Christ Church Outreach News: May 8, 2025
- Christ Episcopal Church
- May 8
- 5 min read
Support Grassroots by Getting Tickets to Trivia Night at Sapwood Cellars on Wednesday, May 14; Help the Homeless with Meals on Monday, May 12
The Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center will hold its first annual Trivia Night on Wednesday, May 14 at Sapwood Cellars, 8980 MD Rt. 108 in Columbia. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Trivia starts at 7 p.m., presented by Cap City Trivia.
Trivia Night is described as “a fundraising event full of questions and prizes.” Tickets that can be purchased online here cost $28.52 for an individual, $108.55 for a team of four, and $161.90 for a team of six. Those under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Each ticket comes with a drink; additional food and drink can be purchased from Sapwood Cellars.
Proceeds will benefit Grassroots’ various operations, which, in addition to helping the homeless, provide 24-hour crisis intervention, including a supportive counseling hotline.
On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church provides a hot midday meal for the homeless at Grassroots’ Day Resource Center (DRC) and drops off dinner for about 70 residents at its Emergency Shelter. We last participated on April 14th.
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, May 12, 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 on Freetown Road in Columbia 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 serve 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 the DRC pantry for sundries and clothing. In response to a DRC request, the Outreach Commission approved spending $297 for 38 pairs of men’s jeans. These were purchased with funds donated to the church by parishioners who give to “General Outreach.” A hearty thanks!
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.
DreamBuilders Spring Fundraiser and 50/50 Raffle - May 28
Come out and support DreamBuilders’ summer mission and projects by gathering for a mid-week happy hour/dinner evening at the Bushel & A Peck Restaurant, 12250 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD. Stop by any time between 4 and 9 p.m. that Wednesday evening, May 28th, and Bushel & A Peck will be giving DreamBuilders a percentage of all sales of food and drink.
We will also have a 50/50 cash raffle that evening, and you can buy raffle tickets at the restaurant or in advance through Cathy Gold (see her at church or email heycathy@verizon.net). You don’t have to be present to win. DreamBuilders merchandise will also be on sale at the restaurant, so if you haven't got your DreamBuilders T-Shirt yet, come on down and get one! Reservations are not needed, but are welcome, especially for large parties.
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 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The locations are Long Reach Village Center, Suite 107, 8775 Cloudleap Ct.; Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd.; and The Barn at Oakland Mills Village Center, 5853 Robert Oliver Place, all in Columbia.
For the time being, CCC has suspended home deliveries to those without transportation until it can meet a backlog. That process requires a shopper to fulfill grocery lists at the pantry and then deliver 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. Find updates on the CCC Facebook page.
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.
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.
