Christ Church Outreach News: May 7, 2026
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Counting Down to the Spring Food Drive on Saturday, May 16, 10 AM to 2 PM, with a Streamlined Plan For Volunteers at River Hill Giant in Clarksville
You can be a part of one of the most rewarding ways to help feed the hungry. Please sign up for a shift during the Spring Food Drive on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at River Hill Giant Food, 6050 Daybreak Circle, Clarksville, Md., 21029. It’s a hands-on, family-friendly activity that occurs twice a year to help two food pantries.
Please volunteer for a one-hour shift. You’ll find a signup sheet in the Narthex or in Old Brick. For information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Once again, Christ Church is adapting to corporate rules that limit the number of volunteers on the supermarket premises. In response to a request from the management of Giant Foods, we must streamline how we conduct our traditional drive. We are limited at any one time to four people, of whom two will interact with Giant customers, one will pack and one will sort and help overall. Others who do not have a shift are encouraged to participate by planning their own shopping trip at River Hill Giant during the drive. With the shopping list in hand, you can buy some of the pantry's requested items.
Groceries collected at the supermarket go to the Howard County Food Bank, which is operated by the Community Action Council of Howard County, and to SAFE, its partner pantry that provides free gluten-free and allergy-safe foods to low-income families and individuals.
At our Fall Food Drive held at a Giant supermarket in Dorsey’s Search, we collected 1,776 pounds for the food bank and 307 pounds for SAFE (see photos). That combined total of 2,083 pounds amounts to more than a ton of food and staples!
During the drives, the experience provides hands-on service not only to our volunteers but also to shoppers we approach with a list of requested items. Most importantly, access to food and necessities is a lifeline for people struggling to make ends meet in Howard County.
Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting on Monday, May 11
Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. Look for Church notices about online activities. See you on Zoom!
Help Grassroots by Providing Food for the Homeless on Monday, May 11
On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church serves a hot midday meal at the Day Resource Center (DRC), operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. We last participated on April 13.
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, May 11, 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.
Another way to help our hungry neighbors is to shop for the pantry at the DRC and Grassroots’ two other sites. We welcome in-kind donations of items such as canned meats and hearty soups, peanut butter, and fruit cups to be dropped off that day or ahead of time in the Parish Hall kitchen for delivery on the second Mondays. Find Grassroots’ monthly needs list on our signups under “Related Files.”
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 will pick 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!
Mark Your Calendars! DreamBuilders Fundraiser at Bushel and a Peck - May 13
DreamBuilders will host their Spring fundraising event at Bushel and a Peck - 12250 Clarksville Pike in Clarkesville. It takes place on Wednesday, May 13th and you can reserve your seats for happy hour and dinner on their website. Then, join us from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. that evening as we help raise funds to build three homes in Hazard, Kentucky. When you make your reservation, please put a note that you are there for the DB event. You can also call B&aP at 410.531.1809 to reserve space.
Bring Items for FISH/CCC, and Consider Volunteering to Take Calls from Home
FISH and Columbia Community Care (CCC) partnered last year and merged 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 online. For updates on community services such as youth programs, check CCC’s Facebook page.
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 (seen in this photo) or email him at 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!
SAVE THE DATE! June 7 is the Next Annual Matzohball 5K Run
Join in the 22nd Annual Matzohball Run, organized by DreamBuilders member congregation Temple Isaiah on Sunday, June 7th, starting at 8:00 a.m. at Western Regional Park in Woodbine.
The proceeds benefit DreamBuilders, Grassroots, HopeWorks, and others to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable communities in need of support. Christ Church supports all of these organizations, so your help directly assists these groups.
If you would like more information, please speak with Cathy Gold at church.
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.
