OUTREACH

Outreach community services at Christ Church supports a variety of ministries, including Habitat for Humanity, Caritas, the Covington Food Bank, Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets/gifts and the CEEP/Summer Witness program. The outreach committee spearheads our efforts and makes us aware of others' needs. They also organize the annual fundraiser, Hands That Touch Hearts (click this link for details). Individual programs are listed at the left and you can click on each one. You may also call the church office at 985-892-3177 for more information.

Link to auction website for
Hands That Touch Hearts
www.biddingforgood.com/HTTH

Unite in Christ!

Advent was about giving. Collectively Christ Church and Christ Episcopal School served 18 Caritas families with approximately 200 gifts. We provided a wonderful Gift Giving party. Parishioners, both young and old, as well as students from Christ Episcopal School, provided gifts for approximately 625 additional children in need through the St Nicholas Gift Giving Project!

The Kids on a Mission (KOM) and Blast Off children tagged gifts and made ornaments. Many other children sorted, distributed, and shopped for additional children in need in our community. All together, we served members of Caritas, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, The Boys and Girls Club, Volunteers of America, Covington Head Start, Covington High School, Pineview Middle School, William Pitcher, Covington Elementary, Lyon Elementary, Lee Road School, Starlight Baptist Church, and Folsom Junior High.

Her eyes full of tears, a St Tammany School Principal thanked me for an anonymous gift. She had asked for, but didn’t believe it could happen, laptop computers for two of her students. She could hardly stand when she heard the news. At the time, one boy did not have running water and was falling behind in his work. The other boy was in a boating accident and lost the use of his legs.  “I know both boys will be so thrilled, she said!” Apparently, both families have been facing difficult economic challenges and were so grateful for this gift.

Thanks to all of you who brought a gift, or made donations, or participated in an extraordinary act of kindness! You did this without thought of recognition. When we unite together in Christ, we can accomplish all things in serving others. As we reflect on Advent, I know we are grateful for what we have to give. My hope is that we can continue our good work through Lent by giving our time and talent to Habitat for Humanity, and to the Hands that Touch Hearts Patron Party/Silent Auction project!

Many thanks and blessings,

Mary Anne Reidy
Parish Life Coordinator