Under the guidance of Lynda Bernays, the Outreach Committee organizes a variety of committees, events and collections which benefit people in Shaker Heights, Greater Cleveland and the world.
Annual Homeless Stand Down
Every January, this community-based program provides winter clothing, food, personal hygiene items and connections to social services for people in Greater Cleveland facing poverty and homelessness. The Homeless Stand Down is supported by a partnership of individuals, businesses, and non-profit and faith-based organizations. For the past five years, Christ Church collects and donates hoodie sweatshirts and hygiene kits.
Holy Coffee: Annual Coffee Sale (Lynda Bernays)
Image credit: ra3rn / 123RF Stock Photo
The annual coffee sale is one of the main funding projects for the Outreach Committee. We work with Crooked River Coffee in Mayfield Heights to sell three types of coffee (grinds or whole bean) in one pound bags. We collect orders prior to Thanksgiving, then send five people to the coffee company to grind and bag the coffee. Buyers can collect their coffee at church on December 13 for 2015.
Since its inception, this coffee sale has netted over $1,000.00 toward the Outreach Committee's many projects.
Since its inception, this coffee sale has netted over $1,000.00 toward the Outreach Committee's many projects.
Kiva (Christina Forward)
Kiva works with microfinance institutions on five continents to provide loans to people who do not have access to traditional banking systems. One hundred percent of your loan is sent to these microfinance institutions, called Field Partners, who administer the loans in the field.
Individuals and groups submit proposals, which are posted on the Kiva website. Donors choose whom to fund. To date, Christ Church Outreach has given 52 loans to 19 countries. With just over $3,700 deposited from Outreach funds, we have recycled the paid loans back into the system several times, having lent a grand total of over $7,000.
Individuals and groups submit proposals, which are posted on the Kiva website. Donors choose whom to fund. To date, Christ Church Outreach has given 52 loans to 19 countries. With just over $3,700 deposited from Outreach funds, we have recycled the paid loans back into the system several times, having lent a grand total of over $7,000.
Ready Food Bags (Christina Forward and Lisa Fletcher)
Copyright: paulprescott72 / 123RF Stock Photo
Christ Church keeps a small supply of food in the church office for people who come in requesting assistance. Lisa Fletcher and Christina Forward head this project and see that bags of non-perishables as well as potatoes or fruit (when available) are left in the office cabinet. The office administrator distributes these as needed. There are about 5 people who come by on a regular weekly basis to receive one bag.
Supplies are purchased monthly, and bags are assembled so that the food is equally distributed. The funds for this outreach project come from the remaining money in the Pantry Program. If you want to help with this small mission, please contact Christina or Lisa (see above).
Supplies are purchased monthly, and bags are assembled so that the food is equally distributed. The funds for this outreach project come from the remaining money in the Pantry Program. If you want to help with this small mission, please contact Christina or Lisa (see above).
St. Herman House Bag Lunch Ministry (Lisa Fletcher and Christina Forward)
Copyright: hannamariah / 123RF Stock Photo
Volunteers/families are needed once a week to assemble and deliver 50 bag lunches to St. Herman House, which is committed to serving the homeless and poor of Ohio City and inner-city Cleveland. Lisa Fletcher
This ministry satisfies our commitment to helping those in need (where they need it) and it complements the food program at St. Herman's. Everybody wins!
This ministry satisfies our commitment to helping those in need (where they need it) and it complements the food program at St. Herman's. Everybody wins!
Family Promise of Greater Cleveland (Lynda Bernays)
Family Promise serves families in housing crisis, primarily young women with young children, in two locations – on Kinsman at 152nd Street, and in a building on the campus of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Slavic Village. To support their work, we hold monthly flash drives for consumable products (cleaning supplies, paper products, diapers and wipes), supply dinner several times a year, and send monetary donations.
Caroling at Shaker Gardens (Nat Cooke)
Every Christmas, the Christ Church choir goes caroling to our neighbors at Shaker Gardens Nursing Home. The group presents their main performance in the dining room and then go caroling to smaller groups on other floors. Some participants so enjoy the caroling that they conduct the choir! It's the ideal kind of outreach for the Christmas season.
Greater Heights Community TimeBank (Nat Cooke and Mary Lavigne-Butler)
At first it may sound a bit odd, but we need to rethink the question from "How can I help you?" to "How can we help each other build a better community we both will live in?" TimeBanking's core principle is reciprocity – helping works better as a two-way street. We all have something to give. Christ Church is working with First Unitarian Church and Heights Christian Church to start a TimeBank in the Greater Shaker Heights community.
Find out how TimeBanks work here. The possibilities of bartering are endless, and they build community!
To join the Greater Heights Community Timebank, you are required to attend a 90-minute orientation. If you are interested in joining this growing national movement, please contact our TimeBank reps (above).
Find out how TimeBanks work here. The possibilities of bartering are endless, and they build community!
To join the Greater Heights Community Timebank, you are required to attend a 90-minute orientation. If you are interested in joining this growing national movement, please contact our TimeBank reps (above).
