Social Action
Social Action
Putting Our Principles into Practice
We strive to put our UU principles into action through service, education, and advocacy. We promote and support activities which empower us to shape just, sustainable communities within our Fellowship, our cities, our country and worldwide. We meet in the lounge on the first Sunday of each month from 12:00 to 1:15 to plan, prioritize, and organize. Everyone interested in social action work is welcome and encouraged to attend. To stay informed about upcoming events, join the social action team e-mail list. Current co-chairs are Jim Beebe and Coralee Linton.
Recent Activities
In the past year, the Social Action Team sponsored or co-sponsored the following events:
- Pack-a-Back Drive for Sacred Heart Community Service; an annual drive (held in July) to provide students from low-income families with backpacks filled with school supplies.
- E-waste collection days benefitting the Second Harvest Food Bank in September and March.
- Holiday Food Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank from Nov. 18 to Dec. 16.
- Landscape planting at the Los Gatos Youth Recreation Center March 23.
- Participation in park and trail cleanup at Vasona County Park) on May 18.
Ongoing Activities
Share the Plate : On the third Sunday of each month, all offerings not marked as pledge donations are given to a local nonprofit organization selected by the Social Action Committee. Organizations are chosen because they provide service or advocacy that reflects our principles and values; preference is given to small nonprofits without support from large corporations or a national organization, where our contribution can make a critical difference. In the past year, we have donated a total of $3,360 to organizations including St. Luke’s Pantry, StandUp for Kids, and Sacred Heart Community Service, and to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.
Promoting sustainable practices at the Fellowship and in our homes : In 2010, the Social Action Committee drafted a Covenant of Sustainable Purchases and Use that was adopted by the Fellowship and continues to guide all supply purchases. Among the actions agreed on are:
- Use of non-disposable dishes and tableware at all Fellowship events.
- Use of paper products (copy paper, toilet paper, etc.) with a high percentage of recycled fibers.
- Use of non-toxic cleaning products.
- No use of toxic pesticides or herbicides, or of chemical fertilizers.
- No use of bottled water.
- No use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) products.
Members are encouraged to “take these practices home” to their own homes and businesses.
Sustainable Grounds Project - a joint project of the Social Action and Building and Grounds Committees, promotes water conservation and a healthy environment through the use of native and other drought-tolerant plants, grown without the use of toxic chemicals. (Add link toSustainable Grounds page here.)
Ongoing Food Drive for Sacred Heart Community Service - emphasizes foods suitable for the “No Cooking Bags” given to homeless clients and others living without access to a kitchen.
In addition to sponsoring drives and events, the Social Action Committee maintains a bulletin board where additional volunteer opportunities are posted, along with conservation information and newsletters from local advocacy groups. While keeping our focus on local action, we also work on issues in the wider community through the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of California (UULM-CA) and Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC).To stay informed about California legislative actions, visit www.uulmca.org and sign up for the UULM-CA’s e-newsletter. To learn more about UUSC’s worldwide programs, go to www.uusc.org.
Address: 15980 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos,
CA 95032
Phone: (408) 358-1212
Email: admin@uuflg.org