Christ Church Outreach News: February 27, 2025

Runners Will Raise Awareness of Suicide Prevention and Support Grassroots at ‘Light the Night’ 5K and Community Event on April 4

Lace up your running shoes or turn out to cheer the athletes who enter the fourth annual “Light the Night” 5K, a public awareness event to be held Friday, April 4. It is intended as a “county-wide acknowledgement that we support and care for those impacted by suicide.”

Sponsors are the Howard County Department of Health, the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, and Bullseye Running. Proceeds go to the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Maryland (AFSP Maryland).

Christ Church is a long-time supporter of Grassroots, which in addition to helping the homeless, provides 24-hour crisis intervention that includes a supportive counseling hotline. 

“Light the Night” will be held at the Oakland Mills High School track, 9410 Kilimanjaro Rd., in Columbia, where speakers who are active in suicide prevention will give remarks at 6:30 p.m. The race begins at 7 p.m. There will be activities for non-runners, fun take-home items such as bracelets and keychains, and resource packets on suicide prevention.

Besides raising awareness in an effort to save lives, the organizers will accept donations that will go to Grassroots and AFSP Maryland. AFSP is the largest private funder of suicide prevention research; it also creates and hosts education programs, leads public policy efforts on mental health, and supports suicide-loss survivors. 

Runners who sign up online no later than Sunday, March 2 will pay a $25 registration fee, which rises to $35 through Wednesday, April 2. Cash-only registration on race day is $40 to be paid at the event during runners’ late packet and shirt pickup at 6 p.m. Runners’ regular packet and shirt pickup is Thursday, April 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Feet First, 5305 Village Center Dr, #110, Columbia, MD 21044. 

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Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers, Recruits Volunteers of All Ages

Columbia Community Care (CCC) distributes groceries, diapers, and personal care items at three distribution sites on Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The locations are Long Reach Village Center, Suite 107, 8775 Cloudleap Ct.; Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd.; and The Barn at Oakland Mills Village Center, 5853 Robert Oliver Place, all in Columbia.

CCC has resumed making home deliveries to those without transportation to a site. A shopper fulfills their grocery lists at the pantry, and then delivers goods to the recipients’ homes. To volunteer, go to “Volunteer Opportunities.” 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.

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LEMS Kindness Pantry News

In February, Jenny Cecil, Jan DeBoissiere, Sara Fitzpatrick, and Maggie Thompson were at LEMS to help 38 families at the Kindness Pantry. Once again, most of the food was taken, and the can openers were snatched up quickly. It is not possible to adequately thank all of you who contribute each month to help put smiles on the faces of the family members.

In addition to the pantry, your contributions provided clothing for boys who had just started coming to LEMS. We also gave lollipops to the school for Valentine's Candy Grams. This activity raises money for the counselors to assist students in a variety of ways. The students buy the Dum Dums and write notes of kindness to their teachers and friends. I will forward Cindy Drummond's email from Lake Elkhorn that explains this activity as well as many other great things that are happening there.

The next Kindness Pantry is Monday, March 10th, and you can sign up here. Please put your contributions in the blue bin in the narthex of New Brick anytime between now and March 9. The sooner, the better!

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The MOCC's R.A.K.

The Men of Christ Church's Random Act of Kindness for the month of February will be to collect new stuffed animals that will be donated at the end of the month. We're asking that folks bring a new stuffed animal that can be donated to the Montgomery County Family Justice Center. The stuffed animals are provided to each child who comes to the Family Justice Center. This gesture offers a small but powerful source of comfort for youth victims of domestic violence. 

For children, a stuffed animal serves as a tangible symbol of safety and care, offering them a sense of security and familiarity. This simple gesture helps ease anxiety, provides emotional support, and lets children know they are not alone as they begin their journey toward healing. A box/bag for collection will be located in the Narthex. Please help the Men of Christ Church with this effort.

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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 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.

While the weather is frigid, avoid putting items in the bin on the breezeway that could be harmed if frozen. Instead, put them on the marked section of the counter in the Parish Hall kitchen. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support.



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DreamBuilders Upcoming Events

DreamBuilders Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction: Saturday, March 8th - We need your help for our biggest fundraiser of the year.  Come and enjoy a spaghetti dinner, bid on our extraordinary silent auction items, and participate in our raffle for a large-screen TV.  We also need your donations for the silent auction, and in serving the spaghetti dinner.  This is a fun event and all proceeds go to fund our 2025 projects.  Contact Cathy Gold or Stacey Frith to learn more.

DreamBuilders Mission Trip:  June 15-21 - Registration is now open for our summer mission trip to build three homes in one week.  Hazard lost about 10,000 homes in the flood of July 28, 2022. DreamBuilders have built 5 homes for them in the past two years, working with the Housing Development Alliance teams. No experience is required. Youth must have completed 9th grade to participate. Cost is $750 per missioner, and some funding is available.   Registration closes on March 16th, so check out our website (dreambuildersmd.org) for more details, or ask Cathy Gold or Stacey Frith.

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.