Christ Church Outreach News: March 28, 2024
FISH Invites Parishioners to Attend Its Potluck Dinner on Sunday, April 7 at Christ Church
Come one, come all. Or, at least, plan to accept an invitation from FISH of Howard County if you are among those who routinely shop for extra grocery items to feed the less fortunate. You’ll have a great chance to learn how the items we put into the altar basket, or the bin on the breezeway, make their way to those in need.
The event is a potluck dinner to be held on Sunday, April 7, at 5 p.m. here at Christ Church in the Great Hall of New Brick. As an all-volunteer organization, FISH is bringing together its volunteers to share camaraderie and a tasty meal.
Here’s how FISH organizers described the gathering in its invitation: “ALL are welcome –phone volunteers, delivery volunteers, other volunteers, potential volunteers, plus spouses and friends….It’s a nice opportunity for new volunteers to meet the friends whose voices you hear on the phone and for everyone to get together, enjoy good food, and have a great time.”
FISH is a neighbor-to-neighbor nonprofit organization with a long history. Since its founding in 1976, FISH has helped county residents who have legitimate crisis needs by providing emergency food, referral information, and limited financial assistance for such things as eviction and utility turnoff prevention and medicine.
Food aid is typically a 7-to-10-day supply that is delivered to the home. In 2023, that amounted to 3,000 meals. It also offers hygiene, paper, and laundry supplies.
Christ Church, acting through the Outreach Commission, has supported FISH for many years. Most recently, Christ Church youth held a “Souper Bowl of Caring” drive that culminated on Feb. 11. Their huge collection of canned goods went to FISH.
Parishioner Andy DeLong, who volunteers as the treasurer of FISH, is expected to participate in the potluck dinner event. Plan to attend and say hello. Here’s how to RSVP by contacting two other FISH volunteers. Please tell one of the women who are organizing the dinner how many are coming and what you will bring. Email Kathy Raab, who can be reached at raab@umbc.edu, or Nula Lu Roberts, nuala4ney@aol.com.
Whether you will be able to attend, or not, keep collecting items. Put non-perishable foods and toiletries 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.
Maryland Diocese Posts a Prayer For All Affected by Collapse of the Key Bridge
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland has posted a prayer for all those affected by the tragic collapse early Tuesday of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was struck by a container ship. Debris from the catastrophe closed shipping channels indefinitely, stranding mariners at the Port of Baltimore.
The Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center (BISC), is among the ministries in the Bishop’s Annual Appeal of the Diocese. The Women of Christ Church recently collected hats, scarves and gloves as part of its ongoing support for the Seafarers. To raise funds for the center, several parishioners participated in a fundraising harbor cruise last April, when Sharha Toth took this image of the now-fallen bridge (see photo).
BISC provides spiritual care and hospitality to members of ships’ crews, who are working far from their homes and loved ones around the world.
Columbia Community Care Takes a Break on Easter Weekend
To observe the Easter holiday, Columbia Community Care (CCC) will close its three distribution sites on Saturday, March 30. These will reopen on Saturday, April 6. The CCC pantry is expected to be open for home deliveries on both weekends.
Those who need groceries and other necessities can find information by going online to the “I Need Help” portion of CCC’s website. Or learn how to volunteer at the pantry or in other ways by visiting the “I Can Help” portion of its website.
Please continue to collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers for CCC. Put them 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 its contents.
Look for the FISH Bin on the Breezeway near the Parish Hall
FISH of Howard County needs 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.
