News & Announcements

Each year, the Envision Board awards grants to serve as seed money for projects that will enrich the ministry and life of the church. These projects serve a wide variety of people, from within the congregation here at CPC to the local, national, and international communities. We evaluate proposals for funding in the categories of Ministry Development, Service in Com- munity, Social Justice Advocacy, and Capital Improvement.

The Envision Board is grateful to God for the life and witness of Robert Riley, whose generous bequest to CPC was used to establish the Envision Fund, as well as the support of Session (especially the Finance Committee), the congregation, and our church office staff who make these awards possible.

For 2021, the Envision Board had $164,555 available to distribute. During the spring application round, three projects were funded totalling $102,995. For the fall application round, the Board had $41,210 remaining to distribute, and received five applications totalling $141,300. At this time, the Envision Board under the approval of Session was able to award funding to service in community projects, totaling $41,200.

LAZARUS CAUCUS, CLOTHING STORAGE UNIT FOR THE WESTSIDE SHELTER

(Service in Community; Local Project, $18,000, partial funding). Envision funds will be used to purchase and locate a storage unit at the Westside Shelter in Catonsville as a clothing closet. Currently, donated clothes are in tubs and boxes offsite in a space donated by a local church, and volunteers must take “orders” and bring back clothing to persons in the shelter. The proposed storage unit will be 8’x20’, “electric-ready” for air conditioning, heating and lights, and will have clothing organized by size and type. Most importantly, clothing will be available immediately when individuals express need. This project was submitted by Andrea Ratajczak, Executive Director of the Lazarus Caucus, www.lazaruscaucus.org, and sponsored by Vickie Lord.

LIVING IN RECOVERY, SMILING IN RECOVERY

(Service in Community; Local Project, $10,000, partial funding). The project seeks to fund out of pocket dental care expenses for persons who are living in a recovery house program in Howard County. Residents of the recovery program have dental needs, as effects of substance abuse impact the teeth and overall mouth, which lead to bruxism, tooth loss, peri- odontal disease, halitosis, stomatitis, and oral cancer. The project will provide funding to persons who are at least one year in recovery, with implants and dental care. This project was submitted by Jessica Matthews of Living in Recovery www.lirhowardcounty.org, and sponsored by congregation member, Nancy Burke.

STUDENT SUPPORT NETWORK, START-UP FUNDING FOR ROOMS OF SUPPORT AT BALTIMORE HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND TWO OTHER SCHOOLS

(Service in Community; Local Project; $13,200, partial funding). The Student Support Network operates in 13 low-income schools in Baltimore County. The program stocks “Rooms of Support” with food, school supplies, personal care items, clothing, and other items requested by school staff or students themselves. To join the Network, the school’s community must provide $2,000 for initial funding. Envision funding will provide the assistance (seed money) to the low-income schools so they may join the Support Network, and be able to distribute food and supplies as quickly as possible to students and their families. The project was submitted by Rina Vaishnav Rhyne, Executive Director of Student Support Network https://studentsupportnetwork.org, and sponsored by Cheryl Thurber.

CATONSVILLE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (CEA), EXPANDING OUR COMMUNITY MINISTRY AND SERVICES THROUGH VITAL TRANSPORTATION

(Service in community, local project, $25,000). CEA is a nonprofit that helps with food, rental and utility assistance to those in need. This project will enable CEA to continue picking up food donations and orders from the community and the Maryland Food Bank by using grant funds to purchase a vehicle for all transportation needs. The volume of food dona- tions has increased, as had the need for food, during the pandemic. Staff members of CEA use their personal vehicles which is growing insufficient in being capable of transporting 1,000 pounds or more at a time. CEA will purchase a used SUV with Envision Funds to continue meeting the growing need in the community. The project was submitted by Bonnie J. Harry,RN, Executive Director of Catonsville Emergency Assistance http://catonsvillehelp.org, and sponsored by Maureen Parkhurst. This project was submitted in the spring 2021 application round, and approved during the fall 2021 review. The award amount is included in spring 2021 totals, under the approval of Session.

The Envision Board is truly excited to see God working through these wonderful projects, and thanks all those who submitted proposals for their time and effort.