Christ Church Outreach News: January 30, 2025
Somos Amigos Begins 2025 with Clinic, Plans for Christ Church Visit
Volunteers once again traveled this month to the Dominican Republic to provide medical and dental care in a clinic held by Somos Amigos Medical Missions in the little town of Naranjito. Among them were parishioner Dione Mahoney’s sister and brother-in-law, Jorge. Last fall, Dione and her sister, Desiree, volunteered together.
Dione says Jorge worked with dental providers while her sister served as a Spanish translator for a physician at the clinic. Desiree also met with a teacher to arrange for added educational materials in the local school.
Frank Brightwell, executive director and CEO of Somos Amigos, said its mid-January clinic was able to accommodate 69 new patients. Overall, the physicians saw 398 patients, and the dentists,191; there were 78 children. Three people were identified as potential candidates for an insulin program that Christ Church supports monetarily, most recently with a $1,000 donation last September.
“Our dentists continue to implement our strategy of providing more education and preventive care; every patient now gets dental X-rays on a fixed schedule, and cleanings and checkups are being proactively scheduled,” he said.
Somos Amigos’ previous healthcare delivery model had relied primarily on volunteer clinicians and other helpers traveling four times a year, collaborating with residents of Naranjito. When the pandemic halted travel, the nonprofit organization turned to local health providers and developed a hybrid model to sustain care. Residents continue to play key roles in Somos Amigos, which serves a rural, mountainous area that otherwise has little access to health care.
Parishioners will soon get a first-hand report. On Sunday, March 9, Brightwell will deliver the sermon at the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services and speak during Sunday Circle. You can view his sermon during last year’s visit to Christ Church in the Collect, Readings, Sermon, and Livestream of Feb. 25, 2024, at 28:28 minutes into the video.
No doubt Brightwell will tell us about a dramatic intervention during this month’s clinic, when a patient came in for a routine visit and prescription refill. “He is a diabetic patient, but not an insulin user,” he said. The man complained of a sore foot. “The patient had a slight fever, and the physician found a nasty infection on his foot. Our physician was suspicious of sepsis.” That is a life-threatening condition, so they arranged for quick transportation to the city of Santiago and alerted the emergency room.
“The patient was admitted, sepsis was confirmed, and unfortunately, he had to have part of his foot amputated,” Brightwell said. “His situation could have taken a terribly different path had he not visited with us.” Now he is recuperating at home.
DreamBuilders Chocolate, Tea and Coffee, in Time for Valentine’s Day!
We will be selling DreamBuilders goods after all three worship services this Sunday, Feb. 2, and next Sunday, Feb. 9. 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 for 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 in plenty of time for Valentine’s Day.
CCC Calls for Translators, Shoppers, and More to Help at Its Pantry
Columbia Community Care (CCC) has called for volunteers at its distribution sites and for translators and “shoppers” at its pantry in the Long Reach Village Center, located at Suite 107, 8775 Cloudleap Ct. Home delivery has resumed to those without transportation. 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.
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 recently-elected board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents. You can also email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org for more information.
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.
LEMS Kindness Pantry for February
Dear Friends, thank you to all of you who have already signed up for the February Kindness Pantry at Lake Elkhorn Middle School. There are still a few items needed; in the winter, hats, coats, and gloves are always greatly appreciated. You can sign up using the Sign Up Genius link here, and can place your items in the blue bin in the narthex in New Brick. Please bring your contributions to the narthex of New Brick by Sunday, February 9, at the latest. The blue bin is located near the long table.
If you would like to help at the pantry on Monday, February 10, you are welcome! We meet at the LEMS office at 1:30 to help set up, and families are there by 2:00. Sara Fitzpatrick is heading up the team this month as I am away, so let her know you would like to help. It is really a wonderful experience.
With deepest appreciation,
Cathy Whittaker
LEMS Coordinator
Sutton Scholars Fundraiser at TopGolf - February 20
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.
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.
