Social Action

UUFNW Social Action Committee is up and running! Our Committee is bursting with people, ideas and commitment. This year, the Committee is spearheading efforts in two directions: First, by offering direct support of local needs and second, through local and regional advocacy by raising awareness of environmental consciousness. If you’d like to join us, watch your email and Sunday announcements to find out when the next meeting will be held, or contact Joe Simonetti at .

In the meantime, check out some of the exciting projects we’ve already been working on:

Shelter Partnership Succeeds on All Fronts

For the first week of the new year, the UUFNW provided food and shelter to some of the homeless in our area through a coalition with other religious and community organizations known as the Emergency Shelter Partnership (ESP). This year, with the participation of dozens of Fellowship members, youths and children, we came together to provide food, hospitality and fellowship to the guests at our table. The food was wonderful and R.E. even made up lunch bags filled with goodies for them to have during the day. We averaged averaged about nine people per night and our guests were quite expressive of their gratitude for both the food we prepared and the warmth and kindness we offered. It was a great way to start the new year!

Mt. Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry

The Mt.Kisco Food Pantry provides supplemental groceries to 70 families in need each week. In addition to periodic food drives, UUFNW volunteers rotate staffing one Thursday evening and one Friday morning once every five weeks at the Boys and Girls Club right in town. To help, contact Jane Hewitt at janehewitt@optonline.net or (914) 248-7834.

Neighbors Link

Neighbors Link is a non profit organization in Mt. Kisco that offers employment and education opportunities for the working poor of the community.

Currently we are collecting gently used and new books for K-5th graders in the Learning Links After School program, as well as games and art supplies, too. If you’re interested in being a volunteer assistant in the afterschool program, contact Gayle Hudson at gaylehudson@optonline.net.

In addition, Neighbors Link holds Family Night every Friday evening. They share a meal and enjoy some social time. Then a class is offered for the adults while the children are taken next door to the Head Start facility where they are led in games and activities. Carola Braccho, their Director, has invited us to be a part of their Family Nights to help with food and childcare. In January, the Fellowship sent its first group of participants and we all had a great time. Our thanks to Jane Hewitt and Jeff Tuson, Mira, Peter and Julia Renchner-Kelly, Pamela Schlomann and her family,Rev. Michael, and Youth Group members Mark Renchner-Kelly, Brandon Schlomann and Kirtiman Weiss. Stay tuned for details from Gayle Hudson and Social Action about how you might participate next time.

RECYCLING!!!

The Social Action Committee is brainstorming a recycling awareness campaign starting with our fellowship building and moving out into the surrounding community. Do you know exactly what you can recycle in your area? You may be surprised! Through special sermons, r.e. programs, movie nights, etc. we’ll be keeping you up on what you can be doing and what we can do together on a larger scale.

…As if that’s all not enough, there are so many other wonderful opportunities for you to volunteer in our area. Go to volcenter.org for a comprehensive volunteer directory where you will surely find the match that is right for you. Get out there - it feels good!