Christ Church Outreach News: January 8, 2026
- Christ Episcopal Church
- Jan 8
- 5 min read
Help Grassroots by Providing Food for the Homeless on Monday, Jan. 12
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, Jan. 12, 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 Dec. 8 (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.
Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting next Monday, January 12
Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting next Monday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission addresses many areas of need and spans local, national, and international levels.
It's a tough time for many individuals and families, so if you feel called to assist in any way, we can help get you started with a ministry that speaks to you. We hope you'll join us for a brief time next Monday evening. Email us for the Zoom link - outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Christ Church Provides Warm Coats for Kids at St. Luke's Youth Center
On Dec. 6, representatives of Christ Church attended Christmas festivities for St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC) in what has become a holiday tradition. And in a related tradition, we arranged to once again provide warm coats for children who lacked suitable outerwear as winter approached.
On Dec. 8, Outreach Commission member Michon Semon delivered 39 coats for the West Baltimore youth, including one in an infant size. Outreach member Dione Mahoney had volunteered to shop local thrift stores and others added a few gently-used coats for girls and boys. The purchases cost $321, drawn from Vestry-approved Outreach funds that come from your contributions to Christ Church. Thanks to you, SLYC students were all set to return to school after the holiday break.
“The members of Christ Church have truly shown to be a blessing to SLYC,” wrote Program Director Danny Simmons. She, along with Engagement Coordinator Darlene “Grandma” Clark, received the coats. It was Clark who dressed as Mrs. Claus at SLYC’s Christmas Cafe, held at a partner church (see photos).
SLYC is a collaborative of West Baltimore families who together provide youth with critical resources, life-enriching experiences, and a safety-net of support. Many of you may recall hearing from Clark last summer when she visited Christ Church to recruit volunteers and tell us about accomplishments. (To view Clark’s remarks at a worship service, go to Pentecost V: July 13, 2025 on the Christ Church YouTube channel. The SLYC portion of the video is from 1:03:30 to 1:10:06.)
Read about SLYC’s impressive results in a 2024 Impact Report. Christ Church is among many supportive parishes in the diocese. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is a partner, and its reparations task force awarded a grant to SYLC in 2022.
Bring Non-Perishable Foods, Household Supplies and Diapers for CCC/FISH
Columbia Community Care (CCC) has reopened after shutting down operations over the holidays. Distributions are on Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. or while supplies last. The three distribution sites are located at Long Reach Village Center, Suite 107, 8775 Cloudleap Ct., Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., and The Barn at Oakland Mills Village Center, 5853 Robert Oliver Place, all in Columbia, MD. People who require home deliveries should go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website to make a request.
FISH and CCC partnered last year and merged their pantries. 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.
DreamBuilders - Upcoming Save-the-Dates
February 8th, 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.
The LEMS Kindness Pantry Returns in 2026
We have probably all had moments when we have said, or at least thought, that 2025 was a tough year for too many people. And it has been, particularly for those who struggle economically or physically.
Yet when I look back on 2025, I am so amazed by what all of you have done to make life a little better for the students and families of Lake Elkhorn Middle School by providing items for our Kindness Pantry. There are many stomachs that weren't hungry and bodies that weren't cold because you contributed. You packed book bags and brought them to the school to help students start the school year with the supplies they needed. You were God's hands and feet in our community.
In addition, many of you contributed funds that supported events such as Shrek - the school play, the multicultural dinner, the Turkey Trot, and costumes for the science teachers. Some of you became tutors, and lunchroom aides, or attended school events like the amazing one for Black History Month.
Our first request for 2026 is to replenish the Kindness Pantry. The items should be placed in the blue bin in the narthex at New Brick by next Sunday, January 18. Please click this SignUpGenius link and let us know what you can bring. And don't forget to let us know if you would like to become more involved by distributing food at the next PopUp Pantry on January 21, or by becoming a lunchroom aide, or tutor. We would love to have you! Email LEMS@christchurchcolumbia.org
MOCC's Comfort Cases Update
Thanks to everyone who has already contributed to the MOCC's current R.A.K. (Random Act of Kindness), supporting Comfort Cases. 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 designed to provide a bit of comfort for youth as they enter the local foster care system. Every donation aims to provide comfort to those who are experiencing this firsthand.
You can find the donation bin in the Narthex, and in February, you'll be able to meet and speak with the founder of Comfort Cases, Rob Scheer. Rob will share details about Comfort Cases with the congregation during the 10:30 service on Sunday, February 8th. In the meantime, you can read about Rob here.
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.
