Christ Church Outreach News: February 12, 2026
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Get Your Tickets to the ‘More Than Hope’ Concert on Sunday, Feb. 23
The fourth annual “More than Hope” event in support of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way in Columbia. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased here. The Interfaith Refugee Ministry, led by Christ Church, encourages attendance.
The multicultural concert, presented by Leslie Ebert and Jay Green, features dance, music, and a celebration of how immigrants enrich our society. The speaker will be from the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, formerly CAIR Coalition. All proceeds will be shared by Amica and Comité Latino de Baltimore, a Baltimore-based nonprofit whose work is described on its Facebook page.
Help DreamBuilders By Taking a Chance on an iPhone Raffle or Buying Coffee, Tea, and Chocolates On Sale at Our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Look for fair-trade coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolates being sold to benefit DreamBuilders. The goods will be available at the entrance to the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. You’ll also have the chance to win an iPhone 17 Pro worth nearly $1,200. Buy one raffle ticket for $20 or three for $50. No more than 200 tickets will be sold. You need not be present at the March 14 drawing to win. It’s all for a good cause so teams can prepare to rebuild after disasters. The group plans to travel once more to Hazard, Ky., from June 21-27 to build homes after devastating floods.
As mentioned, March 14 is the day to come enjoy a spaghetti dinner and bid on a wide and wonderful variety of items and activities, all in support of DreamBuilders. This is our largest fundraising event of the year. Proceeds help make our building projects possible. We will need lots of help to make this event a success, and we will be looking for donations for the auction, too.
Community Action Council Gets Funds to Help Families in Need
In response to community needs, the Outreach Commission at its February meeting approved a donation of $1,000 to the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC). These are Vestry-approved funds derived from parishioners’ pledges and contributions. Thank you for helping others when they need it most.
The CAC is the county’s official anti-poverty, non-profit agency, offering several essential programs for residents in need. The most recent aid will go toward housing assistance to help households keep a roof overhead. Other programs include the Howard County Food Bank, energy assistance and weatherization, and early childhood education.
CAC posted a snapshot of its impact in Fiscal Year 2025: 309 students educated, 202 families saved from homelessness, 1,021,154 meals distributed, 2,372 families kept their lights on, and 651 homes made more energy efficient. With your help, that work continues.
CAC President Tracy Broccolino expressed her gratitude to Christ Church for its donations in 2025. “Thank you for your community partnership,” she wrote in a letter dated Jan. 30, 2026. “Your support is invaluable to us.”
LEMS Kindness Pantry UPDATE
Thanks to all of you who have faithfully signed up for items on the Kindness Pantry list! It's a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day for our community.
We have a few more things that are still needed: 4 jars of pasta, 2 small bottles of dish soap, 2 boxes of kitchen-sized trash bags, and, as always, coats and hats. Please put your items in the blue bin in the narthex of New Brick by this Sunday, February 15.
If any of you want to help with the food distribution, please let Cindy, Jan, or Sara know you can come. We typically arrive around 2:30 for setup, and the Pop-Up Pantry runs from 3:30 to 4:30. Here is the link to the SignUpGenius form. Thank you - we deeply appreciate your generosity and compassion.
Please Bring Diapers, Non-Perishables for CCC/FISH, And Consider Volunteering from Home to Take Phone Calls From Neighbors in Need
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 by home delivery to Howard County residents. For information, visit Get Help online.
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. 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 assisting those who could benefit from financial assistance from FISH. Training is provided. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong or email him at andydelong.fish@gmail.com. Thank you always for your support.
Kenya Connect 5k Run - March 28
Kenya Connect, an outreach partner of St. John's in Ellicott City, is holding its 12th annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 28th, at St. John's. The 5K builds community while supporting the work of Kenya Connect to provide children with options and new pathways in rural Kenya.
We welcome individual participants or a team from Christ Church. We will have post-race goodies, including a Kenyan crafts market with items made by women and men in our village. We also provide hand-carved medallions from Wamunyu to the top three women and men in all age categories.
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.
