Christ Church Outreach News: October 29, 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!
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. There’s ample free parking 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. A site in Elkridge will house a more efficient food bank and an education center, as described in a Sept. 26, 2025 county release. The project launched with county and state help but CAC must raise the balance.
Somos Amigos Holds its Quarterly Clinic, Expresses Gratitude to Christ Church for Our Donation to Improve Diabetes Care
Somos Amigos Medical Missions held a successful clinic from Oct. 12 -16, welcoming 406 patients in general medicine and 229 dental patients. The laboratory team performed more than 600 tests, helping the medical team better evaluate and care for patients from rural Naranjito and the surrounding communities of the Dominican Republic.
Recently, the Outreach Commission approved a $1,000 donation for diabetes care, building on its past support for an insulin program. Somos Amigos Operations Director Wander Cubilete wrote to Christ Church about some newer diabetes medications that have been revolutionary. “We have been tracking the prices of these medications for some time, and this summer we had a breakthrough. While GLP-1 medications are still beyond our budget, another class of diabetes medication is finally within our reach: DPP-4 inhibitors, such as Januvia.”
He said that thanks to Christ Church, Somos Amigos could make an initial investment in these medications. “We plan to begin with a trial group of 50 patients and will monitor their progress closely as we learn more about how we can incorporate these treatments into the care we provide.”
Founder and Executive Director Frank Brightwell expressed deep gratitude: “We are hopeful — genuinely hopeful — that these medications will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Diabetes is one of the most common and most difficult conditions we manage in our communities, and this gift gives us a real tool to work with.”
Thanks to all who give to Christ Church, helping to bring about such progress. We’ll learn more on Feb. 28, 2027, when Brightwell makes his annual visit to Christ Church. Save the date!
The next clinic will be held Jan 11, 2027, when Dione Mahoney plans to volunteer along with her sister, Desiree, and brother-in-law, Jorge, all repeat volunteers. To learn what it’s like to participate, ask her or other previous volunteers. They include Outreach member Shahra Toth and physicians Ellen Boudreau Hoke and Preethi Jackson. Go here for volunteer information.
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 (pictured above) 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.
