Afghan Refugee Resettlement Effort

Board Chair Judy Nickelson notes, “Some of you have expressed an interest in donating funds to help the Afghan refugees coming to Manhattan.  We have set up a fund at the Fellowship for that pur-pose.  You can make out a check to UUFM and note [in the memo line] that it is for the Afghan Refugee Fund.” 

Or, donate electronically at uufm.net/donate. 

Susan Adamchak will collect and store sheets, blankets, comforters and towels for the families.  Contact Susan at sadamchak@kansas.net to arrange a pick up or drop off of your items. 

In addition, Susan tells us, “We have also forged a collaboration with Kitchen Restore.  They will accept donations of kitchen items, and will sort and pack them into kits we will be able to distribute to each family or living group … any donated items not needed by the Afghan households can be used to replenish KR supplies to help others in our community.” 

Learn about most needed kitchen items and where to bring them at KitchenRestoreFlyer

 

Helping Hands

In November, Helping Hands contributions will be collected for The Manhattan Emergency Shelter (MESI), to purchase and deliver holiday gifts and necessities for our adopted families at MESI.  Learn more at www.mesikansas.org.

As we gather Sunday mornings your contributions to our collection basket benefit the month’s Helping Hands recipient.  You can also donate online at uufm.net/donate/.

 

The Racial Justice Team Recommends …

Each month, the UUFM Racial Justice Team recommends ways to learn more about history, current events and how we can become more anti-racist.  

Our November recommendations: 

• Book: How the South Won the Civil War: Oligarchy, Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America, by Heather Cox Richardson.  Richardson’s searing book seizes upon the soul of the country and its ongoing struggle to provide equal opportunity to all. Debunking the myth that the Civil War released the nation from the grip of oligarchy, expunging the sins of the Founding, it reveals how and why the Old South not only survived in the West, but thrived.
• https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch   Podcast:  Code Switch from NPR. Hosted by journalists of color, Code Switch tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor.  It explored how race affects every part of society–from politics and pop culture to history, food and everything in between.  This podcast makes all of us part of the conversation–because we’re all part of the story.
• Documentary: 13th – “Ava DuVernay follows up her acclaimed film Selma with a searing docu-mentary that looks at the mass incarceration of minorities following the passage of the 13th amendment.  As the documentary points out, it’s not just ingrained cultural racism that results in the widespread incarceration of African-Americans and other minorities.  There’s a financial incentive as well, and it’s good business to lock people up.  13th systematically goes through the decades following the passage of the 13th amendment to show how black people were targeted by the media, by the government, and by businesses to create a new form of slavery.  It is a movie that will infuriate you, depress you, and hopefully spur you to action against a system that has done egregious harm to our fellow citizens.” – Matt Goldberg

If you have a recommendation, you can send it to Marisa Larson at marisa.larson@gmail.com.

 

UUFM Sponsors a Blessing Box and a Little Free Library at Wonder Workshop

Doug Walter reports our box is in demand.  To contribute items, contact Doug at kbsi@cox.net.  Or, drop by Wonder Workshop, at 506 S 4th Street, and stock the box with your items.  You can also contribute financially to fill the box or the little free library at uufm.net/donate.

The Blessing Box is for people to take what they need and leave what they can.  The box is stocked with non-perishable food items and life-essential items such as feminine hygiene products, toothpaste and soap.

We’re also sponsoring a Little Free Library at Wonder Workshop in memory of Richard Pitts.  To contribute books, contact Doug Walter at kbsi@cox.net.  You’re also welcome to stock the library directly.  Our Little Free Library focuses on books for children and youth.  UUFM’s box is registered with the international organization as box number 107632, and is on the international map of Little Free Libraries.  Learn more at littlefreelibrary.org.

“Blessing Boxes for Manhattan/Riley County is an initiative of the Food and Farm Council of Riley Co.  BBFM is an outdoor food pantry that serves those in need 24/7.  If you need a blessing, donations are available and if you are blessed, leave a blessing.”  — from https://www.facebook.com/blessingboxesformanhattan/.

 

Social Justice and Anti-Racism Resources

Check out this list of social justice/anti-racism resources at uufm.net/social-action-2/social-action-resources/. If you would like to suggest resources to add to the list, or have questions, please contact Marisa Larson at marisa.larson@gmail.com.

 

Contact UUFM Social Action Coordinator Kathy Swenson at swenson.home@gmail.com, to learn about all social justice efforts at the Fellowship.