Christ Church Outreach News: July 11, 2024
Save the Date: SLYC Leaders to Visit Christ Church on Sunday, July 28
Once more, Christ Church will welcome representatives of St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC), whose leaders will update us on its work brightening the lives of children in West Baltimore. Join us from 9 to 10:15 a.m. in the Great Hall in New Brick on Sunday, July 28. Coffee, drinks, and pastries will be served.
SLYC Executive Director Amanda Gardner Talbot will speak during announcements at both worship services and will conduct an informal presentation between services. See her slide show and learn about volunteer opportunities during a meet-and-greet with Talbot, who last visited Christ Church with others from SLYC in August 2022. Read about that visit in the Outreach Blog of Aug. 25, 2022.
SLYC is a collaborative of West Baltimore families who together provide youth with critical resources, life-enriching experiences, and a safety net of support. During summers, SLYC holds Camp Imagination, a day camp that takes place at a cooperating parish while SLYC’s campus is under renovation. Camp Imagination is being held from July 1 to Aug. 2 at St. John Lutheran (& Episcopal) Church, 300 Maple Ave., Linthicum, MD. It’s not too late to participate as a volunteer. For information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Children and counselors will end their summer experiences at the Claggett Camp and Conference Center with one week at All God’s Children Sleepaway camp, Aug. 4 to Aug. 9. The Outreach Commission in May gave $1,500 to SLYC, which covers the full cost of one child for five weeks of day camp and one week at Claggett. The donation was drawn from Vestry-approved Outreach funds derived from your pledges and contributions. Thanks for your generosity!
SLYC’s year-round results are impressive, as described in its Fiscal 2023 Impact Report. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is a partner, and its reparations task force awarded a grant to SYLC in 2022. You’ll have the chance to learn more in person during the SLYC visit on June 28. Please mark your calendars.
Calling All Volunteers!
Camp Nabi is an overnight grief camp for children & teens aged 6-18 who have experienced the death of a loved one. This camp is facilitated by Hospice of the Chesapeake, where our own Director of Youth & Family Ministries, Kiona Lookingbill, serves as Chaplain. Camp Nabi is held in Millersville, MD from August 9-11, 2024, and the success of this camp is made possible with the generous support of many volunteers. If you would like to provide volunteer support at Camp Nabi (there are various spots available), please learn more here, and apply here by this coming Monday, July 15th. Thank you.
Help Us Organize the LEMS School Supply Backpacks - July 24
We will be putting the supplies into the backpacks for LEMS on Wednesday, July 24th from 9-11 a.m. in the Parish Hall, so please come and help! Soon, we'll announce a mid-August date for delivering the supplies, and we could use your help here, as well. The details for this part of the drive will come in upcoming Christ Church communications, so stay tuned.
You can still help, even if you cannot make it on the 24th. Contributions can be made via check, online, or via text:
If you’d like to write a check, please make sure you indicate “LEMS School Supplies” on the memo line. You can send it to the church, or drop it at the office or in the collection plate.
If you would like to give online via Realm, please choose "LEMS" from the FUND dropdown, and write "School Supplies" in the MEMO line. You can also use the light blue "Support Christ Church" button at the top of every page on our website for that form.
To give via text: text CECGIVING to 73256 to give using your mobile device; you'll immediately receive a link to our form. Click the link, then choose "LEMS" from the FUND dropdown menu. Please also write "School Supplies" in the MEMO line so that your donation is used as you wish. (Note: This number will never send you unsolicited texts. To cancel further messages, simply text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply).
If you have questions about our LEMS partnership or would like to help, please speak with Cathy Whittaker at church or email lemssupplies@christchurchcolumbia.org. Thank you very much for your support.
Columbia Community Care Reopens Its Pantry with Help from Christ Church
When Columbia Community Care (CCC) was forced to vacate its former home in the Columbia Flier Building, the nonprofit organization had to clear out its inventory of perishables. The refrigerators were bare as its volunteers hurried to reopen in the rear of its Long Reach Village site after making the move over Independence Day and the holiday weekend.
On Friday, July 5, the Christ Church Outreach Commission helped Pantry Manager April Lee by presenting her with a $500 Costco gift card (above, center image). She planned to buy 5-dozen bulk packs of eggs, milk, bulk sealed packages of fresh chicken legs, bags of navel oranges, six-count bags of romaine lettuces, bunches of bananas, and more. The moment was captured for the Christ Church website in a post, “Christ Church Outreach in Action.” Lee said, “I can’t thank you enough for this very timely and much-needed donation,” expressing “deepest appreciation” for everyone at Christ Church.
The funds were derived from Vestry-approved Outreach funds made possible by your contributions to Christ Church. Please accept our heartfelt thanks!
CCC shortened summer hours for its distribution sites, which serve our neighbors in need on Saturdays. Volunteers arrive at 9 a.m., start distribution between 9:30 and 10 a.m., and close all sites by 11:30 a.m. Locations are at the Long Reach space in 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.
Meanwhile, CCC continues to request baby-care items and diapers, especially sizes 4-6, and pullups in sizes 3T, 4T, and 5T. Put these along with sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sundays. The Christ Church point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers items.
Those who need groceries and other necessities can find information by going online to “Get Help” on CCC’s website. Or learn how to volunteer at distribution sites or as a translator or shopper at its pantry. Find updates on the CCC Facebook Group.
Look for the FISH Bin on the Breezeway near the Parish Hall
FISH of Howard County requests non-perishable foods and toiletries, which we collect in the basket at the altar or in a marked yellow bin on the breezeway between the Parish Hall and Old Brick. FISH provides committed support to select families in need. The neighbors you help give thanks for all you do in their support.
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.
