Christ Church Outreach News: June 1, 2023
Celebrate Wellness, and Help Support DreamBuilders
Temple Isaiah, our partner in DreamBuilders, is inviting us to join in their MatzohBall Run on June 4th. It’s a fundraiser, whose profits go to help support DreamBuilders, Grassroots, and HopeWorks. In addition to the family fun run/walk, there will be health screenings, wellness booths, and plenty of events to entertain. Please visit the MatzohBall Run link above, or read all of the details on the Christ Church website.
Share Your Talents to Make Summer Special for SLYC Kids and Families
Do you sew or sing? Paint or plaster (as in papier mache)? Love to cook or read aloud? Use those skills to do God’s work this summer by volunteering at St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC) summer day camp. Sessions of Camp Imagination will be held from July 5 to Aug. 4, 2023.
Locations will be at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, 4 E. University Parkway, Baltimore, Md, 21218, and the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1401 Carrollton Ave., Towson, MD 21204. That’s partly because, for the time being, SLYC’s campus in West Baltimore is under renovation.
SLYC has held Camp Imagination since 2015, inspiring a love of reading and writing through the visual and performing arts (see photos). During the six weeks, SLYC engages 30 to 35 campers, eight teenage counselors, and four community staff members.
Parishioner Michon Semon, who is SLYC’s liaison on the Outreach Commission, can tell you what it’s like to volunteer at SLYC. You can see her photo among the volunteers pictured on SLYC’s volunteer registration form. For information on becoming a SLYC volunteer, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
For several years, Christ Church has helped defray expenses for Camp Imagination so that youngsters in West Baltimore can experience a summer day camp whose families otherwise cannot afford it (see photos). At the Outreach Commission meeting on May 8, we approved a $1,000 donation to SLYC toward expenses. The amount covers tuition for one child for four weeks, or four children for one week each, at the discretion of SLYC.
The funds come from the commission’s Vestry-approved budget for 2023, which is derived from your pledges and contributions. Thanks to all!
SLYC Executive Director Amanda Gardner Talbot responded to the recent donation with deep gratitude. “ Your generosity helps us continue our mission of providing a safe and nurturing environment for the young people and their families in our West Baltimore community. With your help, we can provide the resources and opportunities necessary for our youth to grow and flourish. Your support will help to cultivate a brighter future for the families we serve and for our entire community. Thank you again for your commitment to SLYC!”
Christ Church is among SLYC’s partners, along with secular supporters, other parishes and the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. You’ll recall that last year Christ Church participated in the raffle of a queen-size quilt made by parishioner Nancy Winchester as a fund-raiser. Talbot delivered the Aug. 7 sermon at Christ Church when she visited along with Engagement Coordinator Darlene Clark and a SLYC youth, Ty Hawkins, who was soon to enter college.
To personally support SLYC summer camp, including a one-week sleep-away camp to be held from Aug. 6 to 11 at Claggett Camp and Conference Center, go on its website or direct a Christ Church contribution to “Outreach/SLYC” on Realm or on the memo line of your check.
Help Claggett Offer a Getaway for Special-Needs Adults
Claggett is calling for volunteers from parishes such as Christ Church to help staff its Special Challenge Camp, held from Sunday, July 23 to Thursday, July 27. As described in the Outreach Blog of May 25, 2023, you can help while enjoying the bucolic scenery near Adamstown, Md. Serving a group of independent adults with developmental disabilities, the session is in such demand that it has a wait list. For information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Columbia Community Care Harvests a Crop, Recruits Gardening Volunteers
Columbia Community Care (CCC) announced that its gardening volunteers have begun harvesting the first produce from the raised beds outside its pantry building. “We had fresh bok choy, baby spinach, parsley, and radishes in the pantry today for our deliveries,” CCC leaders said last week on the CCC Group on Facebook.
At the same time it was rejoicing in the crop (see photos), CCC called for new gardening volunteers. “We appreciate you lending your gardening expertise,” says the signup form with slots for garden upkeep through 2024. Tasks include “watering, weeding, checking for critter activity, planting, harvesting, and anything else that needs to be done at the garden.”
The goal is to allow CCC to grow its own healthy produce to better help families in need. In a partnership with CCC, the Community Ecology Institute installed the raised garden beds at the CCC pantry site, which is the former Columbia Flier building, 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway.
At Christ Church, Leigh Smith is our representative who takes parishioners’ donated items to CCC. Please continue your support by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sundays.
Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway
Organizers for FISH of Howard County are continuing to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill their shopping lists. The yellow bin is back in its spot between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Thanks for your contributions to our neighbors in need.
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.
