Christ Church Outreach News: September 7, 2023

Inviting You to Remotely Join Us on Monday, Sept. 11, at the Monthly Outreach Meeting

Do you want to begin Fall days by helping others? Learn the best ways to do that by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting next Monday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. Information to log on can be sent to you if you email us at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. See you on Zoom!

Help the Homeless on Monday, Sept. 11, by Serving a Meal at DRC in Jessup or Bringing Menu Items for the Grassroots Live-In Facility

For our homeless friends at the Day Resource Center, the DRC is known as a source of healthy, nutritious meals and supplemental items such as fruit and granola bars. Similarly, residents of the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center Live-In Facility look forward to a fried chicken dinner and tasty side dishes. Making that happen is a rewarding experience for us, too.

Grassroots operates the DRC, located at the Leola Dorsey Center in Jessup where Christ Church provides a hot midday meal on the second Monday of each month. To join us on Monday, Sept. 11, please sign up by Sunday, Sept. 10. If you wish to volunteer or bring food for the midday meal, our DRC online signup form describes the procedure. The drop-off time for side dishes, desserts, and fruit is 12:45 p.m. in the Christ Church parking lot near Old Brick. In-person volunteers are gathering at that time to carpool to Jessup.

We most recently took part on Aug. 14, when our team served 80 diners, including a toddler and a kindergarten-age child. Shahra Toth, with the continuing assistance of Dione Mahoney, is our coordinator.

Later, parishioners who cook or shop for the evening meal for 50 residents of Grassroots’ Live-In Facility on Freetown Rd. are making a different drop-off. Please arrive in the Old Brick parking lot between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. Get details in our Grassroots online signup form about the evening meal, which is served by Grassroots staff. It’s efficient to provide for diners at two venues on the same day. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried chicken entrees. Thank you!

The DRC and the Live-In Facility have wider needs for their pantries and welcome in-kind donations to be dropped off for delivery on the second Mondays. Look for the latest needs list on bulletin boards at church or online, under the words “Related Files,” on each signup form.

If you wish to do more, parishioners are encouraged to sign up individually to provide the evening meal at the Live-In Facility. Pick a date to provide an entree and side dishes, or just the entree, for the 50 adults and children. Grassroots suggests ideas to make it easier. Go to Grassroots’ sign-up list, which has multiple open slots through Oct. 31.

Refugee Ministry Update: The Family’s Thanks, and a Request for Flea Market Items

“Every time I want to talk with you guys, I remember your kindness, blessings, and helpings.”

~from Anwar, August 31, 2023

The Afghan family that Christ Church has supported since late 2021 constantly expresses its thanks for all we have done and continue to do for them. And their thanks are meant for ALL of Christ Church, not just those of us in regular contact with the family. So thank YOU for continuing to pray for, give to, and help with this ministry.

You can help the Refugee Ministry this week by donating items you no longer need to the “white elephant” table at our church’s annual flea market. Please bring your gently used items to the parish hall, starting after church this Sunday, September 10th, or during office hours any day during the week of September 10. Then come on Saturday, September 16 to support the flea market and find new “treasures”. All money from the white elephant table will go to the Refugee Ministry. Thank you for your support.

And look for updates on how the family is doing in an upcoming parish newsletter.

Enter a Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 22, to Help Bridges to Housing Stability

Advocating for affordable housing and helping individuals and families who struggle to keep a roof over their heads is the mission of Bridges to Housing Stability. It’s a daunting task, but the nonprofit organization offers golfers a way to stay fit and support the cause.

On Friday, Sept. 22, Bridges will hold the second annual Sheehy Toyota Bridges for Birdies Golf Tournament at The Timbers of Troy, 6100 Marshalee Dr., Elkridge, MD. The tournament begins with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. and features a full day of golf, food, and awards. Would-be participants are urged to register soon. The cost for a single golfer is $200, or $800 for a foursome, which covers greens fees, unlimited range balls, food, and beverages. Teams play a best-ball format, so everyone can have fun regardless of their varied abilities.

The event raises crucial operating funds, says Bridges Executive Director Jen Broderick.

In a July newsletter, she wrote: “The housing crisis and inflation have impacted our clients and our organization from all sides: increased rents, more evictions, and a tighter housing market that gives landlords leverage to demand even higher levels of income and creditworthiness from rental applicants. Our staff, board members, volunteers as well as many of our partner organizations have raised their voices to push for more affordable housing for our low- and moderate-income households.”

Christ Church has been a supporter of Bridges since participating in a countywide chili cook-off in 2019. At a Chili & Challenge virtual fundraiser in 2020, Christ Church won a Silver Ladle Award. Then, at the 2021 Chili & Challenge, we won gold. The relationship began at the urging of parishioner Jim Collins, who was honored among Bridges’ “Heroes for Housing” in 2022.

Columbia Community Care Seeks Baby Care Items, More Volunteers

Please continue supporting Columbia Community Care (CCC) by giving essentials and with your time and talent. People can choose tasks such as translating to enable home deliveries or stocking the shelves at the pantry building, 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. Check the CCC Facebook Group for updates or go to the “I Can Help” portion of its website.

Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Put any of these in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. The Christ Church point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bins and delivers their contents.

Save the Date for the DreamBuilders Spaghetti Dinner

Please support DreamBuilders’ annual dinner and fundraising event on October 14th at Temple Isaiah. Bid on a wonderful selection of auction items at the silent auction and purchase tickets for their iPhone 14 raffle! All proceeds directly support DreamBuilders mission trips and projects. For more information, be sure to check out their flyer at https://ibb.co/CWdTBbb. Speak with Cathy Gold at church if you'd like more info.

Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway

Organizers for FISH of Howard County continue to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill their shopping lists. Please put items in a basket that has been returned to the altar. Or drop them in the yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Thanks for your contributions to our neighbors in need.

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.