Christ Church Outreach News: September 17, 2026
Friends of Sabina Seeks a 2027 Sponsor to Help 15-year-old Geofrey Achieve His Aspirations of One Day Becoming a Doctor
Leaders of the nonprofit, Friends of Sabina (FOS), are seeking a new sponsor for 15-year-old Geofrey, who has nine siblings. His father is deceased and his mother earns a small income making mats and working on farms.
“Geofrey (right) is a bright, hardworking, and ambitious boy who performs well in class,” according to FOS, which began shepherding him as a student at Sabina Boarding Primary School in Sanje, Uganda, and follows his progress in secondary school. Geofrey’s favorite subject is Biology and favorite hobby is football (soccer).
A sponsor would commit to fund an annual scholarship, beginning on Jan. 1, 2027, which for a secondary-level student such as Geofrey, $1,150 a year. The fee is tax-deductible. Co-sponsors are welcome, at a cost of $575 each.
Either way, one goal is to form relationships, like family across the miles. FOS strengthens that bond through an exchange of letters and occasional video calls. And once a year, Christ Church enables parishioners to chat with their sponsored students during a hybrid meetup that resembles a heartwarming family reunion on Zoom.
On Sunday, Aug. 9, nearly a dozen parishioners attended in person or virtually to hear about progress at the primary school and interact with sponsored students. A few teens connected from their Ugandan secondary schools. One highlight involved Sandra, an older student who discussed her experiences during a teaching internship with preschoolers at Sabina.
View a video recording of the 2026 FOS session above. Go to 0:8:38 minutes to see preschoolers showing off their skills. Go to 1:04:10 for comments by FOS Sponsorship Coordinator Deborah Nakiduuli followed by parishioner interactions, beginning at 1:11:35 with Sandra and her sponsor, Paula Rees.
The back-and-forth concludes at 1:40:45, with comments by FOS co-director Ann Marie Davis, who joined virtually from London. “It’s so beautiful to see the relationships, wherever we are in the world, come together….We’re very excited about the development of the school, and we just want to have our doors open, be as open and transparent to all of you because we are blessed by all of your friendships, love and prayers. We’re just so grateful.”
Christ Church has supported Sabina for nearly two decades; read about the most recent donation in the Outreach Blog of Aug. 6, 2026. The Outreach Commission began facilitating sponsorships in 2020, as described on the FOS page of the Christ Church website. For information about becoming a sponsor, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Christ Church Sends Funds to FISH to Help Neighbors in Need
At the Sept. 14 Outreach Commission meeting, we approved a $300 donation to FISH. Since 1976, the all-volunteer organization has aided tens of thousands of Howard County residents by offering emergency services. These include limited financial aid for eviction and utility turnoffs, rent, fuel oil, medicine, water, and more. Your contributions to Christ Church for Vestry-approved funds make these donations possible. On behalf of our needy neighbors, please accept heartfelt thanks!
Please Fill the Altar Basket and Parish Hall Bin with Goods for FISH/CCC
It’s been more than a year since CCC and FISH partnered and merged pantries. CCC delivers food to Howard County residents and distributes it at three sites on Saturday mornings, except on holiday weekends. For information, visit Get Help online. FISH picks 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 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 is very important when people are in crisis. For information, ask Christ Church parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong, or email andydelong.fish@gmail.com. You could be the one to 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!
LEMS Kindness Pantry Update - A Wonderful Day!
Today was a glorious day to distribute protein boxes from the Roving Radish. At 2:30, the Roving Radish truck arrived with ONE HUNDRED boxes for families from Lake Elkhorn Middle School and Cradlerock Elementary School. Those boxes had to be moved to an office along the front of the school so that we could start distributing them at 3:30. By 4:20 all the boxes were gone!
We were so pleased to have Daniel and Beth Baker join us today. They greeted the parents and signed them up while Jenny Cecil, Jan DeBoissiere, Sara Kirkpatrick and I handed out protein boxes and diapers.
Thanks to all of you who contributed nonperishable food and household items for the Kindness Pantry. We delivered all those items and they will be given to families by counselors who know those who are most in need.
Please let us know if you would like to be more involved in any of these activities! We have a wonderful time, and the families are so appreciative.
In God's Love - Jenny Cecil, Jan DeBoissiere, Sara Kirkpatrick, Cathy Whittaker - LEMS Committee
‘Birdies for Bridges’ Golf Tournament to be Held on Friday, Sept. 25
It’s not too early to hit the practice greens. Bridges to Housing Stability will hold its annual Sheehy Toyota Birdies for Bridges Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 25, at The Timbers of Troy, 6100 Marshalee Dr., Elkridge, MD. Participants will help Bridges achieve its mission – advocating for affordable housing and helping individuals and families who struggle to keep a roof over their heads.
The tournament begins with a light breakfast, a shotgun start at 9 a.m., and a full day of golf, food, and awards. Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m. The cost for a single golfer is $200, or $800 for a foursome, which covers greens fees, unlimited range balls, food, and beverages.
The event is for a worthy cause. All proceeds from Birdies for Bridges will benefit Bridges and its work to provide a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County.
Christ Church has supported Bridges in various ways since 2019, most recently last fall, when a group of volunteers spent several workdays refurbishing a Columbia townhouse. Known as Guilford House, it is the residence of several returning citizens who have gotten their lives on track after incarceration. Bridges operates this transitional housing in partnership with the Howard County Department of Corrections.
Read about improvements – made indoors and out – by a team led by Vestry and Outreach member George Toth in the Outreach Blog of Dec.18, 2025. “The transformation is night and day!” said Sarah Hicks, Affordable Housing Program Manager at Bridges.
Join Us for a Bike Ride that Supports a Great Cause - October 2
Ride4Refuge Columbia is a community bike ride on Friday, October 2, 2026 (Rain Date: October 9), where neighbors, congregations, and Global Refuge supporters will come together to ride 10, 20, or 30 miles in support of the Baltimore Welcome Center. In honor of Global Refuge’s 87th anniversary, riders are working together to raise $87,000 to welcome immigrant and refugee families with compassion, dignity, and practical support.
WHERE IS IT?
The ride starts at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church - 6800 Oakland Mills Drive, Columbia, 21045. Sign-in starts at 9:30. This is an out-and-back ride, mostly on Columbia's safe and beautiful bike paths, though riders may choose shorter distances on the day of the ride. There will be a celebration and lunch at the end of the ride, back at the church.
HOW CAN I REGISTER?
Riders can register for the ride using the rider registration form link here. Please share this with your riding friends! All riders must wear a helmet, bring their own water bottles, and sign a waiver on the day of the ride. All riders are expected to fundraise toward the $87,000 goal and mobilize folks who aren't riding to donate to Global Refuge to support this effort.
YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN FUNDRAISING PAGE!
Riders may create their own fundraising page to invite their friends and family to help turn every mile into a meaningful welcome to new neighbors. If you'd prefer not to ride, we hope you'll consider donating to support this important work. The general fundraising page is here, and this YouTube video shows how to create your own. If you can’t ride with us on the day of the ride, we can provide you with the ride map and directions for you to ride any time from September 26 to October 9. Please register with the link above and use the comment/question box to let us know when you plan to ride so you can receive the cue sheet.
VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME, TOO!
If you are interested in volunteering the day of the ride, please use this link.
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.
