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 Rev. Crystal Bujol
Next meeting:
Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 7:00 PM
in the library. All 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:
| |
What is this project? |
How can I help? |
Homeless Family Center
|
The Fellowship provides one meal per
month to the residents of the Homeless Family Center in
Vero Beach.
|
-
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.
|
|
Sharing of Sustenance Sunday (second
Sunday of the month) |
The Fellowship collects and delivers food, diapers, and clothing to
those in need in the greater community of Indian River
County.
In 2009 the congregation donated 1,521 pounds of food to
the Indian River Food Pantry. In the first six months of 2010,
we have contributed 967 pounds. |
On the second Sunday of every month donate
- non-perishable food or money for the Indian River
Food Pantry
- disposable diapers for a loving family in
Sebastian fostering toddlers who are HIV positive
- during the winter months, adult and children's
clothing for farm worker families
- during the winter months, new or gently used toys and books for
farm worker families
|
|
Reuse Exchange |
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. |
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. |
Sunday
Social
Outreach |
Five charitable groups were selected by congregational
vote to receive funds during the 2010-2011 fiscal year:
Gifford Youth Orchestra
Gifford Youth Activities Center
Homeless Family Center
Indian River Food Pantry
Safe Space.
|
Donate to the social outreach offering each Sunday of the
month beginning in October.
The Social Justice Committee and Rev. Alexander will
determine how the funds will be allocated among these five
organizations.
|
|
For more information, call the UUFVB office at
772-778-5880. |
Education programs:
| |
What is this program? |
How can I help? |
| Social Justice Film Series |
Documentaries about social justice
issues are shown on the second Sunday of each month at
7:00 PM in the sanctuary. |
Attend and bring your friends and
neighbors with you to these films. |
|
Green Sanctuary Task Force
|
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.
|
-
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!
|
Advocacy and Witness programs:
| |
What is the program? |
How can I help? |
|
Fair Trade Corner |
A place to spend your money according to
your values. |
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. |
| Unitarian Universalist Service
Committee |
An international human rights
organization affiliated with UUA. |
- Become a member
- Read UUSC information
- Take suggested actions (calls, letters, petitions)
(visit their website at
www.uusc.org) |
Seasonal Projects:
| |
What is the project? |
How can I help? |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade |
Participation in the local parade held
every January in Gifford |
Walk with the UUFVB contingent |
|
Project Niños |
A Christmas gift program for pre-school
aged children of
migrant farm workers in conjunction with Redlands Christian Migrant
Association |
Donate money or gifts and attend the
party where the gifts are distributed |
| Teen Mothers |
A Christmas gift program for babies and
toddlers in conjunction with
the Vero Beach High School Teen Mothers Program |
Donate money or gifts |
Read some
history of this committee's
work.
|
