Christ Church Outreach News: November 7, 2024
Make Thanksgiving Special for Families Who Depend Upon the Howard County Food Bank by Donating Holiday Sides and Staples
Please help those who utilize the Howard County Food Bank get ready for Thanksgiving. Our annual collection ends Thursday, Nov. 21. That deadline gives the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), which operates the food bank, sufficient time to prepare and distribute its "Holiday Meal Kits." The CAC expects to feed more than 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and another 1,000 around Christmas, offering families the protein and sides they need to enjoy a warm holiday meal.
Complete the menu by bringing non-perishable sides: boxed mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, gravy, cranberry sauce, olives, pickles, and canned fruits and vegetables. Because household pantries often are bare this time of year, please add staples such as canned beans, soups, tuna, pasta and sauce, rice, peanut butter, and spices. Put items on the designated table in the Narthex. Or put them in a yellow bin marked “Thanksgiving Food Drive," located on the breezeway near the door to Old Brick. NOTE: Please, no pies, other desserts, or rolls because of perishability.
Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting this Monday, Nov. 11
You can learn how to help others by joining us remotely via Zoom for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, November 11th, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope.
Help the Homeless this Monday, Nov. 11, by Preparing a Dish for Grassroots’ Live-In Facility or Serving a Meal at the Day Resource Center
On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church provides a hot midday meal for the homeless at the Day Resource Center (DRC) and drops off dinner at a live-in shelter for 50 residents. We last participated on Oct. 14th. Both DRC and Grassroots are operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. A team led by parishioner Shahra Toth makes side dishes and desserts that we serve in person after carpooling to the DRC.
To join us on Monday, Nov. 11, please check our DRC online signup form, which describes the midday meal procedure. Drop-off time is 12:45 p.m. in the parking lot near Old Brick for DRC’s side dishes. Later, parishioners who cook or shop for the evening meal at Grassroots’ Live-In Facility arrive in the Old Brick parking lot between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. Get details in our Grassroots online signup form. Grassroots staff serves the evening meal. It’s efficient to provide for both venues on the same day. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried-chicken entrees. Thank you!
Recently, your generosity helped ease life for our homeless neighbors, who rely on sundries from the DRC pantry in Jessup. The staff requested our help to replenish supplies. In response, the Outreach Commission approved spending $326 for the goods, which included 40 pairs of women’s underwear, 36 pairs of men’s underwear, canned beans and vegetables, and 17 jars each of peanut butter and jelly. These were purchased with funds donated to the church by parishioners who give to “General Outreach” or specifically to DRC or Grassroots. A hearty thanks!
Display Crafts or Shop at the Cedar Lane Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 16
If you’re an artisan or a shopper looking for handmade crafts, please participate in the Holiday Bazaar & Indoor Yard Sale on Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 11630 Scaggsville Rd., Fulton, MD, 20759. The event is being organized by Christ Church parishioner Amanda Cheong and sponsored by Cedar Lane School PTA. Find details for vendors and shoppers on its Facebook page events entry.
Lake Elkhorn Middle School Partnership's Fall Update
“Today was so amazing! The students were so excited and loved all the positivity that was directed at them today. This was all possible to your generous donation."
Our partnership with Lake Elkhorn Middle School has continued into fall this year thanks to the creation of a new position at LEMS. Cindy Drummond is the new Community School Site Coordinator there, and one of her responsibilities is to work with Christ Episcopal Church. Cathy Whittaker, Christ Church's LEMS coordinator, met with Cindy and Kevin Lee, the Pupil Personnel Worker who helped with the students' supply delivery in mid-October to brainstorm ways in which CEC might assist students, families, and teachers. Thanks to Cathy and our LEMS supporters at Christ Church, we were able to help provide prizes to recognize the students' academic and social progress over the first portion of the school year. Katie Lee, the 6th-grade administrator, sent us a wonderful letter of thanks, and Cathy has included it in her wonderful recap of LEMS and our ministry's recent support. You can read it on our website - www.christchurchcolumbia.org/post/lake-elkhorn-middle-school-partnership-update-1
Help Families in Need by Filling the Altar Basket and our FISH Bin on the Breezeway
If you are concerned about people in our midst who are going hungry, please consider regularly donating non-perishables to FISH of Howard County. Put groceries and/or toiletries in the altar basket in New Brick or in a marked yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and Parish Hall. FISH provides committed support to select families in need. The neighbors you help give thanks for all you do in their support.
Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers, Recruits Volunteers of All Ages
Columbia Community Care (CCC) keeps its pantry open each Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in hopes of attracting youth who earn community service credits at their public schools by sorting supplies. Also, teens can help at upcoming events. Find options on the CCC Facebook Group. Go online to learn how to volunteer.
Those who need groceries and other necessities can find information by going online to “Get Help” on CCC’s website.
CCC continues to request baby-care items and diapers, especially sizes 4-6. 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.
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.
