Christ Church Outreach News: May 1, 2025
- Christ Episcopal Church
- May 1
- 5 min read
Updated: May 2
Buy Your DreamBuilders Chocolate, Tea, or Coffee for Mother’s Day
We will be selling DreamBuilders goods after all three worship services this Sunday, May 4. All proceeds will go to help fund the upcoming DreamBuilders disaster recovery mission in Kentucky. The chocolates, hot cocoa mix, coffee, and tea are incredibly tasty and are here just in time for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11.
Christ Church is one of five interfaith partners in DreamBuilders, which offers multi-generational experiences to the congregations’ youth groups and adults. The trip to Hazard, Ky., on June 15-21 will be the third blitz build in this area of flood-damaged Appalachia. Last summer, the team included Christ Church Director of Youth & Family Ministries Kiona Lookingbill, as well as parishioners Jasmine and Alex Opiri, and you can view their photos here.
Somos Amigos Holds a Productive April Clinic in the Dominican Republic and Gets Funds for Referrals
Christ Church has continued its support of Somos Amigos Medical Missions, which welcomed 32 new patients to its quarterly clinic in the Dominican Republic. Somos Amigos Executive Director and CEO Frank Brightwell said, “We had another amazing week at the clinic, thanks to our dedicated volunteers and Dominican partners.”
Although the team of providers was slightly smaller than January’s team, the clinic saw more patients. The physicians treated 422 patients, including 72 children; dentists treated 198, including 24 children. The clinic dispensed 2,345 prescriptions and performed 401 lab tests. Some people were found to have conditions that require specialized care, and Somos Amigos will refer them to appointments in the city for mammograms, colonoscopies, cataract removal, and other necessary care.
The Outreach Commission at its April meeting voted to donate $500 to Somos Amigos for referrals. These are Vestry-approved Outreach budget funds derived from parishioners’ donations to Christ Church. Separately, parishioners contributed $200 to Somos Amigos through Christ Church, bringing the total amount to $700. Thank you!
Parishioners responded after Brightwell made his annual visit to Christ Church on March 9th, when he delivered the sermon and conducted the Sunday Circle that day. (You can view his sermon during the 10:30 service at this link on YouTube.) He updated the congregation on patients whom we have helped, including Emilio, a young man who is thriving as a result of custom-fitted hearing aids that allow him to support his family.
“Thank you for all of the years of support and partnership that you, as a community and many of you as individuals, have offered to Somos Amigos. You’ve touched a lot of lives. You’ve helped Somos Amigos heal in incredible ways,” said Brightwell. He also thanked volunteers from Christ Church who travel to participate in the clinics.
Residents of the rural, mountainous area otherwise have little access to healthcare. Somos Amigos has been providing medical and dental services in Naranjito for nearly three decades now. “As we continue to mature as an organization and as we lay the foundation for our growth, we have worked hard to become more efficient and at the same time, sensitive to the needs and experiences of our patients and our healthcare providers. We have created an infrastructure with local workers so that our volunteer healthcare providers can focus on seeing patients,” Brightwell said.
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, please ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who serves as 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 (see photo). The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support.
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, visit the “Volunteer Opportunities” section. Those who need help are encouraged to see the “Get Help” section 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.
Oakland Mills Middle School Academic Fundraiser
OMMS celebrates students who have worked hard during the 2024-2025 school year. Those who earned all A’s for the year are treated to a trip to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game at Camden Yards. This year, the MOCC's spring "Random Act of Kindness" is spearheading a fund-collecting drive to help sponsor this event, and you are invited to contribute to this worthy cause.
You can donate through the MOCC fund in Realm (write "RAK Orioles" in the MEMO line) or write a check to Christ Church (write "RAK Orioles" in the memo line). Either way, we appreciate your generous support!
Help a Christ Church Youth with Her Girl Scout Project
Christ Church youth parishioner Ainsley Couch is working to complete her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, by prioritizing the mental health of teachers at one of Howard County's oldest middle schools, Harper's Choice Middle School. This school is highly impacted by poverty (over 55% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches), and she is working to transform the staff lounge into a relaxing area where staff can unwind during their free time.
She is accepting donations from this Amazon list and taking monetary donations to furnish the room. If you would like to donate in other ways, please don't hesitate to contact her mom at info@christchurchcolumbia.org, who can provide digital options for donation. Thank you for being so considerate as she works to finish this as soon as possible, and ensure that she earns the highest rank Girl Scouts can earn.
LEMS' Final Kindness Pantry of the School Year
Many of you have contributed to the Lake Elkhorn Middle School Kindness Pantry over the past year. Your hearts are truly overflowing with God's love for this school community, and you have made the lives of many LEMS families lighter because of your support. Thank you so very much!
Monday, May 12, is the last Kindness Pantry for this school year. Please use this link to let us know what items you can bring, and place your contributions in the blue container in the narthex of New Brick by next Sunday, May 11, at the latest.
But our work is not done! Soon, we will be contacting everyone at Christ Episcopal Church about providing school supplies for the 2025-2026 school year. Look for more on that initiative, coming in June.
DreamBuilers Spring Fundraiser - May 28
Save the date - Wednesday, May 28th - for DreamBuilders' Spring Fundraiser at Bushel and A Peck Restaurant. We'll enjoy an evening of dining, refreshments, and fellowship supporting DreamBuilders! A portion of the proceeds from your meals and drinks will go directly toward funding the materials for DreamBuilders to build three homes in Hazard, Kentucky, this summer. More details to come!
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.
