The mission of the Social Action Committee is to guide the congregation in identifying and carrying out social justice work which supports our principles of justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
The Fellowship, through the social action committee, supports the following projects
Helping Hands
By donating our collection on the second Sunday of each month, UUFM provides support to a range of non-profit agencies and associations, such as the Flint Hills Community Clinic and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Learn more from Helping Hands coordinators Drew and Amber Vennum at drewvennum @ gmail.com.
Happy Kitchen
This cooperative venture between UUFM, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and Seven Dolors Catholic Church provides free breakfasts for low income and homeless persons. Volunteers prepare and serve meals at St. Paul’s Fridays from 7 to 9:30 am. We serve breakfast every other Friday and have 3 teams who alternate providing the meal.
Happy Kitchen is a busy place. We have seen an increase in the numbers of folks served and the total number of meals. New volunteers are welcome and people who can substitute occasionally are needed. For more information contact Jennifer Bryan, snowbird@violinifer.com.
Other days & times local churches provide meals
GI Rights
The Flint Hills GI Rights Hotline provides information and support to military personnel and their families about issues such as hardship or medical discharges, sexual orientation, or conscientious objection.
UUFM Social Action, together with Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice (MAPJ) and other local organizations, established the hotline in 2008. UUFM provided the space and support needed for the initial workshop. Since then UUFM Social Action has provided financial assistance for ongoing counselor training, and helps provide lay counselors to answer calls to the hotline.
For more information, click here. For assistance call 1-877-477-4487 Coordinator: Anne Cowan
Souper Bowl Sunday
We join with other community churches and organizations in collecting soup on Souper Bowl Sunday. The 2012 Souper Bowl collection resulted in 212 pounds of food collected for Flint Hills Breadbasket.
Manhattan Living Wage Coalition
Working to help ensure that businesses that receive economic development funds pay their employees a living wage.
Fair Trade Products
Coffee, cocoa and other Fair Trade products are available for purchase each Sunday. Sales help farmers earn a living wage and help support Unitarian Universalist service projects world wide. Coordinator: Anne Cowan
Guest at Your Table
From November 14 through December 12 we conducted Guest at Your Table (GAYT) events. The activities increased awareness of the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) in conducting social justice work world wide. $297.00 was collected for UUSC.
If you are interested in furthering social action in our community come join us! Contact the Social Action Committee chair, Stacey Broughman.
