Christ Church Outreach News: April 16, 2026
- Christ Episcopal Church
- Apr 16
- 4 min read
LEMS Kindness Pantry for April
School is back in session after spring break, and it is time for us to ask you to contribute items to the Kindness Pantry at Lake Elkhorn Middle School. These donations are needed by next Sunday, April 19th, as the next Pop-Up Pantry is on Wednesday, April 22. Please visit our SignUpGenius link to select the necessary supplies, and place your items in the blue bins in the New Brick Narthex. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity!
This is a wonderful promise from God to those who assist the hungry:
If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58: 10-11
Think Sharp: You Can Support Grassroots by Organizing a Team or Competing Solo at Trivia Night on Wednesday, May 6
The Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center will hold its second annual Trivia Night on Wednesday, May 6, at The Meeting House in Oakland Mills Village Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The competition goes from 7 to 9 p.m.
Trivia Night is described as “a fundraising event full of questions and prizes.” Food and drinks from Tino’s Italian Bistro will be available for purchase. Trivia will be presented by Charm City Entertainment. Go online here to buy tickets. Admission is $25 for an individual, $108.55 for a team of four, and $161.90 for a team of six, plus online fees.
Proceeds will benefit Grassroots’ various operations which, in addition to helping the homeless, provide 24-hour crisis intervention that includes a supportive counseling hotline.
Christ Church supports Grassroots on the second Monday of each month by providing a hot midday meal for the homeless at Grassroots’ Day Resource Center (DRC) and drops off dinner for its Emergency Shelter residents. Our next date is May 11. We last participated on April 13 (see photos).
Learn more by checking our DRC online signup form for midday details or our Grassroots online signup form for dinner information. 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 the lives of our homeless neighbors, who rely on the DRC for food to take with them and for much-needed clothing. In response to a DRC request, the Outreach Commission approved spending $500 to replenish its pantry. The bounty, delivered on April 13, included tins of sardines, cartons of canned chicken breast, Vienna sausages and Spam, dozens of apple juice boxes and shelf-stable regular and chocolate milk.
In response to requests for clothing, we previously delivered $194 worth of men’s T-shirts and packs of underwear for both men and women. The garments and groceries were purchased with funds donated to the church by parishioners who give to “General Outreach.” A hearty thanks!
You, too, can help by shopping for the pantry at the DRC and Grassroots’ two other sites. We welcome in-kind donations of items such as canned meats and hearty soups, peanut butter, and fruit cups to be dropped off ahead of time in the Parish Hall kitchen for delivery on the second Mondays. Find Grassroots’ monthly needs list on our signups under “Related Files.”
Christ Church got an overview and learned about Grassroots’ recent expansion during a visit last fall by Anna Katz, Grassroots director of grants and support. Read a recap of the visit in the Outreach Blog of Oct. 9, 2025 and view a YouTube video of her presentation during Sunday Circle on Sept. 21, 2025.
Bring Items for FISH/CCC, and Consider Volunteering to Take Calls from Home
FISH and Columbia Community Care (CCC) partnered last year and merged their pantries. CCC continues to hand out food at three sites on Saturday mornings and deliver it to Howard County residents. For information, go online to Get Help. Find CCC updates, including an anniversary celebration on March 14, on its Facebook page.
FISH continues to pick up donated goods from Christ Church and others. Please put non-perishable food and personal care products in the altar basket or in a bin just inside the Parish Hall. Look for a combo label “FISH/CCC”. Please bring baby wipes and diapers, especially large sizes.
FISH will continue to provide telephone support to Howard County residents, offering guidance and financial assistance, because the personal touch is very important when people are in crisis. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong (see photo) or email him at andydelong.fish@gmail.com.
You could be the one to lend a helping hand by lending an ear! As a phone volunteer, you can help from your home by giving just one day a month to assist those who could benefit from FISH's financial assistance. Training is provided. Thank you always for your support.
Mark Your Calendars! DreamBuilders Fundraiser at Bushel and a Peck - May 13
DreamBuilders will host their Spring fundraising event at Bushel and a Peck - 12250 Clarksville Pike in Clarkesville. It takes place on Wednesday, May 13th and you can reserve your seats for happy hour and dinner on their website. Then, join us from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. that evening as we help raise funds to build three homes in Hazard, Kentucky. When you make your reservation, please put a note that you are there for the DB event. You can also call B&aP at 410.531.1809 to reserve space.
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.
