Christ Church Outreach News: July 9, 2026
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 36 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting on Monday, July 13
Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, July 13, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. You'll find the link in our This Week on Zoom email on Monday, and we'll see you there!
Help Grassroots by Providing Food for the Homeless on Monday, July 13
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. We last participated on June 8, when volunteers were greeted by former collaborators in providing care and over-the-counter medicines to the homeless (see photos). Dr. Joseph Gagliardi retired in 2023, as described in the Outreach Blog of June 8, 2023.
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, July 13, 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.
Some parishioners prefer to cook or shop for the evening meal at Grassroots’ Emergency Shelter, whose staff serves the residents. Please arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. in the Old Brick parking lot, where a volunteer picks up the food for delivery to Grassroots. Get details in our Grassroots online signup form. It’s efficient to provide for both venues on the same day, in total feeding more than 150 people. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried-chicken entrees. Thank you!
You, too, can pitch in by shopping for the pantry at the DRC and Grassroots’ two other sites. We welcome in-kind donations of items such as hearty soups and fruit cups to be dropped off ahead of time in the Parish Hall kitchen for delivery on second Mondays. Find Grassroots’ current needs list on our signups under “Related Files.”
Christ Church Helps CCC Meet Summertime Demand by Donating $500 to Help Stock Its Shared Pantry with FISH of Howard County
Recently Columbia Community Care (CCC) posted online about a problem of rising demand and falling supply. “It's a difficult time for food banks now, especially smaller ones like CCC's. Every summer, donations of both food/supplies and money drop significantly around this time. People are understandably busy with travel, weddings, retreats, family reunions, etc., but that means that our shelves are empty.”
To help meet the summertime needs of hungry families, the Outreach Commission approved a $500 donation to CCC last month. “Thank you so, so much for your generosity,” responded Pantry Manager April Lee. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from your pledges and contributions to Christ Church. Thank you!
Last year FISH and CCC partnered 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.
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. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong or email andydelong.fish@gmail.com.
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 assist those who could benefit from financial assistance from FISH. Training is provided. Thank you!
Continue to Support the MOCC's Random Act of Kindness
The MOCC's current R.A.K. (Random Act of Kindness) is supporting Comfort Cases, and they continue to need donations. A Comfort Case is a small duffel bag or backpack designed to provide comfort to youth entering the local foster care system - many enter with nothing more than a simple trash bag - an item that provides no comfort or dignity at all.
In today's world, the number of kids entering the foster care system is rising, and so anything that can be done to help provide a level of comfort, compassion, and care for the youngest in our world is welcome. The MOCC is accepting donations throughout the summer, and you can find details and the donation bin in the Narthex. You can also speak with Duane Smith, Ed Chrzanowski, or any MOCC member to get more information about Comfort Cases, or click the link above.
Save the Date: ‘Birdies for Bridges’ Golf Tournament to be Held on Friday, Sept. 25 to Help Bridges to Housing Stability in Preventing Homelessness
It’s not too early to hit the practice greens. Bridges to Housing Stability will hold its annual Sheehy Toyota Birdies for Bridges Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 25, at The Timbers of Troy, 6100 Marshalee Dr., Elkridge, Md. Participants will help Bridges achieve its mission – advocating for affordable housing and helping individuals and families who struggle to keep a roof over their heads.
The tournament begins with a light breakfast, a shotgun start at 9 a.m., and a full day of golf, food, and awards. Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m. The cost for a single golfer is $200, or $800 for a foursome, which covers greens fees, unlimited range balls, food, and beverages.
The event is for a worthy cause. All proceeds from Birdies for Bridges will benefit Bridges and its work to provide a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County.
Christ Church has supported Bridges in various ways since 2019, most recently last fall, when a group of volunteers spent several workdays refurbishing a Columbia townhouse. Known as Guilford House, it is the residence of several returning citizens who have gotten their lives on track after incarceration. Bridges operates this transitional housing in partnership with the Howard County Department of Corrections.
Read about improvements – made indoors and out – by a team led by Vestry and Outreach member George Toth in the Outreach Blog of Dec.18, 2025. “The transformation is night and day!” said Sarah Hicks, Affordable Housing Program Manager at Bridges.
Registration is Open for DreamBuilders' Mission Trip to Puerto Rico on October 18-24, 2026
Hurricane Maria, a category 5 hurricane, struck Puerto Rico in September of 2017 with sustained winds of 155 mph. 53% of all structures on the island suffered major damage. Today, almost 9 years later, many families are still trying to repair their homes. We will be helping one of those survivors, Maria del Carmen Rivera Nieves. You can read about Maria and her project below.
We have worked with the nonprofit Apoyemos/One Hand Foundation of Puerto Rico, led by Kike Garcia, on a previous trip to the island. They will supply the materials needed and supervise our project. Maria's home needs windows, interior doors, ceiling panels, flooring, and more that we can't complete in one week. But we can make a big difference in moving her home closer to completion.
We will be staying at Posada Colonial Apartments in San Juan, where you can walk to an outstanding beach, and it is only 3 blocks from Calle Loiza, a street full of restaurants, cafes, and shops. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cathy Gold (heycathy@verizon.net).
Trip Dates: October 18-24
Missioner Fee: $1100 (covers airfare, lodging, rental cars, and food)
Age Requirement: 18 or older
How Many? Maximum of 8 missioners
Partner Organization in Puerto Rico: Apoyemos/One Hand Foundation of Puerto Rico
If you would like to join the trip, please find instructions and the registration form on their website: dreambuildersmd.org/puerto-rico-trip-october-2026. Registration closes on July 31st.
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.
