Social Concerns Committee
The Social Concerns Committee is a group of congregational members who support various social action issues at local, national and global levels. Social Concerns Activities and Actions Share the Plate Update for February (January 20, 2012) Last month's Share the Plate visitor, Al Pereira of DBSA - the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Castro Valley, was welcomed warmly by the members of Mission Peak. He talked a little about what his non profit does, and was able to connect with quite a few people after the service. Because of the $642 that we collected in January, Mr. Periera's support group will be able to continue meeting. Thank you for your contributions. Share the Plate also had a little extra collection on Christmas Eve. Jeremy asked for a suggestion of a deserving non-profit to collect for at the Christmas Eve service. I selected an organization which is not a local non-profit, but one which seemed to fit in very well with the theme of the evening. While thinking of Jesus in the manger, surrounded by animals, we decided to collect money for Heifer International. This organization supplies underprivileged families around the world with farm animals to help raise up their families and their communities. Our congregation was able to collect $520 that night. And with that money, we decided to purchase: one pig, one sheep, one goat, a trio of rabbits, one flock of geese, one flock of ducks and two flocks of chickens. On February 12th, we will be visited by Darren Demonsi from the organization EMQ FamiliesFirst. This nonprofit, based in Campbell CA, does whatever it takes to help children in crisis and their families. They are recognized for innovative mental health treatment, foster care and social services that help families recover from trauma, abuse and addiction, and help rebuild their lives. They fight for sustainable change and advocate for improvements in the local, state and federal systems that serve children in need. EMQ FamiliesFirst believes the most effective form of care for children, youth and their families is based in the community, using strengths and needs to define and individualize service. They believe children and families should have the greatest possible access to services, as well as maximum voice and choice in planning, carrying out and evaluating those services. Mr Demonsi's organization is the leading provider of children’s mental health and social services in California, helping more than 18,000 children and family members annually. If you would like to donate to this non-profit, please come prepared on the second Sunday of February. On February 12th, after hearing from the speaker, we will pass around the collection plate. You may make checks out to "EMQ FamiliesFirst". Any cash that you place in the plate that Sunday will also be included in our contribution to this nonprofit. We are also open to any and all ideas for Share the Plate visitors from the Bay Area. If you have a non-profit that you would like to have highlighted on a second Sunday, please contact Natalie. Back to Top Social Concerns Planning Meeting January 29 at 11:30 am Anyone interested in social concerns activities is invited to join a discussion following the service on Jan. 29, 2012. At our September gathering we discussed possible projects and activities for fall/winter, set our priorities and assigned tasks. In addition to continuing our Second Sunday collections for non-profits (run by Natalie Campbell) we now have a Second Sunday Sandwich Brigade and have begun a regular food collection for Tri-City Volunteers (thanks to Jen King). Special projects have also been happening. Ursel Bloxsom is currently organizing the annual holiday UUSC Guest at Your Table collection (remember to keep "feeding" your boxes!), Jen coordinated donations for The Family Giving Tree, and Allysson and Michealle are coordinating the Home Warming Project for a family through Abode Services. We are also anticipating our annual volunteer hours project, to be coordinated this year by Paul Davis. If you have a new project to propose or want to get involved in one of our ongoing activities, or just want to know more about what we are doing, please attend the discussion on Jan. 29! Back to Top Guest at Your Table this Holiday Season (November 24, 2011) Every year we Unitarian Universalists invite all kinds of guests to our tables. On November 20, 2011 we distributed the boxes "Guest at Your Table" to sit on our dinner tables during the coming holiday season. These boxes come from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) which is a nonsectarian organization that advances human rights and social justice in the United States and around the world. It envisions a world free from oppression and injustice, where all can realize their full human rights which transcend divisions of class, race, nationality, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, and gender. The UUSC is an associate member of our Unitarian Universalist Association, but receives no general financial support from the UUA. The UUSC relies on our members and supporters - people just like you and me - to fund the programs. Please collect some money for your "Guest at Your Table" every time you enjoy a delicious meal and return the box or an envelope with a check in January. Back to Top Congregational Social Action Issues Being Considered by UUA (January 20, 2012) At the General Assembly of the UUA, a number of proposed Congregational Study/Action Issues (CSAIs) are debated. CSAIs are issues selected by Unitarian Universalist member congregations for four years of study, reflection and action. There will be five CSAIs discussed at the next General Assembly in Phoenix. They are: Climate Action and Adaptation Plans: Why Greenhouse Gases and Their Effects Matter to Us - Ending Slavery
- Exploring Class Barriers
- Families, Population, and the Environment
- Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling
If you have a passion around one of these issues, let Rev. Barbara Meyers know and she will help you find the people who are working on it. Back to Top Viola Blythe Food Pantry Donations The Viola Blythe Community Service Center of Newark is a non-profit, nonsectarian corporation organized to promote, support and advocate social and human services to any person who is in immediate need. This mission is accomplished by a variety of programs, including emergency food and clothing distribution, referrals to other agencies, special programs that address current community needs and holiday programs at Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are in need of food donations year-round. We now have a donation box located at the back of Cole Hall every Sunday where you can make donations of non-perishable food items. The following are staples that they need on a regular basis: dry pinto beans, dry white rice, canned tomato sauce, boxed macaroni & cheese, tuna fish, canned corn, and cans of chicken broth. Please keep an eye out for these items on sale during your weekly shopping trips. A small monthly donation from each of us can make a big difference to families in need. Back to Top MPUUC Sandwich Squad on Second Sundays 
Come join us on the second Sunday of each month in the Cole Hall kitchen after the service to make sandwiches for the Tri-City Volunteers Homeless Lunch Program. Those who would like to be part of the "Sandwich Squad" (children are welcome) should meet in the kitchen in Cole Hall at 11:30. Each person is asked to donate $5 to cover the cost of the ingredients and we'll all enjoy each other's company and make sandwiches together. It's a great way to nourish our friendships while providing much needed actual nourishment for others. If you have any questions, please contact Jen King. Back to Top What Groups are Part of the Social Concerns Committee? The Social Concerns Committee serves as a point of contact for the "umbrella" of specialized congregational groups, including the Share the Plate program described above and these other groups: Rev. Barbara Meyers leads the Mental Health Committee as part of her mental health ministry.The Inclusiveness and Diversity Committee meets monthly to plan activities that will guide Mission Peak into becoming a community where people of all ethnic and cultural identities feel welcome, and to promote dignity and acceptance of all people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, and their heterosexual allies. The Community Garden Project, sponsored by LEAF (Local Ecology and Agriculture Fremont) and started at the end of January 2010 on land formerly used by the Methodists. In addition to selling the produce at our Garden Share Table on Sunday mornings, some of the produce is donated to local food banks. Share the Plate was started in September 2009 by Natalie Campbell.Back to Top
Last updated 1-20-2012
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