Christ Church Outreach News: February 5, 2026
- Christ Episcopal Church
- Feb 5
- 5 min read
Meet the Founder of Comfort Cases - the MOCC'S Random Act of Kindness - at Christ Church this Sunday
No doubt you've seen the display in the narthex of the MOCC's ongoing R.A.K. (Random Act of Kindness) in support of Comfort Cases. In February, you'll be able to meet and speak with Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer. Rob will share details about Comfort Cases with our congregation during the 10:30 service this Sunday, February 8th.
In the meantime, we invite you to learn about Rob's powerful story and learn how we can make an impact here in Howard County. In our country today, the number of kids entering the foster care system is steadily rising, and that's where Comfort Cases come in - they're a small duffel bag or backpack filled with items designed to provide a bit of comfort for youth as they enter their local foster care system. Every donation aims to provide comfort to those who are experiencing this firsthand.
Help Grassroots by Providing Food for the Homeless on Monday, Feb. 9
On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church serves a hot midday meal at the Day Resource Center (DRC) that is operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. A team led by Outreach member Shahra Toth makes side dishes and desserts that we serve in person after car-pooling to the Leola Dorsey Center in Jessup.
To help on Monday, Feb. 9, please check our DRC online signup form, which describes the procedure. Drop-off time is 12:45 p.m. in the parking lot near Old Brick for DRC’s side dishes. We last participated on Jan. 12 (see photos). Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried-chicken entree. Thank you!
During the winter months, Christ Church has paused our previous delivery of an evening meal at the Grassroots Emergency Shelter. Other congregations involved in the Code Blue and Cold Weather Shelter programs are handling those duties instead. Mark your calendars: Our next date for an evening meal drop-off and delivery of dishes will be Monday, April 13. If you want to plan ahead, go to our Grassroots online signup form.
Take Advantage of a Last Chance Before Valentine’s Day to Buy DreamBuilders Goods, and a First Chance to Buy Raffle Tickets for a New iPhone
Look for fair-trade coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolates being sold to benefit DreamBuilders just in time to please your Valentine, or your own sweet tooth. The goods will be available after all three worship services on Sunday, Feb. 8. You’ll also have the chance to win an iPhone 17Pro worth nearly $1,200. Buy one raffle ticket for $20 or three for $50. No more than 200 tickets will be sold. You do not need to 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 most recently traveled to Kentucky for the third year in a row to build homes after devastating floods.
Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting this Monday, Feb. 9
Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope.
LEMS Kindness Pantry for February
As you know, schools in Howard County were closed last week. That means children were home for all their meals (i.e., the school couldn't provide their breakfasts or lunches and they couldn't send food home Kindness Pantry items to families who needed them). So it is even more important that we get supplies to them this month.
The next Pop-Up Pantry for LEMS is Wednesday, February 18, so we need food and household items by Sunday, February 15. You can bring in your items whenever convenient for you and place them in the blue bins in the back of the narthex in New Brick.
I am out of town this month, so 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.
DreamBuilders Save-the-Dates
This Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Isaiah - DreamBuilders General Meeting · Come hear about our plans for the year, and how you can get involved. We’ll have descriptions of upcoming trips and local projects, too. There will be lots of pictures of projects past and lots of people who can answer any questions.
March 14th, 5 - 8 p.m. at Temple Isaiah - DreamBuilders Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction · 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.
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.
Come to Bridges to Housing Stability's Heroes for Housing - February 16
B2HS invites the Christ Church community to attend Heroes for Housing, a cocktail-style fundraiser supporting housing stability in Howard County. We will be meeting friends, both new and long-time, and celebrating our community members who are deeply committed to ending homelessness.
Gather with us on Monday, February 16, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at 18th & 21st: 10980 Grantchester Way, #110, Columbia, MD 21044. More information can be found at bit.ly/h4h2026.
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.
