Social Action at TUUC
How You Can Get Involved
Contact: socialaction@towsonuuc.org
Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC) is a food pantry for low-income families and TUUC has been a supporting partner for over 25 years. Suggested weekly donations: cereal, fruit, saltines, soup, rice, spaghetti, pasta meals, PB&J, tuna/canned meat, mac & cheese, canned vegetables. Contact Sue Shankroff at 410-828-4582.
Community Assistance Network (CAN) is the community action agency in Baltimore County. CAN provides dry milk for low-income and at-risk individuals and families. TUUC collects dry milk in the foyer and delivers it to CAN on a regular basis. Contact Sue Shankroff at 410-828-4582.
Our Daily Bread (ODB) is a hot meal program serving the needy in Baltimore City. TUUC has pledged 60+ casseroles in the months that have a 5th Saturday. Sign up to participate, pick up an aluminum pan and recipes at the SAC Counter in the foyer. Casseroles can be made ahead and stored in the freezers at TUUC. Contact Salli Ward at 410-654-2459
Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland (UULM-MD) is made up of individual members from 23 UU congregations in MD and works to mobilize UU’s to advocate on priority issues before the MD General Assembly. Contact Charlie Culbertson at 410-823-6432.
Banner Reading Club is an after-school program in the Patterson Park neighborhood in Baltimore City for children ages 5-12. Volunteers are needed Mondays and Wednesdays 3-4:45 PM. Contact Betty Lou Anderson at 410-410-296-4344 or Lois Hybl at
410-243-1710.
Habitat for Humanity (a United Churches Project). TUUC joins other area churches and the Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity to fund and build or renovate an affordable home in Baltimore. TUUC raises $5000 through direct contributions, Alternative Gift Cards, a portion of the plate, and coordinates volunteers of all ages to work on the project Tues-Sat. Projects typically run April to October. Contact Sheila Malenski, 443-676-7325 or mmmalenski@comcast.net.
UU’s for Social Justice (UUSJ) Representatives from TUUC attend meetings with representatives of Baltimore-Washington area of UU churches, share ideas about effective social action activities, and get information on priority issues. Contact Charlie Culbertson at 410-823-6432.
Alternative Gift Cards Volunteers would man the table selling Alternative Gift Cards on selected Sundays in between the services. One can sign up for individual time slots. There is no long-term obligation. Contact Bobbie Miyasaki at 410-321-6046.
Earl’s Place is a project of United Ministries that provides transitional housing of two years’ duration for up to 17 homeless men at a time. These men have come from difficult situations that include drug and alcohol addiction. They are committed to changing their lives, and the staff works hard to get them into permanent housing and self-sufficiency. Volunteer opportunities include such things as teaching or tutoring, and running workshops on topics such as interviewing skills, resume writing, cooking, and anger management. To get involved, please contact David Schwartz at 410-377-2825 or email at snabby@gmail.com.
Families in Transition. When families suffer significant loss of income and
cannot remain in their home, they may require temporary lodging in a motel.
Several of these families are staying at a nearby motel. Their children are
enrolled at nearby elementary schools. The SAC, with the help from our
congregation, plans to provide a basket of housekeeping, convenience, and comfort
items to these families. Contact Marilyn
Thorn 410-661-2448.
The Denominational Affairs Committee monitors programs and resources available from the regional UU support organization known as the Joseph Priestly District. JPD provides training and support for 67 UU congregations in a five-state area. The Committee will also foster the various programs and initiatives recommended by JPD. We represent TUUC at the annual JPD Spring Assembly
TUUC’s UU United Nations Office Envoys As members of the Social Action Committee, they provide information about the work of the UU UN office to TUUC members. The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office promotes the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all, as reflected in the United Nations Charter. Through targeted education, advocacy and outreach, the office engages UUs in support of international cooperation and the work of the United Nations.
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. UUSC is an associate member of the UUA. Its work is advancing human rights in the areas of Humanitarian Crises, Enviornmental Justice, Economic Justice and Civil Liberties.
GET INVOLVED & GIVE BACK
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
For more information: socialaction@towsonuuc.org
Feeding the Hungry
ü Bring in food for the Assistance Center of Towson Churches – ACTC Food Pantry –
o see list in brochure or on TUUC's web site
ü Volunteer at ACTC to help people in need or sort food/stock the shelves
ü Make/donate casserole(s) for Our Daily Bread every month there is a 5th Saturday (easy to do this with children)
ü Collect items for Thanksgiving Baskets for ACTC (easy to do this with your children!)
ü Bring in dry milk for Community Assistance Network - CAN
Helping the Homeless
ü Families in Transition: Watch bulletin board and newsletter for items that can be brought to church and included in the baskets given to families, with children, who are living temporarily in a motel.
ü Volunteer with our Habitat for Humanity building project
ü Volunteer to teach the residents of Earl’s Place on any life skills or job skills topic
ü "Adopt" an Earl’s Place resident at the holidays and purchase gifts
ü Participate when a special need is announced
ü Families: take home lasagna pans to be baked when YRE classes make meals for Our Daily Bread
ü Families: bring items for Christmas stocking collection for men at Earl’s Place
ü Families: participate in Earl’s Place annual Resolution Run, on Jan. 1 (sign up to run, help with food ahead of time, volunteer day of the event)
Education
ü Volunteer at Banner Reading Club
Legislation
ü Get involved in UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland (UULM-MD)
UU's for Social Justice
ü Work with the 27 other UU congregations in the area to promote our principles
ü Become a member to help support UUSJ’s work
UU Office at the United Nations
ü Keep up with UN programs and encourage TUUC to be involved.
ü Become a supporter by signing up at www.uu-uno.org
Denominational Relations
ü Keep up with JPD & UUA projects and encourage TUUC to be involved.
Social Action - Internationally
ü Support UU Service Committee with donations to Guest at Your Table
ü Buy Holiday cards to help fund UUSC
ü Maintain yearly membership in the UUSC. Participate in the Guest At Your Table program. Participate in the Just Works Program.
Fund Raising
ü Volunteer to sell Alternative Gift Cards between services
ü Bring any new ideas for a fundraiser to our attention
Environment
ü Get involved with the Green Sanctuary Committee
Other Ways to be Involved to Help Others:
ü TUUC Representative to the UU Service Committee
ü Start a new social action project
ü Your thoughts and your passions?
ü Share this information with members of your family, your friends, and any appropriate place in your local community to help generate interest and involvement in helping TUUC provide these needed services.
SHARE YOUR PASSIONS FOR SOCIAL ACTION!