Christ Church Outreach News: November 20, 2025
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 12 hours ago
- 6 min read
Angel Tree Drive Will Brighten Christmas for Howard County Children
In a heartfelt tradition, the Outreach Commission invites parishioners to purchase new clothing and special items to complete Christmas gift “packages” for young angels. We are supporting a dozen children ages 8 to 13 to meet a need identified by the Howard County (Central Maryland) division of The Salvation Army. The nonprofit organization oversees the Angel Tree initiative here and elsewhere.
To participate, please provide one or more gifts for an angel - you can get started by going online to cecevents.org/AngelTree to view the list, make your choices, and find instructions. The deadline to bring unwrapped gifts is noon on Friday, Dec.12. Please put them under the tree or in the Parish Hall Operations Room.
Each child will receive an outfit, consisting of pants and a top. There are three other categories for each angel: Need, Wish, and Favorite item. Some people prefer to sign up for just one slot, such as the practical (need) category for a single child. Some desire to complete the entire “package’ for an angel by signing up in all four categories. Another person may choose the outfit (clothing) category for several angels.
The children’s wants and needs offer clues to their personalities and circumstances. Among the five girls, for example, Aniyah, age 10, wishes for an “animal crochet kit” while Angie, 12, lists a soccer ball as her favorite item. Among the seven boys, Josiah, age 13, lists roller skates as his favorite item and extra clothing as his needed item. That’s in addition to the outfit (pants and a top) that each child receives.
In keeping with tradition, you can also see the choices by gazing at the tags on our decorated Angel Tree in the Narthex. Please leave the tags on the tree. You’ll also find the angels’ names, ages, and wishes on a spreadsheet displayed nearby. For worshippers in Old Brick, we’ll bring the list to you. In either location, please sign up for your angel by using the online form. Our volunteers can give you a slip with the child’s name, ID, and the gift they wish for. Someone will be on hand after worship services this Sunday, Nov. 23, and also on Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 to assist in logging on.
If you wish to participate by giving of your time, please volunteer for log-on assistance duty or general help. The first duty involves helping people to access a device to register on SignUpGenius after Sunday worship services. The second duty involves sorting and potential shopping or other tasks, likely on Dec. 12. To volunteer, specify Log-On or General, or both, in an email to outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
With your help, we will lift the hearts not only of the angels but of their families. Parents obtain the unwrapped gifts from The Salvation Army to prepare for a Christmas that will be much brighter than they could otherwise afford.
An Incredible Yield! - Kudos to All Who Have Donated to Our Thanksgiving Food Drive
The table in the Elevator Room and the bin on the Breezeway were brimming with goods such as stuffing mix, gravy, and canned vegetables. These will brighten the holidays for many of our neighbors, as the Howard County Food Bank expects to provide menu items for about 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and 1,000 for Christmas.
Christ Church partners with the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), which operates the food bank. We also supported CAC with a $1,000 donation for holiday meals. The drive ended last Thursday, November 20th. On Friday, parishioners were all set to deliver the bounty, which includes staples like pasta and peanut butter. Thank you for your generosity!
CCC Holds A Holiday Fundraiser at Reckless Shepherd on Thursday, Dec. 4
Columbia Community Care (CCC) will hold a hip-hop themed holiday party featuring two 90s-era hip-hop legends. You'll enjoy an appearance by DJ Pete Rock and a live performance by Treach of Naughty by Nature on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 6 p.m. to midnight at Reckless Shepherd Brewery, 8895 McGaw Rd., Columbia, MD. General admission is $125 a person to the BonBon Holiday Bash, which is sponsored by the Jonathan Johnson Community Coalition. CCC describes the event on Facebook. Those who buy a ticket support CCC’s youth programs and community efforts and help CCC address food insecurity in Howard County. If you go, please bring a new, unwrapped toy for CCC’s Christmas toy drive.
Baltimore Seafarers' Christmas at Sea
From now through next Sunday, November 23rd, the WOCC encourages you to consider donating items that will help the hard-working members of Baltimore International Seafarers' Center to stay warm and feel appreciated during this holiday season. Whether it's brightly-colored winter hats (no pom-poms), cold-weather gloves (no fringes or tassels), hand-warmers, handmade or store-bought cookies (a HUGE favorite; place the cookies in one-gallon-sized, zipper-lock storage bags), or any of the other items listed at www.BaltSeafarers.org/Christmas, everything helps these hard-working Seafarers have a safer and warmer Christmas.
The Seafarers' Center is a nonprofit organization serving seafarers who call on the Port of Baltimore from all over the world and the port community as a whole. Their mission is to facilitate the well-being of crew members by offering transportation ashore, advocacy for their rights as seafarers and human beings, and hospitality while docked in Baltimore.
Please bring your gifts to Christ Church and drop them off in the Tower Room's Seafarers box, located near the Outreach table, by November 23. The WOCC will then deliver these generous gifts to the Baltimore International Seafarers Center on November 24th. Thank you.
Another LEMS Kindness Pantry Success, Thanks to You
Earlier today, the monthly food distribution at Lake Elkhorn Middle School took place. The Kindness Pantry opens at 3:30, but people started to line up a half hour earlier. In addition to the 66 food boxes from the Roving Radish, another company had donated new sweatshirts and pants. Our own Rosemary Hubbard knitted 10 beautiful woolen hats for the children. In less than 20 minutes, we had over 70 families come through. Fortunately, we had brought the food you all contributed, so we were able to give a bag to each family that didn't get a Roving Radish box.
What, you may be wondering, typically happens to the food and household goods we bring to church? The school has created and made a "Virtual Pantry" available to families. The parents let school staff know what items they need, and the staff use the Christ Episcopal Church contributions to send home bags with the children. Cindy Drummond, the Community School Site Coordinator for LEMS, said that the federal shutdown hit some families particularly hard since both parents work for the government. The school used the items that we and other faith and charitable organizations gave to assist those families during the shutdown. The next pantry will be on December 17, so you'll be hearing from me again soon!
Christ Episcopal Church also bought medals, Gatorade, and snacks for the LEMS Turkey Trot, which is coming up next Monday morning, November 24. I would encourage you to come out to cheer the kids on! They love this event.
Jan DeBoissiere has been helping out at LEMS during lunchtime, and Cathy Whittaker just started tutoring in a math class. More assistance is always welcome, so if you feel called to, or are interested in, being a mentor to kids or a tutor, please let us know, and we'll fill you in on the options.
You've helped families that struggle know their community supports them, so thank you. We wish you a very joyful Thanksgiving.
MOCC's Random Act of Kindness
The MOCC's current R.A.K. (Random Act of Kindness) is supporting Comfort Cases, and they can use your donations and assistance. A Comfort Case is a small duffel bag or backpack designed to provide comfort for youth as they enter the local foster care system.
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 and care for the youngest is welcome. The MOCC is accepting donations from now through January 10th, and you can find details and a donation bin in the Narthex. You can also speak with Duane Smith, Ed Chrzanowski, or any other MOCC member to get more information about Comfort Cases or upcoming MOCC gatherings.
FISH and CCC Have Combined Pantries, and FISH Needs Phone Volunteers
FISH and CCC partnered earlier this year and merged their food pantries. CCC continues its distributions at three sites on Saturday mornings and by home delivery to Howard County residents. For information, go online to Get Help or look for updates on 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”. Bring baby wipes and diapers, especially large sizes. For information, email andydelong.fish@gmail.com. Thanks for your continued 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.
