Social Justice

SOCIAL OUTREACH

GIFTS AND
COLLECTIONS

For several years, “Share the Plate” has been our major way of contributing money to special causes. The second and third Sunday, half the undesignated money, as well as designated checks, go to one special need. In the fall of 2011, collections went to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund, to help our church members in financial need; the UUA Association Sunday to help our denomination; and to Grounds for Health, which works in coffee-growing communities to establish sustainable preventive health programs, including a cervical cancer prevention program.

The December Share the Plate collection went to fill a dozen huge grocery bags for needy families at Mary H. Wright School in our church neighborhood. Also in December, we collected for toys and clothes for the Children’s Shelter in Spartanburg and joined many of our fellow UU congregations in this country and around the world for the “Guest at Your Table” program, a six-week collection for people in need both in our country and abroad. This program helps personalize giving for our youth. And, lastly, our Christmas Eve collection went to TOTAL Ministries.

TOTAL Ministries provides for basic needs to assist families in Spartanburg County who are facing a financial crisis. UUCS has a goal of filling one food barrel a month for TOTAL. We also help with mobile pantry food drives and contribute financially once or twice a year. Our Christmas Eve collections are often for TOTAL Ministries.

UUCS members and friends have been involved in the St. Luke's Free Medical almost since its beginning over fifteen years ago. We currently have four volunteers for St. Luke's who act as screeners. Our volunteers check personal contact information, medical history, and emergency contact information. With new patients they review eligibility information. UUCS also gives a donation of money to the clinic.

Love, Knit, and Crochet, akin to a Prayer Shawl group, began two years ago. Each fall, we make scarves for the homeless, to give away at Christmas. We’ve made baby blankets for our nurse-midwife to take to Haiti and shawls for our infirm church members. Of course, we teach crochet and knitting to any who want to learn.

UUCS is involved with other local activities, and the SJ committee is often responsible for publicizing them. Our Youth Group helps at Fernwood Baptist Church when they host SPIHN (Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network), which works in Spartanburg County to provide temporary shelter, food, and support to homeless families. Our youth prepar a dinner and serve as hosts that evening. We participate in South Converse Neighborhood Association activities such as helping plan a revitalized park, and in basics such as litter pick-ups. We collect newspapers, etc., for Animal Allies, a low-cost animal clinic. Church members volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, and Second Presbyterian Church's Soup Kitchen, among others.

We look for ways for all church members and friends to get involved and feel good by doing good.

Work is Love Made Visible. -Khalil Gibran (1883-1931)

Community Action

Consistent, continuing involvement in our local community has been the cornerstone of our Social Concerns program, and we remain committed to this even while our Social Justice program takes a wider, more activist approach. Social Justice involves everyone, and our committee facilitates their involvement.