CEC Outreach News: February 10, 2022

African Team Ministries is Back - This Sunday
After 2020's COVID-19 hiatus and 2021's abbreviated booth, ATM is back! Handcrafts will be on display from Sunday, February 13th through the 27th, and at the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on March 1st, if it's held. This ministry provides East African, primarily Kenyan, artisans with a market for their beautiful creations. Come & see intricate wood carvings, privative musical instruments, eye-catching soapstone décor, natural elements nativity sets, stunning necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and more!
We also need volunteers to help with set-up, selling, and pack-out. If you are interested in helping and are available after services or on Shrove Tuesday, please contact Sara Kirkpatrick at kirkpasf@gmail.com, leave a message at 410-730-6797.
A Valentine’s Treat: Grassroots Meal Drop-Offs and In-Person Service at DRC are Each Scheduled for this Monday, Feb. 14th
In a consolidated approach to feeding the hungry, parishioners are invited to share the love on Valentine’s Day by doubling their recipes or trying out this volunteer opportunity for the first time. As usual, Christ Church will purchase fried chicken at Weis and depend upon your bringing side dishes to make the meals. And once again, on Monday, February 14th, we’re cooking for two separate groups of diners.
The first group is made up of 40 to 50 homeless friends at the Dorsey Center’s Day Resource Center (DRC), which is operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. At the start of the pandemic, Grassroots suspended DRC operations and Christ Church put its duties on hold. The DRC reopened on a modified basis in late 2021, closed due to the Omicron surge, and then reopened this month. A team of four Christ Church volunteers will be serving a midday meal in person on our usual day –the second Monday of the month.
The second group of diners resides at Grassroots’ Live-in Facility, where the staff serves the food. We have been providing an evening meal menu – fried chicken and side dishes cooked by parishioners – on a monthly basis since early in the pandemic. To keep our commitment to feed the hungry at both locations, the Outreach Commission has arranged for Christ Church to provide both meals on the same date.
If you’re cooking only for the Live-In Facility’s evening meal, plan to arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the pantry to be enjoyed round-the-clock by the 50 residents at the Freetown Rd. facility. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to view a suggested menu. Please go online to list what you’ll bring no later than noon on the Sunday prior to Monday’s meal.
If you're cooking or volunteering for the midday meal at the DRC, plan to arrive between 12:45 and 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the DRC pantry. Click on a different link, called the Christ Church Dorsey/DRC Meal link on SignUpGenius to view requested items and indicate how you’ll help.
If you're cooking or bringing pantry items for both meals, plan to arrive between 12:45 and 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. The dish and supplementals for the evening meal can be left in the Parish Hall kitchen. Or, depending on the dish or the supplemental item, such as brownies or fruit, you can do that on a Sunday if your items are clearly marked.
If you plan to volunteer in-person to serve the midday meal at the DRC, please be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have a flu shot. For questions, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org so we can put you in touch with co-coordinator Nancy Winchester.
One of the volunteer duties is a driver who departs the DRC when the shift ends at 4 p.m. to transport any fried chicken, side dishes, and desserts from one Grassroots site to the other. We’ve always taken the leftovers to the Freetown Rd. Live-In Facility. Now we are consolidating both our food and our efforts.
Both the DRC and the Live-In Facility have wider needs for their pantries and welcome in-kind donations to be dropped off for delivery on the second Mondays. Look for the monthly needs list under the words “Related Files” on each of the sign-up sites.

Inviting One and All to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach - This Monday
What better time than Valentine’s Day to get more fully involved in helping others! The Outreach Commission invites you to join in during our monthly meeting to learn more about opportunities in 2022. It will be held virtually at 7:30 p.m. next Monday, February 14th. Email us for the Zoom link - outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org

Leaders of Saint Luke’s Youth Center Will Visit Christ Church on Feb. 13 to Express Gratitude for Support; Outline Volunteer Opportunities in Baltimore
St. Luke’s Youth Center operates year-round as the nonprofit SLYC from the former St. Luke’s Episcopal parish at 217 N. Carey Street, Baltimore, MD. Two of its leaders plan to say “thank you” in person for our support in 2021 by attending Christ Church on Feb. 13.
Please save the date so that you can greet them in person or virtually. They expect to be present for Adult Forum at 9:30 a.m., for the 10:30 a.m. worship service, and at the Zoom Coffee Hour that follows online.
Engagement coordinator Darlene Clark and Executive Director Amanda Gardner Talbot will be available to talk about SLYC’s collaborative model that includes families, staff members, supporters, and volunteers from several Episcopal parishes. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is among the partners.
They’ll also answer any of your questions about in-person tutoring and other volunteer opportunities that you may wish to explore as individuals or in small groups (see flier). The church has its own parking lot and follows pandemic protocols to keep everyone safe.
SLYC offerings range from its “Moms on a Mission” program to SLYC After School, which impacts 40 young people, ages 4 to 19. Requests to parishes for “time, gifts, and talents” go well beyond after-school activities or tutoring students in math, reading, and writing. For example, there are needs for carpenters, architects, and landscapers or for grant-writers and graphic designers.
The Outreach Commission liaison to SLYC is Michon Semon, whom last August was accompanied by parishioner Nancy Winchester at a presentation to mark the end of summer day camp. Christ Church contributed monetary support to help make the camp a success. At the ceremony hosted by St. James, Lafayette Square, toddlers to teens performed (see photos). Since then, Nancy has donated one of her lovely, handmade quilts for SLYC fund-raising.
Plan to meet the SLYC leaders on Sunday and learn more. Or you can email the executive director at amanda@bmoreslyc.org

Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers, Personal Care Items
At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting the all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC). Please collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. 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 Sunday. You’ll find CCC updates, such as requests for volunteers at its three distribution sites, posted in the CCC Facebook Group.

Baltimore Seafarers News
As a reminder, the Women of Christ Church gather donations for Seafarers throughout the year. At this time, they are looking for magazines, cards, notebooks, gloves, hats, and scarves. If you’d like to donate any of these items, the "Seafarers" box is under the table in the Tower Room of New Brick.

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 its shopping lists. The yellow bin is 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.
