In an effort to keep the congregation better informed about the its work, the Mission and Local Outreach Committee shares periodic informational updates. In addition to increasing awareness about what it is doing in the community, nationally, and globally on the congregation’s behalf, these communications also encourage participation in hands-on mission opportunities. Here is a summary of activity from July to December.
- Local Mission. On the fourth Monday of every month, CMPC volunteers provide and serve hot dinners at Grassroots Route One Day Center in Laurel for the homeless in our community. The number of persons using the Center continues to grow, as does the need for food. This is an ongoing mission that welcomes new volunteers. Suzy Crabb is the point person for this mission.
The committee made donations to support CMPC Preschool, Bridges to Housing Stability, Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services, Columbia Community Care which operates food pantries in Howard County and the Howard County Food Bank which is run by the Community Action Council of Howard County Even with the support of local and state nutritional programs, food banks, and other services, thousands of families still struggle to find consistent access to food and essential resources every week.
In lieu of the Angel Tree, Sue Ashman and Rachel Bis facilitated a partnership with Toys for Tots that to collect toys in November. In December, hats, gloves, and socks were collected for the CWS. In addition, monetary donations from the congregation were received for gift cards for Grassroots residents. FISH separately did Christmas shopping, wrapping and donating gifts to seven students at local schools.
For the twenty-second year, CMPC participated in the Cold Weather Shelter organized by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. From December 29 to January 4, CMPC volunteers and groups including LOGOS, Scout Troop 75, Women’s Bible Study, and the Mission and Local Outreach Committee, provided and served home-cooked dinners and delivered breakfasts to 60 residents (including homeless persons) housed at the Grassroots facility in Columbia. Suzy Crabb, Tina Helble, and Kathryn Koch helped coordinate effort and transport the food.
- National Mission. M&LO supported two national missions; namely, the Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders – Moss Point, MS house re-build and Pine Springs Christian Camp in Jennerstown, PA, which a number of young people from CMPC attended.
- Global Mission. The committee supported Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, the only Christian hospital in Gaza, which continued to treat victims of the war in Gaza throughout the fighting.
- The committee donated funds to support Save the Children relief efforts in Ukraine, which supplies hygiene kits, offers mental health and psychosocial support, the provides child-friendly spaces, and cash transfers to families affected by the war.
It also helped Friends for Health in Haiti, which is striving toimprove the health of the people in the community of Gatineau through an outpatient clinic that provides primary health care, and hygiene education, as well as livelihood assistance to those in need.
- The Fifth Sunday Offering on August 31 was accepted on behalf of the Uganda Water Project and on November 30 for Grassroots and the cold weather shelter.
Of course, this work would not be possible without the generous support of our congregation for which we are very grateful and appreciative.