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Social Action Projects |
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From Poverty to Justice
Prepare Affair Volunteers work with the local organization, People Working Cooperatively to rake leaves, clean gutters and otherwise help elderly and disabled Cincinnatians of limited means get their homes ready for winter. More information. Coordinator: Tamilyn Thompson Date: November 15, 2008 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Volunteers needed for four hours on a Saturday morning. Handyman skills welcome but not required.
Holiday Cards and Stamps for Nursing Homes The Social Action Committee accepts "end-of-box" holiday cards and provides them and stamps to local nursing home residents. Coordinator: Coordinator NEEDED Date: November-December, 2008 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Donations of end-of box cards and stamps accepted.
Shoeboxes for Shelters The Religious Education Committee coordinates this activity in which volunteers and Heritage children assemble shoeboxes of gifts and personal items to be delivered to area shelters. Coordinator: Hollie Johnson (RE Committee) Date: December 14, 2008 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Volunteers needed to sort and assemble boxes. Donations of small toys, personal hygiene items, gloves, mittens, hats, etc. gratefully accepted. View list of suggested donation items.
NEW! Interfaith Hospitality Network "Souper Bowl Sunday" fundraiser This is a “fun”d raising activity for the whole family! This year we are planning to coordinate with the Religious Education Committee to have the kids make “soup mix in a jar” to sell after services. This takes place, of course, on Super Bowl Sunday. All proceeds go to the Interfaith Hospitality Network. More information on IHN. Coordinator: Chris Sofge Date: February 1, 2009 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Depending on how we do it, volunteers would be needed to either help kids assemble soup in a jar or make soup for a luncheon or collect donations in a “soup pot”.
Interfaith Hospitality Network Support Congregation Our biggest volunteer effort in Social Action is serving as a support congregation for First UU's homeless shelter, a part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN). Through IHN, First UU provides shelter in churches for homeless families in Cincinnati for four weeks a year. Heritage volunteers provide meals, serve as evening hosts and overnight hosts. This is a wonderful and eye-opening experience for all (of the many!!) who participate. More information on IHN. Coordinator: Chris Sofge Dates: April 12-25 and May 17-30, 2009
Undie Sunday Who says giving can't be fun? New underwear, t-shirts, socks, diapers and other items are collected and donated to area shelters. These items are short in supply at shelters. Coordinator: Regina Pugh Date: TBA Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Donations requested for new underwear, t-shirts, socks, diapers and other items.
Crayons 2 Computers Heritage volunteers stock shelves, assemble games and educational posters, providing volunteer hours for this very worthwhile organization that operates a free store for teachers from Cincinnati's most vulnerable schools. Schools with a high proportion of low income students are targeted. More information. Coordinator: Barb Lyon (tentative) Date: TBA Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Volunteers needed to spend 3-4 hours on a Saturday morning working at the Crayons 2 Computers store. Donations of school supplies and other items for use in classrooms gratefully accepted.
Literacy Council of Clermont and Brown Counties Spelling Bee Social Action co-sponsors a spelling bee team to support the Literacy Council. More information. Coordinator: David Sofge Date: June 2009 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Volunteers needed to be part of the spelling bee team. Potentially, donations needed for co-sponsorship.
NEW! Homelessness Study Group This is not an “action” group, per se, but a study group to learn about homelessness and poverty issues in our area and to better understand the resources available and the resource gaps in our community. The goals of this group would be to learn about the issues and develop an action plan for Heritage. We would be coordinating with ongoing efforts of other UUs in Cincinnati and other faith communities that have come together through IHN. Coordinator: Chris Sofge Date: Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity: This is not an action project. Interested folks needed for a study group.
Fair Trade Coffee Members of the Social Action Committee continue to provide fairly traded coffee for the church, as well as for members of the congregation. This is an awareness-raising activity, not a fund-raiser. Coffee is sold at cost. Coordinator: Connie Booth Date: Ongoing Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: no, but purchase opportunity! |
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Under Our Rainbow Flag/ Interweave
Interweave The Heritage chapter of Interweave Continental is an organization dedicated to gender equality and promoting awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. The Interweave chapter meets monthly during the year. More information. Coordinator: Sarah Conlon Dates: Continuing Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Interweave members needed to discuss issues and move the agenda forward for the group.
Walk to STOP AIDS This is a fund-raiser for STOP AIDS Cincinnati (formerly AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati). STOP AIDS provides much-needed services to individuals with AIDS. Heritage volunteers collect donations and walk to raise awareness of the continuing devastation of AIDS in our community. More information. Coordinator: Mike Roberts Date: September 27, 2008 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Walkers/folks to collect donations needed.
Pride is Alive Parade and Fest Heritage participates each year in the Pride is Alive Parade and Fest in Northside, Cincinnati. We share a booth with St. John's UU and Northern Hills UU at the Fest. This is a fun activity for the whole family and a great way to interact with other UUs in our area. More information. Coordinator: Interweave will coordinate Date: June 2009 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Volunteers needed to march in the parade and to man the UU booth in 2-hour shifts. It is a great way to meet people and a wonderful opportunity for outreach in our community. |
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UUSC Activities
The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee advances human rights and social justice around the world, partnering with those who confront unjust power structures and mobilizing to challenge oppressive policies. The Heritage Social Action Committee and the larger Heritage Community support the UUSC by participating in the activities below and through individual UUSC memberships.
UUSC Holiday Cards The Social Action Committee offers UUSC Holiday cards for sale after services in November and December. All proceeds go to the UUSC. More information. Coordinator: Pete Mesrin Date: November-December 2008 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Volunteers needed to man the table selling cards after services.
UUSC Guest at Your Table In collaboration with the RE Committee, Social Action participates in the Guest At Your Table collection to fund the important advocacy work of the UUSC. All donations go to the UUSC. More information. Coordinator: Pete Mesrin Date: November 23-December 24, 2008 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Heritage families are encouraged to take a “Guest at Your Table” box home between Thanksgiving and Christmas and put in money during each meal to represent the cost of feeding a guest. |
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Other Projects
Project Linus Heritage volunteers make blankets for Project Linus, a national non-profit group that distributes homemade blankets to children in crisis. (This project has not been active for a couple years due to lack of coordinator). More information. Coordinator: Nancy Moore Date: January 10, 2009 Volunteer/Donation Opportunity: Volunteers come together for a blanket-making day. Blankets are delivered to local Project Linus staff.
T-Shirt Sales Believe it or not, we still have a large number of Heritage t-shirts. Sizes range from most children’s sizes up to adult large. (Unfortunately, we are out of XL and higher). In the past we have offered these for sale ($10/shirt) as a Social Action fund raiser (on a table in the Great Hall after services). Coordinator: Chris Sofge Date: TBA Volunteer Opportunity: Volunteers needed to sell t-shirts on occasional Sundays after services.
Your Project Here! Have a great idea for a Social Action project? Let us know about it! Although we have focused on a couple areas, we are open to expanding our “action” to any project with good energy behind it! We need details on what the project is, when it takes place, organization it supports (if any), volunteers and/or donations needed and any logistical details that are important. We also need to know if you are willing to coordinate the project (or co-coordinate). |
