Christ Church Outreach News: November 6, 2025
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Christ Church Sends Aid to Victims of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean
Last week, Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica as a deadly Category 5 storm, which an official in an NBC News report described as the most intense to hit Jamaica since record-keeping began. Melissa also caused destruction or loss of lives in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. In response, Outreach Commission members voted to contribute $500 to UNICEF, which said in an online post on Oct. 31 that it had resources in place to swiftly help displaced families. UNICEF estimated Melissa had impacted the lives of more than 700,000 children in the Caribbean. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from your pledges and contributions. Thank you!
Christ Church Offers Two Ways to Help Howard County Face a Hunger Crisis
A growing number of our neighbors can’t afford to buy groceries due to the government shutdown and an interruption in food-stamp benefits known as SNAP. The Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), which operates the Howard County Food Bank, has extended hours and urged community support.
One way to help is by participating in the Fall Food Drive that Christ Church will hold this Saturday, Nov. 8, from 1 to 5 p.m., at Dorsey’s Search Giant supermarket, 4715 Dorsey Hall Drive, Ellicott City, Md. The supermarket limits the size of the group, and many of you have signed up for a one-hour shift. If you are interested, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org to learn if a slot is available. Groceries collected from shoppers will go to the Food Bank and its gluten-free partner, SAFE.
A heart-warming way to help while at church is to contribute items to our annual Thanksgiving collection of non-perishables. Given that providers expect many more people will require help beyond the holiday, please bring in more than the traditional thanksgiving sides such as boxed stuffing, cranberry sauce, and canned vegetables. Feel free to put these along with items like tuna, peanut butter, pasta, soup and cereal in the marked boxes in New Brick. The collection for the food bank runs through Thursday, Nov. 20.
Deadline Extended for Items Going to Baltimore International Seafarers Center
The Women of Christ Church (WOCC) will give parishioners more time to shop for the Baltimore International Seafarers Center, and has narrowed its wish list. The deadline is Thursday, Nov. 20, and the items are: warm hats and scarves (no fringe or woolen balls), warm gloves, and hand-warming packets. Place these in the designated bin in the Tower Room to brighten the holidays for mariners who are so far from home.
The Center is a ministry to ships that come into Baltimore Harbor and is supported by the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland in its annual Bishop’s Appeal. If you have questions, please speak with Carolann Sawyer or Cindy Read.
Invitation: Attend an Outreach Meeting and Help Grassroots on Monday, Nov. 10
On the second Monday of each month, the Outreach Commission holds a remote meeting on Zoom at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. Please join in to learn many ways to help others. Email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org for the Zoom link. Earlier in the day, the experience is hands-on as the meals team feeds the hungry at two sites operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center.
At midday, a group led by Outreach member Shahra Toth makes side dishes and desserts that our volunteers serve in person after car-pooling to Grassroots’ Day Resource Center (DRC) in Jessup. To help on Monday, November 10, please refer to our DRC online signup form for details. Meet-up and drop-off time is 12:45 p.m. in the parking lot near Old Brick. We last participated on Oct. 13 (see photos).
Parishioners who cook or shop for the evening meal arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot near Old Brick, where a volunteer picks up the food for delivery to Grassroots’ Emergency Shelter. Its staff handles serving that meal to shelter residents, who include numerous children. Get details in our Grassroots online signup form. It’s efficient to provide for both venues on the same day, in total, feeding about 150 people. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds cover the cost of the fried-chicken entrees. Thank you!
Kindness is Needed, Now More than Ever
Dear friends, it is time to shop for those of our LEMS neighbors who need food and household items to get them through this tough time. We are all painfully aware of how many families in our area have lost jobs or are working without pay, and although we have just been informed that some SNAP benefits may be renewed, we don't yet know when this will occur or whether the full payment will be restored.
The staff at LEMS has requested specific goods, so please visit CECevents.org/LEMS-Kindness and sign up for one or more items:
Boxes of cereal
Bags or boxes of white rice
Cans of stew, chili, or soup
Toothpaste
Paper Towels
Reusable shopping bags
All donations must be brought to the narthex of New Brick by next Sunday, November 16, and placed in the blue bin. If you have any questions, please contact us at LEMS@ChristChurchColumbia.org. Thanks for being God's Light to the World!
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 Columbia Community Care (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”. Please keep bringing baby wipes and diapers, especially large sizes.
FISH will continue to provide guidance and financial support by telephone because the personal touch is very important in times of crisis. Consider volunteering from home by dedicating just one day a month to assist those who could benefit from FISH's financial assistance. Training is provided. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong or email andydelong.fish@gmail.com. Thanks for your 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.
