Christ Church Outreach News: October 22, 2026
Christ Church Supports the Howard County Food Bank & Other CAC Operations; You Can Help as Individuals at a Nov. 10th Fundraiser
The Outreach Commission at its October meeting approved a donation of $500 to the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), to be used for operations in the area of greatest need. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from parishioners’ pledges and contributions. Thank you for helping our neighbors who are struggling. Soon we’ll launch our annual Thanksgiving Drive for CAC’s Howard County Food Bank. Stay tuned!
As an individual, you may wish to support CAC in other ways. Consider participating in a fundraiser, “2026 Evening of Impact,” for a capital campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Savelle, a renovated space formerly known as the Great Room. Ample free parking is available in the Savage Mill complex in nearby Savage, MD. A general admission ticket is $150 for an evening of great food and beverages. Supporters may wish to purchase a sponsorship for a business or donate directly.
It’s for a worthy cause. The CAC is the county’s official anti-poverty, non-profit agency. Its “Cornerstone of Opportunity” capital campaign is intended to address rising demand for food assistance and affordable early childhood education, particularly along the Route One Corridor. CAC and government officials broke ground in Elkridge on a site that will house a more efficient food bank and an education center, as described in a Sept. 26, 2025 county release. CAC received county and state funds to launch the project but must raise the balance.
Christ Church Donates to Christian Jail Ministry to Support Religious Education and Pastoral Care for Detainees and Their Families
You could be among the volunteers at Christian Jail Ministry (CJM), which provides pastoral care to people who might otherwise be ignored. Again this year, the Outreach Commission approved contributing $500 for its work at the Howard County Detention Center (HCDC).
“We would like to thank you for the financial support as well as your prayers,” said Lead Chaplain Kevin Griffith. “We are truly having a tremendous impact in the lives of many men and women in the Howard County community."
He told of heartwarming moments at CJM’s recent banquet as a returning citizen took the podium, “thanking our volunteers for walking alongside him as he re-establishes himself in the community.”
Please pray for the ministry as CJM seeks to meet the spiritual needs of those detained at HCDC. Bible study is one way that CJM reaches them; our donations provide religious materials such as detainees’ worksheets. Volunteers at partner churches grade the worksheets. If you are interested in participating, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Enjoy an Outing at Topgolf, Baltimore on Nov. 6 from 3 to 5 p.m. to Benefit the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center
Pick up a golf club, have fun, and help mariners from around the world whose ships call at the Port of Baltimore on Friday, Nov. 6. The Baltimore International Seafarers' Center (BISC) will hold its annual golf event from 3 to 5 p.m. at Topgolf, Baltimore, 1411 Warner St., Baltimore, Md., 21230. Parking is in the nearby Horseshoe Casino garage.
Go here to see if you or your company would like to become a sponsor or to sign up as an individual player. For $100, a one-player ticket covers general admission, food, water, tea, soda, and one drink ticket.
Topgolf is a sports entertainment complex offering a high-tech golf game that everyone can enjoy. Players can experience the thrill of hitting golf balls at giant targets, with Toptracer technology tracking their drives for real-time feedback and scoring.
The outing is for a good cause. BISC provides spiritual care and hospitality to mariners working far from their homes and loved ones. You can get a feel for the ministry on the donation page of its Support Catalog, which lists services such as a month of Wifi and “snacks for one crew stuck on their ship.”
BISC is a program of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, supported by the Bishop’s Appeal.
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!
A Glorious Day at LEMS!
Today was a glorious day outside and a wonderful day to help with The Roving Radish food distribution at Lake Elkhorn Middle School. Thanks to Beth and Daniel Baker and Sara Kirkpatrick for helping unload 100 protein boxes from the truck! Folks from Christ United Methodist Church also joined us.
Once school let out, families lined up for their boxes, and in under an hour, the food was gone. It's fun to see families come together and help parents carry their boxes home. They simply sign their names and school, and we welcome them with a box.
We also took your nonperishable items to the food pantry closet, where staff will distribute them to the families most in need.
Our next project is putting together health bags with items such as facial tissues, hand sanitizer, and wipes for all the LEMS teachers. We'll do that at Christ Church's First Wednesday Fellowship Friendsgiving on Wednesday, November 4, so please come help us share our friendship with LEMS!
Your generosity is making many local families feel loved!
Jenny Cecil, Jan DeBoissiere, Sara Kirkpatrick, Cathy Whittaker - LEMS Committee
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.
