Christ Church Outreach News: May 5, 2022
Inviting One and All to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach by Joining in Our Next Meeting on Monday, May 9th
The Outreach Commission invites you to join in during our monthly meeting to learn more about opportunities in 2022. In keeping with our mission, the scope is local, national, and international. The meeting will be held virtually at 7:30 p.m. this coming Monday, May 9th, and everyone is invited so email us at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org for the Zoom link and stop in on Monday evening. There's no better way to get more fully involved in helping others!
Volunteer or Bring Menu Items – Or Plan to Do Both – to Brighten Spring for Homeless Neighbors
The side dishes and desserts that you make or buy will be enthusiastically welcomed by folks at the Dorsey Center’s Day Resource Center (DRC) and by the residents of the Live-in Facility operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Because Christ Church volunteers serve the DRC meal in person, we can vouch for the diners’ enthusiasm. And we get very positive feedback on the meal that Grassroots’ staff members serve after we make that delivery.
This coming Monday, May 9th, there are two drop-off times at Christ Church: 12:45 p.m. for the midday meal and 3:15 p.m. for the evening meal.
As usual, Christ Church will purchase fried chicken at Weis and depend upon your bringing side dishes. The fact that Grassroots operates both venues has made it easier for Christ Church to consolidate our approach to feeding the hungry. It’s efficient to provide a meal on the same day to two separate groups.
The first group is made up of about 40 homeless friends at the DRC in Jessup. A team of four Christ Church volunteers will be serving a midday meal in person on our usual day – the second Monday of the month. The second group of diners resides at Grassroots’ Live-in Facility, which is home to about 50 people. Since early in the pandemic, we’ve been providing an evening meal menu on a monthly basis, most recently on April 11 (see photos).
If you're volunteering, cooking, or shopping for the midday meal at the DRC, plan to arrive between 12:45 and 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the DRC pantry. Click on the Christ Church Dorsey/DRC Meal link on SignUpGenius to view requested items and say how you’ll help. We usually carpool to Jessup.
If you're cooking or bringing pantry items for both meals, plan to arrive between 12:45 and 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Put your items for the evening meal in the Parish Hall kitchen. Or, depending on the dish or the supplementals, such as cookies or fruit, you can put them in the kitchen on a Sunday if your items are clearly marked.
If you’re cooking only for the Live-In Facility’s evening meal, plan to arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. for the dropoff in the parking lot outside Old Brick. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the pantry. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to view a menu. Please sign up by noon on Sunday.
In-person volunteers are asked to have a flu shot and full vaccination against COVID-19. For questions, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org to get in contact with co-coordinator Nancy Winchester.
Both 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 monthly needs list under the words “Related Files” on each of the sign-up sites.
Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers, Personal Care Items
At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting the all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC). Please collect 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.
Please look for updates, such as requests for volunteers at the three distribution sites, posted in the CCC Facebook Group. There you’ll also find a request for volunteers to sort grocery items at the CCC pantry building, 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. The dates are May 9, May 12, and May 20. The sorters choose their own hours and use the online volunteer signup for the pantry to state when they’ll work on a particular day. Please consider taking a shift.
Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway
Organizers for FISH of Howard County are continuing to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill its shopping lists. The yellow bin is 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.
