Christ Church Outreach News: July 19, 2024
Welcome SLYC Leaders for Coffee, Pastries, and a Presentation in the Great Hall of New Brick Between Worship Services on Sunday, July 28
Please join us when leaders of St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC) visit Christ Church to update us on its work brightening lives in West Baltimore. Gather from 9 to 10:15 a.m. in the Great Hall on Sunday, July 28. Coffee, drinks and pastries will be served.
SLYC is a collaborative of West Baltimore families who together provide youth with critical resources, life-enriching experiences, and a safety-net of support. Executive Director Amanda Gardner Talbot will speak during announcements at both worship services and will conduct an informal presentation between services. See a slideshow and learn about volunteer opportunities in the summer and year-round.
From July 1 to Aug. 2, SLYC holds Camp Imagination, a day program that takes place at a cooperating parish while SLYC’s campus is under renovation. The host is St. John Lutheran (& Episcopal) Church, 300 Maple Ave., Linthicum, MD. Children and counselors complete their experiences at Claggett Camp and Conference Center with a week at All God’s Children Sleepaway camp, Aug. 4 to Aug. 9. It’s not too late to volunteer in Linthicum. For information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
SLYC’s 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. Don’t miss a chance to learn more in person on July 28.
Christ Church Sends Aid to Hurricane Beryl Victims in the Caribbean
In early July, Hurricane Beryl became a deadly Category 5 storm, sweeping across islands in the southeast Caribbean and damaging Jamaica. Later it hit Mexico, caused flooding and power outages in Texas, and caused yet more flooding in Vermont and in Novia Scotia, Canada. Severe Caribbean destruction appears in NPR’s “The Picture Show,” in a July 5 post, “Photos: See the Path of Destruction from Hurricane Beryl.”
Outreach Commission members voted at the July 8 meeting to contribute $750 to World Central Kitchen, which says in an online post that it had resources in place for the most timely help. Within hours of Beryl’s passing, WCK made food deliveries in locations stretching from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to small coastal communities in Texas.
These are the latest in a series of disaster-relief donations, including one earlier this year to WCK as it helped starving residents of Gaza displaced by the Israel-Hamas War. Previously Outreach responded to help victims of a Moroccan earthquake, Libyan flooding, and the Maui wildfire in Hawaii. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from your pledges and contributions. 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.
CCC Depends on Gardeners and Its Partners for Fresh Produce for Families
In the spring, Columbia Community Care (CCC) planted a garden outside its former home in the Columbia Flier Building with help from its partner, the Community Ecology Institute (CEI). If you have a green thumb, consider helping this summer to tend the CCC CEI Community Garden located at 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. For information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Meanwhile, CEI gardeners have been harvesting crops at the ecology institute’s site, which is called Freetown Farm. On July 12, they brought a bountiful donation of fresh produce to CCC’s new location. CCC Pantry Manager April Lee expressed gratitude in a post on the CCC Facebook Group: “CEI has been providing CCC (and other non-profits) with donations of BEAUTIFUL produce for the past three years. They also built our community garden. On Friday, they stopped by with their first drop-off to our new pantry space in Long Reach Village Center... We love CEI!”
Keep in mind that 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 by 11:30 a.m. Locations are at Long Reach, 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.
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.
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.
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.
