Christ Church Outreach News: December 12, 2024
Hearty Thanks for a Heartwarming 2024 Angel Tree Drive
What a memorable Christmas it will be for each of the 12 children whose wishes are being fulfilled, for their families, and for all the helpers who have made it happen. We focused our support on a group of middle-school-age “angels” to meet a need identified by the Howard County (Central Maryland) division of The Salvation Army. It sponsors the Angel Tree in Howard County and elsewhere.
Generous parishioners granted all of the children’s wishes, either by purchasing new items or by donating funds. Soon after Thanksgiving, you rapidly filled up all 48 slots on the Christ Church 2024 Angel Tree SignUp. Our “angels” will be receiving gifts such as a scooter, a skateboard, a football, headphones, and twin sheets and comforter. And, thanks to you, each “Angel” will have an outfit and new shoes to wear after the holidays.
Outreach Commission member Melanie Yaksich led the drive, which culminated on Dec. 6 when she was joined by Angela Braham and Jenny Cecil to sort the incoming gifts. These were matched to each “angel,” bagged, and then delivered by Dec. 9 to the Salvation Army’s warehouse space. The timing allows families to receive and wrap their children’s gifts as parents anticipate a much brighter Christmas than otherwise possible. On their behalf, please accept this hearty “Thank You!”
DreamBuilders Chocolate, Tea, and Coffee, Just in Time for Christmas!
We will be selling DreamBuilders goods after all three worship services this Sunday, Dec. 15, and next Sunday, Dec. 22. Proceeds will go to help fund DreamBuilders disaster recovery missions, including what will be the group’s third trip to Kentucky for another blitz build. The trip is scheduled June 15-21, 2025.
Last summer a multigenerational team built homes in flood-damaged Hazard, Ky. Christ Church was represented by Director of Youth & Family Ministries Kiona Lookingbill and Jasmine and Alex Opiri.
The chocolates, hot cocoa mix, and fair-trade coffee and tea are scrumptious, for a worthy cause, and just in time for Christmas.
FISH Asks for Volunteers As Well as Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and Basket
FISH of Howard County is calling for new volunteers. If you are interested, ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who is FISH treasurer and a newly-elected board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents.
Please continue to put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the FISH basket at the altar or in the marked yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and Parish Hall. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support.
Columbia Community Care Plans Holiday Activities, Ways to Help Kids
Columbia Community Care (CCC) plans holiday activities to help children and their families, including CCC’s annual giveaway of children’s presents. That distribution of toys and gifts for kids 2 to 16 will take place on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during a celebration at Wilde Lake Middle School (WLMS). The deadline is Friday, Dec. 20 to donate items at WLMS or at Cozy Cafe, 8006 Main St., Ellicott City, MD. Check the CCC Facebook Group for updates. To volunteer, go online to “Support CCC”.
Those who need help are urged to go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website. Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Our point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents.
DreamBuilders Has a Few Upcoming Events in 2025
Join us for our General Meeting on Sunday, January 12th, at 3 p.m. at Temple Isaiah - Come hear about all the work we will be doing in 2025! We have a spring project with the ARC of Howard County in April, and we are talking with Bridges to Housing Stability about renovating one of their properties as soon as January! And we’ll be returning to Kentucky in June for another blitz build. We’ve got a great video to show of our 2024 Kentucky team, featuring our own Christ Church missioners, Jasmine, Alexander and Kiona along withl their team mates.
And mark your calendars! The annual DreamBuilders Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction will take place on Saturday, March 8th at Temple Isaiah. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we’re going to need your help! We will be organizing donations for the silent auction soon. Blitz Builds are expensive, as we fund building materials as well as housing, food and transportation for our missioners.
To learn more, visit https://dreambuildersmd.org/
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.
