February in Action: Leadership & Outreach Efforts

This photo was taken during a service project held in late 2025.

Sanctuary Community of Christ has announced the appointment of four members to serve on its Outreach Committee Board. Sara Tomko, Donna Dietrich, Melanie Blume and Christopher Cooley have each accepted the call to help lead the congregation’s outreach efforts.

Sara Tomko has been appointed to serve as board chair, with Donna Dietrich named co-chair. Together with Melanie Blume and Chris Cooley, the team will coordinate service projects and community engagement initiatives throughout the year.

The committee’s first project of 2026 is a Blessing Box service effort aimed at filling six local Blessing Boxes with essential food items. Donations will be collected Sunday, Feb. 15; Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 22.

Requested items include canned goods with pop-top lids, paper bowls for microwave use, canned soups with meat, canned meats such as Spam, Treat, Viennese sausages, chicken and deviled ham, as well as meat pouches like tuna or chicken. Other needed items include small bottles or cans of juice, protein drinks, snack cakes, granola or fruit bars, pop tarts, canned pasta meals, beef jerky, small jars of peanut butter and jelly, crackers and snack crackers, individual bags of chips, shelf-stable milk, small cereal containers, baked beans and small packages of nuts.

The committee noted that pop-top cans are preferred so recipients do not need a can opener. Paper bowls are also requested to allow individuals to warm food in public microwaves.

Church members are encouraged to participate and support the effort as the newly appointed Outreach Committee begins its work for the year.

If anyone within the congregation has questions, they can email Sara Tomko at stomko@scofchrist.org or Donna Dietrich at ddietrich@scofchrist.org.