Christ Church Outreach News: November 5, 2026
Please Pitch In! Bring Holiday Sides and Year-Round Staples by Thursday, Nov. 19, for our Thanksgiving Drive for the Howard County Food Bank
You can make Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays special for those who depend on the Howard County Food Bank to feed their families. The staff of the food bank provides the makings of festive meals for 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and another 1,000 by Christmas.
Christ Church contributes to this effort by collecting non-perishables prior to Thanksgiving and by sending funds to CAC. The Outreach Commission approved a donation of $1,000, which goes in part to broaden options beyond a whole turkey. Some people prefer a hen, turkey breast, or plant-based proteins.
It’s up to you to complete the menu! Bring stuffing mix, gravy, cranberry sauce, olives, pickles, and canned fruits and vegetables. Because household pantries may be bare, please add staples such as bags of rice, tuna, hearty soups, pasta and sauce, peanut butter, and spices. Put items in the marked boxes upstairs in New Brick or on the Parish Hall breezeway in a bin labeled “Thanksgiving Food Drive". NOTE: No produce, pies, other desserts or rolls due to perishability. Deadline: Thursday, Nov. 19.
The monetary donation went to the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), which operates the Howard County Food Bank. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from parishioners’ pledges and contributions. Thank you!
Help Feed the Homeless on Monday, Nov. 9 as Our Meal Team Continues to Provide Meals at Two Grassroots’ Venues
On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church serves a hot midday meal at the Day Resource Center (DRC) in Jessup and supplies the menu for an evening meal at the emergency shelter in Columbia. Both are operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. We last participated on Oct. 12.
A team led by Outreach member Shahra Toth serves the midday meal in person. Please check our DRC online signup form, which describes the procedure. To help on Monday, Nov. 9, bring side dishes or items for the DRC pantry to the Parish Hall kitchen no later than 12:45 p.m. A group of servers will carpool to the Leola Dorsey Center, departing the Old Brick parking lot at 1 p.m.
To bring food for the shelter’s evening meal, check our Grassroots online signup form. Side dishes should be marked and placed in the Parish Hall kitchen by 12:45 p.m. or handed directly to the carpool. 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!
Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting on Monday, Nov. 9
Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. The Zoom link is here, Meeting ID is 892 6873 6183, and Passcode is Outreach! It isn't a long meeting, and the difference you could make in someone's life is immeasurable, so why not stop by? See you on Zoom!
It's Christmas at Sea for the Seafarers, and You Can Help
Please join us in supporting the International Seafarers' Center's annual Christmas at Sea program by donating items through November 8. WOCC representatives will deliver all collected goods in mid-November, and we will announce the exact delivery date once it is confirmed.
Donation bins marked "Seafarers" are ready to receive your contributions. The Center is especially in need of the following items:
Warm Clothing: Watch caps (warm hats) and scarves without fringe or other trim.
Comfort & Care: Hand warmers and cookies (homemade if close to the delivery date, or store-bought otherwise).
Souvenirs & Reading Materials: Flat Baltimore souvenirs like postcards, magnets, or stickers, along with 2027 calendars and magazines such as Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, and Smithsonian.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Carolann Sawyer or Cindy Read. And thank you for your generosity!
Please Fill the Altar Basket and Parish Hall Bin with Goods for FISH/CCC
Since 1976, FISH, an all-volunteer organization has aided tens of thousands of Howard County residents facing hard times. Delivery of food, staples and hygiene supplies are handled by Columbia Community Care (CCC), which merged pantries with FISH last year. CCC delivers food to Howard County residents and distributes it at three sites on Saturday mornings, except on holiday weekends. For information, go online to Get Help.
FISH picks up donated goods from Christ Church and others. Please put non-perishable food and personal care products in the altar baskets 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 support because the personal touch matters when people are in crisis. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong or email andydelong.fish@gmail.com. You could 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!
Your Help is Needed to Provide Support for Comfort Cases, a Long-Standing Outreach Group for the MOCC - November 19
The Men of Christ Church needs volunteers to help pack bags in support of Comfort Cases. If you are interested in helping out, please speak with Duane Smith at church or email MOCC@christchurchcolumbia.org. You can also find flyers around the campus with more information.
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.
