Christ Church Outreach News: July 13, 2023

Counting Down: On Sunday, July 23, Enjoy a Coffee Hour (In-Person or Online) While Zoom Takes Us to Uganda with Friends of Sabina

Several parishioners have formed heartwarming ties with students in Uganda. Plan to learn more about their connections – or make some of your own – during a coffee hour after the second worship service on Sunday, July 23. Everyone is invited to join our annual Zoom session with leaders of the nonprofit, Friends of Sabina (FOS).

You’ll hear why opportunities are greater for the 369 students at Sabina Boarding Primary School, which Christ Church has long supported. That number includes 34 newly-enrolled pupils as of the start of the most recent school term in May. FOS leaders Maria White and Ann Marie Davis will give an update and participate in a question-and-answer session.

Because Ann Marie will be on-site in Saanje, Uganda, it’s possible Sabina students will be able to take part in the informative show-and-tell. Maria will join remotely from the United States.

Don’t miss the virtual trip – or the homemade baked goods – that you can enjoy downstairs in the Great Hall of New Brick after the conclusion of the 10:30 Worship Service. Outreach members will offer coffee, tea, beverages, and snacks during an approximately 30-minute actual coffee hour for parishioners and any others whom you wish to invite to the presentation. At noon, we'll gather at the projector and laptop and Zoom to Uganda. Or people can log on from a device remotely.

The session will run from noon until 1:30 p.m., which allows time for a Q&A with parishioners who began sponsoring individual students at Sabina in 2020. You’ll find a photo collage of seven of the nine children, pictured at that point in time, on the FOS page of the Christ Church website.

Currently, FOS is seeking sponsors for two more students. If that appeals to you, there’s no need to wait until the Zoom session to express interest. For information, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.

The youngsters come from families who otherwise cannot afford their schooling, and sponsors commit to fund an annual scholarship and to keep in touch. One aim is to form relationships, like family across the miles. FOS helps accomplish that goal through its newsletters and by encouraging an exchange of letters and occasional video calls.

In its April newsletter, FOS described new extracurricular offerings such as debating and Club GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). “The members of Club GLOW are empowered to make good decisions and achieve their goals by sharing ideas and providing life skills. Thanks to the support of the club’s leaders, the female staff, teachers, and volunteers, Club GLOW is creating a brighter future for girls at Sabina and in the community.”

A scholarship student put it even more personally in a letter to her Christ Church sponsor that concludes with Club GLOW: “It is a special thing for us girls. In the future, I want to become an accountant or an engineer as I think these jobs are good. I want to be an empowered woman in the future, and I think even in your country there are clubs like ours….May God bless you.”

Christ Church became a supporter of Sabina Primary School more than a decade ago when parishioners helped establish a library. Since then several have traveled there, including the Alperns, the Hokes, and the Aribiahs. In fact, the Aribiah household’s ties go back to Teddy’s childhood. Through the Outreach Commission, the church continues to help fund the library, which also serves as a resource center for nearby residents.

CCC Seeks Volunteers as Translators and Sorters for Its Pantry Deliveries, Continues to Request Diapers, Personal Care Items

Please support Columbia Community Care (CCC) by giving essentials and with your time and talent. You’ll find updates posted in the CCC Facebook Group or on the “I Can Help” portion of its website. For example, the group recently reminded everyone of its continuing need for baby supplies, especially wipes and large-size diapers (4,5, and 6), and pull-ups (3T-4T, 4T-5T).

Please keep collecting these baby supplies in addition to sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Put any of these in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. The Christ Church point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bins and delivers their contents.

Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway

Organizers for FISH of Howard County are continuing to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill its shopping lists. You can put items in a basket that has been returned to the altar. Or drop them in the yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Thanks for your contributions to our neighbors in need.

Lake Elkhorn Middle School Supplies

Our parish enjoys an ongoing partnership with Lake Elkhorn Middle School (LEMS). Just over a mile away, LEMS is truly our neighboring school, and at Christ Episcopal Church we believe we should love our neighbors. We established this partnership because many LEMS families are financially stressed.

One measure of whether a student lives in a family that is financially challenged is if they meet the federal guidelines for free and reduced meals (FARMS). In Howard County overall, about 14% of students qualify for free and reduced meals. However, at LEMS over 48.5% of LEMS students qualify for FARMS, the highest percentage amongst the middle schools in the county.

To help alleviate the financial hardship of parents having to buy school-required supplies (at a cost of $50 per child), Christ Church will once again provide school supplies for 125 children for the 2023-2024 school year. We are requesting your generous financial support now to reach this important goal. Please join us to pack the supplies in the Parish Hall on Wednesday, August 16 at 9:00 am. The school will distribute the supplies the week of Aug 21st, so we also will need your help delivering the supplies that week. Strong arms and larger vehicles are helpful.

Contributions can be made via check, online, or via text. If you’d like to write a check, please make sure you indicate “LEMS School Supplies” on the memo line. If you’d like to give online, please also write "School Supplies" in the Memo line. If you have questions about our LEMS partnership or would like to help, please contact Cathy Whittaker (catharinewhittaker@gmail.com) or Mary Vail (mevail@verizon.net). Thank you 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.