Christ Church Outreach News: January 2, 2025
Christ Church Provides Warm Coats for Kids at St. Luke's Youth Center
On Dec. 7, representatives of Christ Church attended Christmas festivities for St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC), whose leaders shared the assessment that many children lacked suitable coats as winter approached.
The Outreach Commission responded by committing to supply the West Baltimore youth with 37 coats, ranging in size from Toddler to Men’s X-Large. We faced a quick turnaround, given the need to outfit SLYC students by the time they would return to school after the holiday break. Outreach member Dione Mahoney volunteered to shop at local thrift stores, and others added a few coats. The purchases cost $328, drawn from Vestry-approved Outreach funds that come from your contributions to Christ Church.
On Dec. 14, Outreach member Michon Semon delivered the coats to SLYC, which is a collaborative of West Baltimore families who together provide youth with critical resources, life-enriching experiences, and a safety net of support. Engagement Coordinator Darlene “Grandma” Clark wrote: “The members of Christ Church have truly shown to be a blessing to SLYC’s families. We are so grateful to you for your warmth, support, and love. The kids can’t say thank you enough!”
Christ Church Helps Disabled Young Adults and Children at Philip’s House in Uganda Gain Christmas Cheer, a Brighter New Year
Christ Church continues to support the disabled residents of Philip’s House, which operates on such a tight budget that its Christmas celebration would have been impossible without your generosity. The Outreach Commission in October approved sending $500 of Vestry-approved funds to support the home for young adults and several children in Kampala, Uganda. Thank you!
The Philip’s House’ founder, Jan Smart, is a friend and colleague of parishioners Teddy and Sonni Aribiah. Jan established the home as a memorial to her late brother, Philip, who was disabled. It is located on the grounds of an orphanage where Teddy grew up and that she visited this fall, spending time with Philip’s House residents (see photos).
During the pandemic, Christ Church made a strategic contribution of $1,770 that helps residents to this day. It was Summer 2020, when lockdowns had threatened a reliable food supply. Staff members used our funds to build a sturdy garden fence. Ever since, they no longer fear losing their home-grown produce to theft or animals.
Teddy and Sonni continue to update us about developments at Philip’s House, whose operations are overseen by the Hoffman Family Foundation. At its December meeting, the Outreach Commission learned about progress at an in-house clinic that Christ Church supported last year. It is run by a pharmacist whose education was made possible by his sponsor, Jan, the Philip’s House founder.
Lake Elkhorn Middle School Kindness Pantry for January
One of the greatest joys in 2024 was partnering with many of you and the teachers and staff at Elkhorn Middle School to provide students and their families with support to grow socially and academically. There is tremendous need but there also are tremendous opportunities to help our local community.
In 2024, we provided school supplies and backpacks, prizes for their Positive Behavior Program, snacks and awards for their Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, hats and gloves for students, a car seat for a newborn, and food for the Kindness Pantry, which we are staffing monthly.
We still need contributions for the next Lake Elkhorn Middle School Kindness Pantry on Monday, January 13, between 2 and 4:00 p.m. As you know, struggling families are in greater need during the winter. In December, we had very few items left by the end of the two hours the pantry was open. There were families from all backgrounds, including a family from Afghanistan who had only been in the US for a week.
There is a blue bin in the New Brick Narthex where you can contribute. The list of items has changed from last month, so please click on the Sign Up Genius link below and put your name next to the items you would like to give. We need your contributions by Sunday, January 12, at the very latest. Visit our SignUp Genius list for all the details.
Thank you so much for your generosity! Let Cathy Whittaker know if you have questions -
Across the Miles: Seize the Opportunity to Sponsor a Ugandan Student
Leaders of the nonprofit, Friends of Sabina (FOS), are seeking sponsors for three teenage girls who excel academically and in dance or sports. The students are Marion Gift Nabwami, 14, Leticia Joy Nazziwa, 14, and Allen Nakasozi, 16. Read about their aspirations in the Outreach Blog of Dec. 26, 2024. Full or half sponsorships are available for each student, whose families cannot afford their schooling. For information, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Columbia Community Care To Reopen After a Holiday Break
Columbia Community Care (CCC) will gear up after its holiday break to reopen its pantry and all distribution sites on Saturday, Jan. 4. Those who need help are urged to go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website. To volunteer, go to “Volunteer Opportunities.”
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.
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.
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/
Sutton Scholars Fundraiser at TopGolf - February 20, 2025
Join the Board of Sutton Scholars for a fundraiser partnering with TopGolf in Baltimore. The Sutton Scholars High School Enrichment Program helps Baltimore City high school students become confident, competent, and capable contributors to their communities by equipping them with the life skills that are essential for academic, workplace, and personal success. Whether you are a golf aficionado or want to have a fun night out with friends, we invite you to gather at TopGolf on Thursday, February 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Learn more here.
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.
