Christ Church Outreach News: July 10, 2025
- Christ Episcopal Church
- Jul 10
- 4 min read
Plan to Welcome SLYC on Sunday, July 13, During a Meet-and-Greet Session in The Great Hall of New Brick Between Worship Services
On Sunday, July 13, Christ Church will welcome leaders of St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC), a collaborative of West Baltimore families who together provide youth with life-enriching experiences. Join us downstairs from 9 to 10:15 a.m. to get to know SLYC Engagement Coordinator Darlene Clark and ask questions. Coffee, drinks and pastries will be served.
During the get-together between services, we’ll learn more about the youth center and get an update on SLYC’s campaign to re-envision the historic St. Luke’s Clergy House with the help of a plan by Episcopal Housing Corp.
Each summer, SLYC holds Camp Imagination, a day camp being held at a cooperating parish in Linthicum, MD. To learn about Christ Church’s contribution and to find out how you can volunteer between now and Aug. 1, view the Outreach Blog of June 26, 2025.
We’re invited to St. John Lutheran (& Episcopal) Church, 300 Maple Ave., Linthicum, Md., .to see youth perform in the camp showcase at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 31. For carpool information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting on Monday, July 14
Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. The Zoom link can be sent to you if you need - email us at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org and we'll send it to you.
Log on, join us, and see how you can help make a difference in the world!
Lake Elkhorn Middle School Partnership Update
This has been a year of growth for our partnership with Lake Elkhorn Middle School. For the first time, our parishioners have generously supported the monthly Kindness Pantry by contributing food and household goods, as well as helping with the on-site delivery of items. With each subsequent month this year, the number of families visiting the Pantry has increased, making the need very real. We have also used your financial contributions to support the positive academic and socio-emotional growth of our students.
School is now out for the summer, but it's time to start our annual fundraising campaign to support school supplies for the students at LEMS. Each year, we ask for the congregation's support in providing school supplies and backpacks for at least 125 children. We don’t have a line in the church's annual budget for this, so we rely on and deeply appreciate your direct support. Thank you.
You can give to the LEMS campaign by writing a check to Christ Church with "LEMS" in the memo line, or you can give online at https://onrealm.org/christchurchcolumbia/give/lems. Either way, your gifts are very much appreciated.
Help Grassroots on Monday, July 14, by Providing Food for the Homeless or on Wednesday, July 16, by Dining at a Chik Fil-A in Clarksville, Md.
On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church serves a hot midday meal at the Day Resource Center (DRC) and drops off dinner for about 70 residents of the Grassroots Emergency Shelter. Both are operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. We last participated on June 9th.
A team led by Outreach member Shahra Toth makes side dishes and desserts that we serve in person after car-pooling to the DRC in Jessup. To help on Monday, July 14, 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.
Later, parishioners who cook or shop for the evening meal at Grassroots’ shelter arrive in the Old Brick parking lot between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. Get details in our Grassroots online signup form. Grassroots staff serves the evening meal. It’s efficient to provide for both venues on the same day. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried-chicken entrees. Thank you!
Recently, your generosity helped ease life for our homeless neighbors, who rely on sundries from the DRC pantry. In response to a DRC request, the Outreach Commission at its June meeting approved spending $155 for nine 28-count cases of sports drinks for hydration during hot weather. These were purchased with funds donated to the church by parishioners who give to “General Outreach.” A hearty thanks!
On Wednesday, July 16, you can help Grassroots by participating in “Dine With a Purpose.” Visit the Chick-fil-A at 6395 Ten Oaks Rd., Clarksville, MD, 21029 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., and 20 percent of your transaction will go back to Grassroots. You can show this flier or put your receipt in a collection box at the restaurant. If you wish to use the restaurant’s mobile app for pickup, find instructions in the Events section of the Grassroots website on how to handle the donation.
Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers and Infant Care Items
Columbia Community Care (CCC) collects and distributes essentials to families in need. It operates three distribution sites on Saturday mornings and has resumed making home deliveries to those without transportation. A shopper fulfills their grocery lists at the pantry, and then delivers goods to the recipients’ homes. To volunteer at the sites or as a translator or shopper, go to “Volunteer Opportunities.” Those who need help are urged to go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website.
Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Our point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents.
FISH Asks for Volunteers As Well as Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and Basket
FISH of Howard County is calling for volunteers. If you are interested, ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who is FISH treasurer and a board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents.
Please continue to put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the FISH basket at the altar or in the bin on the breezeway. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their 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.
