Christ Church Outreach News: August 24, 2023
Supporting CCD to Improve the Lives of Disabled Children in Thailand
Christ Church has long supported Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities (CCD), a ministry that helps disabled children to live more fulfilling lives in Thailand.
The Christ Church Outreach Commission at its July meeting voted to send $2,500 to CCD-USA, the nonprofit that backs CCD in this country. The funds will go toward the salary of a physical therapist or occupational therapist who works with children and young people to improve their mobility and dexterity (see photos).
This is in keeping with our mission to support organizations – local, national, and international – that enhance the lives of people in need. Funds are derived from parishioner donations to Outreach and a Vestry-approved budget drawn from your pledges and contributions. Heartfelt thanks go out to all who make this possible.
Founder and Executive Director Wasan Saenwian expressed gratitude to Christ Church parishioners In a July 14 email. “Thank you very much for your support of CCD’s ministry,” he wrote to Michon Semon and others on the Outreach Commission, saying the money will add to the CBR fund for staff salary and for petrol. CBR refers to community-based rehabilitation and petrol is a British term for fuel. He concluded: “Thank you again for your love and care for disabled children in Thailand.”
The work of CCD spans four provinces in Thailand and reaches more than 400 children and their families. Its community-based model prevents the institutionalization of hundreds more.
Here’s how the nonprofit describes its community-based rehabilitation model: “Through this project, CCD provides on-site care in the homes of families who have children with disabilities. The objective of CBR is to encourage each family to raise their child with disabilities at home and prevent the child from being abandoned.”
Another project is Rainbow Rehabilitation Centre. It offers free daily care, physiotherapy and special education to children from the community. It also offers residential care for children from government institutions, providing a child-centered environment while they receive rehabilitation services and become re-integrated into families or into the community as young adults.
To speak to someone who has seen firsthand CCD’s heartwarming work in Thailand, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org, and we will put you in touch with Michon.
Coffee and Tea – But No Chocolates – to Benefit DreamBuilders at Parish Festival
We will be selling DreamBuilders bags of coffee and boxes of tea this Sunday, Aug. 27, during the Christ Church Parish Festival. (The inventory of chocolates and Java Drops has been depleted). Proceeds will help fund future missions of DreamBuilders, whose last trip was to Hazard, Ky., from June 18 to June 24. You'll also find other DB news elsewhere in this post.
Christ Church Extends Extra Help to the Homeless in August
This summer has brought hard times for our homeless friends who depend on the Day Resource Center (DRC) for more than its tasty meals. So it’s a good thing that staff members of the DRC knew that they could call on Christ Church to help replenish some of those resources.
Once again, the shelves at the Leola Dorsey Community Resource Center in Jessup were empty of an essential: underwear. We fulfilled a similar request in July. Responding to the latest need, Outreach member Dione Mahoney bought a new supply for both men and women. She purchased 18 six-count packages of men’s underwear and 15 nine-count packages for women in a range of sizes. Taking delivery was DRC Floor Supervisor Randy Clay (see photo). The needed items cost $343. Funds came from parishioners who donate through the church and mark their contributions to “General Outreach” or specifically to the center. Thank you!
Many of us at Christ Church are familiar with the DRC, which is operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. There a team led by Shahra Toth, with Dione’s assistance, serves a midday meal on the second Monday of each month. On the same day, other Christ Church volunteers bring menu items for an evening meal at Grassroots’ Live-In Facility. The next opportunity to serve a meal or to drop off side-dishes is on Monday, Sept. 11. For information go to the Christ Church Dorsey/DRC Meal link on SignUp Genius) or to our Grassroots online signup form. Mark your calendars.
Christ Church's LEMS Delivery was a Success!
The school supplies have been delivered to Lake Elkhorn Middle School. The LEMS Committee would like to thank the many people who helped sort and pack the supplies and take them to the school. And thanks also for the contributions that made it all possible. We had 12 volunteers who made packing go quickly. There were 7 volunteers who put the supplies in three cars for delivery. Principal Wallace met us at the school and we moved everything in. There were 50 canvas bags of supplies and enough extra supplies for 75 students. You can see photos and learn how to help in the future by visiting our website's Outreach blog. Principal Wallace was very grateful, and we will meet with him later to see how we can help during the school year.
Columbia Community Care Seeks Volunteers and Baby-Care Items
Please continue supporting Columbia Community Care (CCC) by giving essentials and with your time and talent. People can select tasks that suit them such as volunteering to make home deliveries or choosing to sort and stock items at the CCC pantry building, 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. Look for updates posted in the CCC Facebook Group or on the “I Can Help” portion of its website.
Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Put any of these in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. The Christ Church point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bins and delivers their contents.
Save the Date for the DreamBuilders Spaghetti Dinner
Please support DreamBuilders’ annual dinner and fundraising event in October 14th at Temple Isaiah. Bid on a wonderful selection of auction items at the silent auction and purchase tickets for their iPhone 14 raffle! All proceeds directly support DreamBuilders mission trips and projects. For more information, be sure to check out their flyer at https://ibb.co/CWdTBbb
Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway
Organizers for FISH of Howard County continue to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill their shopping lists. Please put items in a basket that has been returned to the altar. Or drop them in the yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Thanks for your contributions to our neighbors in need.
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.
