Christ Church Outreach News: November 26, 2025
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
Gratitude to All Who Donated to Our Thanksgiving Food Drive
Your donations of groceries such as stuffing mix, gravy, and canned goods are making a big difference starting this week. The Howard County Food Bank expects to provide menu items for about 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and 1,000 for Christmas.
Christ Church collected 372 pounds of food during our annual drive for the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), which operates the food bank. On Nov. 21, Outreach Commission volunteers packed the goods for delivery to the Food Bank by Dione and Jim Mahoney (in photos). At the weigh-in, the scale registered nearly 20 pounds greater than last year’s collection. That’s heartwarming!
Earlier in the fall, the Outreach Commission approved additional support for CAC with a donation of $1,000 to purchase proteins for the holiday meals. Funds are derived from parishioner donations to Christ Church. Thank you for your generosity!
Angel Tree Drive is Well Under Way to Brighten Children's Christmas
Christ Church embraces its annual Angel Tree tradition, when a tree goes up in the Narthex and parishioners are invited to bring Christmas joy to a dozen children. The Outreach Commission invites parishioners to purchase new clothing and special items to complete Christmas gift “packages” for angels who range in age from 8 to 13. They were identified by the Howard County (Central Maryland) division of The Salvation Army to address their families’ needs. The nonprofit organization oversees the Angel Tree initiative here and elsewhere.
To participate, please go online to https://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. If you prefer to give of your time, please volunteer for tasks on Dec. 12 such as sorting and bagging items. To volunteer, send an email to outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
In keeping with tradition, you can see the choices by gazing at the decorated Angel Tree in the Narthex. Please leave the tags on the tree. Angels’ names, ages, and wishes are 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 showing the child’s name, ID, and wished-for gift.
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. The entries on the list offer clues to the children’s 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, hopes for roller skates as his favorite item and asks for extra clothing as his needed item. That’s in addition to the outfit (pants and a top) that each child receives.
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.
Breakfast With Santa Will Benefit Grassroots on Two Saturdays in December
You and your little ones are invited to a Breakfast with Santa at Seasons 52 restaurant at the Mall in Columbia on Saturday, Dec. 6 or Saturday, Dec. 13, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The event to benefit Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center will include Miss Julie, the Mall’s Family Fun Day entertainer and student volunteers from local high schools.
Tickets cost $15 per guest, and children 6 months or younger are free. Find information here about the Dec. 6 breakfast, and go here for the Dec. 13 breakfast. Tickets are said to be going fast.
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 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 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.
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 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.
