazard, Kentucky, and a portion of the proceeds from your meals and drinks will go directly toward funding the materials for these three homes. More details to come…
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.
