Outreach
The Outreach Commission works to develop new projects that allow Christ Church members to participate in a broad selection of international, national and local opportunities for service:
Prepare for Success
Our Prepare for Success program provides school supplies to low-income families in our community. Each year, our parishioners fill new backpacks with all of the pens, pencils, markers, crayons, paper, binders, and other required school supplies to students attending nearby schools. And, through a partnership with a company that grants us significantly reduced prices for most needed supplies, our church members are able to make small online contributions that make it possible to serve even more students.
- Parish Backpack Drive: In 2009, despite the tight economy, parishioners generously shopped for and donated 52 backpacks filled with school supplies, which went this year to our neighboring Cradlerock School’s elementary and middle school students. In addition, the money raised in cash donations from Christ Church equipped 193 additional students with packs and supplies.
- County-wide Prepare for Success Program: When Christ Church began the pilot program in 2001, we never imagined how successful it would be and how many more organizations would want to help local students. Since the program’s inception in 2001, the county residents and organizations have equipped over 18,000 students for school. That’s an amazing impact!
Giving Tree
Through the Giving Tree initiate, parishioners provide Christmas/holiday gifts to children from low-income families - referred to us by the Salvation Army. In 2008, we served 128 children in our community. We also provide holiday cheer in the form of gift and food cards to additional families who aren’t able to use the Salvation Army’s program.
While in previous years our congregation has helped up to 150 children during one holiday season, we are committed to helping as many children as we can. We strive to balance the economic pressures on both these families and our own by setting a goals for the number of children we hope to serve each year. Of course, if more parishioners are able to donate, we can always move the goal upward since there will be a surplus of families in need!
You will know it is time for our annual Giving Tree program when you see a carefully decorated Christmas tree in our Narthex adorned with wish-list tags. You will simply take one that you feel called to fulfill and record your gift recipient information (which is limited to age and gender of the child) for our records. This is one of the most heartwarming ministries we participate in each year.
Local Route 1 Homeless Ministry Day Center
Our parish provides a hot meal the second Monday of every month to the residents at the Rt. 1 Homeless Ministry Day Center. In addition, we pack goodie bags, provide financial support for their operating expenses, and donate proceeds from our Top Chef fundraiser to improve the quality of medical attention the center provides.
Knitwits
This group of ladies meets once a month, the third Friday of the month at 7:00 PM, to crochet or knit sweaters to send to World Vision. The sweaters are bundled into lots of 100 and sent to charitable organizations for distribution to children all over the world.
A second group of ladies began KnitWits 2, which meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in the elevator room from 1:00 – 3:00 PM.
The Outreach Commission will continue to foster opportunities for service. We would like everyone in the congregation to experience the transformative feeling of serving those in need. If you feel called to increase your own outreach, you will find many ways to meet that calling. You can participate in the Outreach Commission as a member by attending our monthly meetings held the second Monday of every month at 7:30 PM in the Piano Room LLNB. You may want to participate in one of the Commission’s identified projects. If so, please contact us.
