Christ Church Outreach News: August 28, 2025
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Helping the Homeless from Head to Toe, Christ Church Provides a Donation of Socks in Addition to our Monthly Meals at the DRC
Your generosity has begun to ease life for our homeless neighbors who rely on sundries from the Day Resource Center (DRC) pantry, one of the services of the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. When the Christ Church meals team served our latest monthly meal at the DRC, the staff requested a supply of socks for its pantry. Many of the DRC clients live outdoors in a vehicle or in a tent in the vicinity of MD Rt. 1 in Jessup. They spend a lot of time on their feet.
In response, the Outreach Commission approved an order of 120 pairs of men’s crew socks for $140. These were purchased with funds donated to the church by parishioners who give to “General Outreach.” A heartfelt thanks!
Socks aren’t the only special item that Christ Church volunteers recently provided to the DRC. During the Aug. 11 meal, our Grassroots volunteers brought bouquets of fresh flowers grown at Blue Gables Farm and sold at the Oakland Mills Farmers Market. During the July 14 meal, our team took along “blessings” bags containing treats and notes to DRC diners handwritten by children at Vacation Bible School.
If you would like to participate on the next date to serve or deliver meals for the homeless, mark your calendars for Monday, Sept. 8. Check our DRC online signup form, which describes the midday procedure. Check our Grassroots online signup form for details on contributing to the evening meal.
Go Golfing Next Month to Help Bridges to Housing Stability
Golfers can have fun and support a worthy cause on Friday, Sept. 19. Bridges to Housing Stability will hold the fourth annual Sheehy Toyota Birdies for Bridges Golf Tournament at The Timbers of Troy, 6100 Marshalee Dr., Elkridge, Md. Participants will help Bridges achieve its mission – advocating for affordable housing and helping individuals and families who struggle to keep a roof over their heads.
The tournament begins with a light breakfast, a shotgun start at 9 a.m., and a full day of golf, food, and awards. Check-in opens at 7:45 a.m. The cost for a single golfer is $200, or $800 for a foursome, which covers greens fees, unlimited range balls, food and beverages.
By golfing during “Birdies for Bridges,” you’ll help to provide a path to self-sufficiency and further Bridges’ aim to prevent and end homelessness in Howard County.
Christ Church has been a supporter of Bridges in various ways since 2019.
Columbia Community Care Will Close on Labor Day Weekend
Columbia Community Care (CCC) announced it will close its pantry and distribution sites on Saturday, Aug. 30, in observation of the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Its three distribution sites will reopen the following Saturday, Sept. 6, at Long Reach Village Center, Suite 107, 8775 Cloudleap Ct., Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., and at The Barn at Oakland Mills Village Center, 5853 Robert Oliver Place, all in Columbia.
Earlier in the summer, CCC and FISH partnered to provide food services for Howard County residents. The two organizations have merged their pantries. FISH will continue to pick up donated goods from Christ Church and others. CCC will continue making distributions at three sites on Saturday mornings and by home delivery. For information, go online at CCC’s Get Help page. For updates, and other community activities, check the CCC Facebook Group.
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 keep bringing 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. You could be the one to lend a helping hand, by lending an ear!
Consider volunteering from home by giving just one day a month to assist those who could benefit from financial assistance from FISH. Training is provided. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong or email andydelong.fish@gmail.com. Thanks for your support.
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.
