AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Our members are motivated by our faith to take individual action to improve the lives of their neighbors and of people the world over.  Below are some of the initiatives that take place at CUC. These activities involve the time and dedication of many volunteers. 

Please take a look at our list of Community Service Opportunities to see how you can get involved.

Announcement:

Beginning September, 2008, 25% of offertory donation ("the plate") funds will be contributed to outside organizations in need. Chosen organizations are announced each month.

Action for Social Concerns

The Action for Social Concerns Committee (ASC) is involved in many different issues each year: local, national, social, political, etc. Members endeavor to engage the congregation in as many of these issues as possible through such things as soliciting donations, signing petitions, providing information about social action events and having guest speakers.

Christmas Gifts, Mitten Tree, and Clothing

During the December holiday season, gifts and toiletries are donated for children and women at Bedford Corrections Facility and Coachman (homeless facility). In addition a "mitten tree" is set up in the lobby, on which mittens, gloves, and wool hats, may be hung. These are then given to children in need. Winter coats, jackets, and sweaters are also gathered for donation.

Empty Bowls

A fundraiser is held each year for world hunger.

Financial Contributions in Previous Years

SHORE, The Westchester MLK Institute, Indian Pt. Safe Energy Coalition, WESPAC, Weschester Hispanic Coalition, The Bridge Fund

Affiliations and Partnerships

Food Pantry

Donations of non-perishable food as well as monetary contributions are made throughout the year, with specials requests at the holidays. The Food Pantry is located in White Plains.

Fair Trade coffee

Coffee served at church functions is purchased thru Equal Exchange, an interfaith coffee program partnering with small-scale coffee growers, giving them a fair price for their product and a chance to stay on their land.

Heifer sales

Our religious education program as a whole participates in two social action projects during the year. One of them has been to raise funds supporting the Heifer project. Funds allow families to purchase large and small animals, which provide them with eggs, milk or wool.

Microcredit

Community Unitarian Church is the sponsor of a bank in Guatemala which provides low-cost loans to small businesses to promote economic development and independence.

Partner Church

A formal, permanent relationship established between the Community Unitarian Church at White Plains and a UU church somewhere in the world that has requested partnership. The relationship entails traveling from CUC to the partner church, sending money, and being in constant communication about all and any matters concerning being a Unitarian Universalist congregation. The particular partner is chosen by the congregation at CUC. A relationship with UU churches in the Phillipines are currently being pursued.

Caring and Sharing Circle

This committee is dedicated to serving the needs of the CUC community. It provides assistance at memorial service receptions, provides long-term services in the way of transportation to doctor's offices, makes hospital visits to members some of which are there long-term, and visits some of our more senior members who are either at home or in senior residential homes. The committee works together with Rev. Carol and takes its cue from her for other members.

Homeless Outreach

Midnight Run

Several times a year participants (adults and teens) prepare food at the church and then drive to Manhattan as a group to distribute food and clothes late at night to the homeless. Midnight Runs make an immediate impact upon those in need and are a great way to connect with other CUC members. See www.midnightrun.org for more information.

Satellite Shelter

CUC shelters the men from Open Arms several Saturday evenings during the course of the year. They arrive late at night and leave before Sunday service. CUC functions as a satellite shelter four times a year. CUC member volunteers artrange set-up, open the building, and clean and store the linens.

In The Spirit Of Truth

In the Spriit of Truth is a process, rooted in our church's belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. A forum is held each month for the purposes of: providing an avenue for introspection and honest and confidential dialogue about race and other diversity issues, so that members may grow in understanding themselves and in their ability to relate to those who are different from themselves; discussing and reacting to events in the larger community having to do with race or ethnicity, alowing creation of an agenda for cooperative action against bigotry.

Prior events have included: Latin Potluck, Kwanzaa programs, P-Flag Forum, Forum on Hip-Hop, Nowruz, Bill Moyers Interview with Rev. Wright Forum, Sharing Circle and Report on Anti-Racism Conclave, Juneteenth Parade and Service.

Projects Of The Heart

During the course of the year, volunteers from among the congregation help out with specific projects that do not require an ongoing commitment, such as cooking dinner for the homeless at the Salvation Army, or sponsoring a blood drive at CUC.