Christ Church Outreach News: August 13, 2026
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
Christ Church Donates to Episcopal Relief & Development to Help Washington State Residents Displaced by Raging Wildfires
Wildfires in eastern Washington state have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area. In response, Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD), partnered last week with the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane to help those in harm’s way.
Churches in the diocese are providing shelter, food, fuel, and cash assistance through gift cards, according to ERD’s post on August 7. ERD’s partners “quickly moved into action, ministering to people and families from surrounding communities who have been driven from their homes by the fires and forced to evacuate.” These include tribal communities near Yakima.
ERD also offers people seeking comfort and hope an online resource in the form of its prayer hub. There you’ll find prayers in a time of disaster and prayers amid crisis. Please join in praying for those harmed by natural disasters.
Outreach Commission members approved a $500 contribution to ERD for wildfire relief. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from your pledges and contributions. Thank you!
Donation to World Central Kitchen Will Aid Victims of Colombian Earthquake
In Colombia, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Pacific Coast on Monday, trapping people in collapsed buildings. An Aug. 10 report by NBC News noted a growing number of lives lost and disruption to hospitals, roads, aqueducts, energy, and telecommunications.
At its August meeting, the Outreach Commission approved a $500 donation to World Central Kitchen (WCK) to aid victims. WCK was on the ground in Colombia immediately, handing meals directly to families in the hardest-hit areas, according to a WCK post on Aug. 11. Thanks to parishioners’ pledges and contributions to Christ Church, Outreach can draw upon Vestry-approved funds each year for disaster aid. The donations are in keeping with our mission to help those in need -- locally, nationally, and internationally.
LEMS Block Party - Saturday, August 22
We need help at the LEMS Block Party on Saturday, August 22, so if you can, please meet at church on Saturday at 9:30 to load up the school supplies and transport them to the school. We also need help at the Christ Episcopal Church Block Party Table from 11:00 to 2:00. If you can come for even an hour between 9:30 and 2:00, please let us know! Speak with Cathy Whittaker, Jan Deboissiere, Sara Kirkpatrick, Jenny Cecil, or email us at LEMSPC@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Also, even if you can't come, please give to LEMS so that we can provide even more school supplies and support the teachers. You can write a check with LEMS in the memo line or give online using the drop-down menu labeled LEMS. Please visit the Christ Church website to read all the details.
Somos Amigos Takes Steps to Expand, Holds a Successful July Clinic
Somos Amigos Medical Missions celebrated its future expansion on July 28 at a groundbreaking for a new clinic – a building that will be its first permanent, full-time home. When Founder and Executive Director Frank Brightwell made his annual visit to Christ Church on March 1, he delivered the sermon, thanking the congregation for our long-term support. At Sunday Circle, he described the plan to provide year-round care.
To learn more, view the video, “Opening New Doors,” on the Somos Amigos portion of the church website. Or go to the Somos Amigos Facebook page for details and news of other recent activities.
Somos Amigos held a successful summer clinic in the Dominican Republic from July 11-18, dispensing 2,400 prescription medicines and performing more than 600 lab tests. The level of testing was “well above our usual average,” Somos Amigos posted in its News from the Clinic – Summer, 2026. “This milestone reflects not only the growing demand for our services, but also the efficiency and coordination of our team. Each test represents an opportunity for earlier diagnosis, better treatment decisions, and improved long-term outcomes for our patients.”
The next clinic will be held Oct. 10-17, 2026 in the rural village of Naranjito. To learn what it’s like to participate, ask repeat volunteers Dione and Jim Mahoney or parishioners who have previously volunteered. They include Outreach member Shahra Toth and physicians Ellen Boudreau Hoke and Preethi Jackson. Go here for volunteer information.
Bring Lightweight, Natural-fiber Clothing by Aug. 30 for an Outreach Collection to Help Visually-Impaired People and their Families in Nigeria
Christ Church is supporting a late-summer clothing drive by the Living Above Limitation Charity Foundation (LALCF), which sends lightweight, natural-fiber garments to visually impaired people in Nigeria. Their disabled residents and their families face greater barriers than the general population and may not be able to afford sufficient clothing.
Dr. Liz Trimnell of Laurel, MD, founded the charity to provide Braille classes, vocational training, white canes, and similar aids to the blind. Read about its work on its Facebook page. She made a presentation last spring to the Outreach Commission, which is sponsoring the drive under the direction of Sonni Aribiah. Her planned shipment by ocean freighter is scheduled to arrive in time for Christmas in Calabar, Nigeria, Sonni’s hometown. The visually impaired men and women who rely on LALCF for better lives – and their spouses and children – eagerly anticipate its arrival.
At Christ Church, the deadline is Sunday, August 30, which is the same day as our Parish Festival & Ministry Fair. Look for the marked box in the Narthex. New or gently used clothing should be suitable for wear in a tropical climate and made of cotton, linen, flax, bamboo, and other natural fibers. No synthetics! Please bring the following:
Adult – t-shirts and polo shirts (Sizes S–XL); lightweight pants and jeans (waist sizes 28–42); shorts (S-XL); casual button-down shirts (S-XL); t-shirts (Sizes S-XL or 6-18); casual dresses and skirts (Sizes S–XL); blouses and tops (Sizes S-XL or 6-18).
Children – everyday play clothes for boys and girls; school-appropriate, all sizes; infant and toddler clothes, all sizes.
Please Fill the Altar Basket and Parish Hall Bin with Goods for FISH/CCC
FISH and Columbia Community Care (CCC) partnered last year and merged pantries. CCC continues to hand out food by home delivery to Howard County residents and at three sites on Saturday mornings, except on holiday weekends. For information, go online to Get Help.
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 to provide guidance and financial support because the personal touch is very important when people are in crisis. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong or email 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 financial assistance from FISH. Training is provided. Thank you!
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.
