Social Justice Committee
The Social Justice Committee is our conscience and helps us to realize the Fellowship's mission statement.
Co-chairs: Jim Landon and Glenn Rogers
Next meeting: Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM in the library. All members
and friends of the Fellowship are welcome to attend.
When we hear the words “social justice”, we usually think of providing a service
to or support for people suffering from an injustice or misfortune. However, the UUA’s department of Social Justice expands this definition to include three
additional elements of social justice work: education, witness, and advocacy. Below are the social justice projects administered under the umbrella of the
Social Justice Committee.
Service Projects:
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What is this project?
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How can I help?
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Homeless Family Center
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The Fellowship provides one
meal per month to the residents of the Homeless Family Center in Vero
Beach.
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- Donate food for each meal or help prepare the
food at 1:00 PM at the Center on the second Wednesday of each
month.
- Donate sample-sized or hotel-size
toiletries. A blue bin for collecting these items is located
near Door B on Sundays.
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Sharing of Sustenance Sunday
(second Sunday of the
month)
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The Fellowship collects and
delivers non-perishable food and money to the Indian River Food Pantry
on 15th Avenue.
In 2011 the
congregation donated $3,013.19 and 616 pounds of food.
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On the second Sunday of every
month donate non-perishable food, toiletries, or money for the Indian
River Food Pantry. Cereal, canned fruit, and baby food are
particularly needed.
(On other Sundays of the
month, donate cash to the
SUnday FUnd which supports local charitable organizations.)
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Reuse Exchange
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The Reuse Exchange of Keep
Indian River Beautiful collects materials for teachers and scout
leaders for arts and crafts projects, keeping these items out of the
landfill.
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Donate craft items like
fabric, yarn, ribbon, candy tins, curtain rings, tennis balls, costume
jewelry, candles, old CDs, maps, puzzles, calendars, marbles, spools,
baskets, and newspaper baggies. For a complete listing of items, click here.
A large, gray collection container is located near Door B on Sundays.
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Education programs:
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What is this program?
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How can I help?
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Social Justice Film Series
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Documentaries about social
justice issues are shown on the second Sunday of each month at 7:00 PM
in the sanctuary.
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Attend and bring your
friends and neighbors with you to these films.
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Green Sanctuary Task Force
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An ad-hoc program to raise
environmental consciousness for congregational practices as well as
individual behaviors.
UUFVB achieved its certification as a
Green Sanctuary in June, 2009.
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- Take the 1-2-3
Pledge
- Conserve water and electricity at the
Fellowship.
- Buy local
produce
- Recycle your spent ink cartridges at the UUFVB
office
For more information, see Green
Sanctuary candidacy program!
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Advocacy and Witness programs:
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What is the program?
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How can I help?
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Fair Trade Corner
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A place to spend your money
according to your values.
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Buy Fair Trade products: coffees,
teas, hot cocoa mix, chocolate bars, bean soup mixes, and Elli Pooh
paper products (made from the dung of endangered elephants), as well as
clothing, accessories, and jewelry made by women's cooperatives in
Africa, India, and Costa Rica. Tee shirts and bumper stickers
with social justice messages are also available.
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Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee
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An international human
rights organization affiliated with UUA.
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- Become a member
- Read UUSC information
- Take suggested actions (calls, letters,
petitions)
(visit their website at www.uusc.org)
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Seasonal Projects:
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What is the project?
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How can I help?
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Martin Luther King, Jr.
Parade
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Participation in the local
parade held every January in Gifford
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Walk with the UUFVB
contingent
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Project Niños
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A Christmas gift program for
pre-school aged children of migrant farm workers in conjunction with
Redlands Christian Migrant Association
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Donate money or gifts and
attend the party where the gifts are distributed
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Indian River
County Day of Service |
Participate
with volunteers from other faiths to help community agencies with
specific work projects. Skills needed range from landscaping and
painting to addressing postcards. |
Sign-up to
work on this annual activity in April. |
Read some
history of this committee's work.
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