Posts by Social Justice Team

CommUUnity Garden?

We are looking for members to help grow vegetables in our CommUUnity Garden. Last year, we didn’t grow any veggies. The CG has a history of being very productive with the produce donated to a local food pantry. We welcome at least six dedicated individuals to help in this effort. You don’t have to be experienced because Susan Swing is a very knowledgeable Master Gardener.  Susan is growing vegetables that she will generously donate to the cause. Please contact Mary…

1st Elgin Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 3

UUCE is proud to participate in the 1st Elgin Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 3; a family-friendly event with a parade, food, vendors, live music, performances, activities, and more! You can find the City’s Facebook event here: Elgin’s First Pride Parade & Festival A general public map and schedule is available to view on the website at www.elginpride.com. They also sent us a flyer which can be printed to also spread the word. A copy can be sent to you if…

New, Improved PADS Signup — 3 months at a time!

Dear Friends,  I’m trying something different for our PADS shelter volunteers. The signup for the first and third Mondays of the month now includes three months at a time — to give you plenty of time to plan. Here’s the link for June, July and August. Let’s fill it up! PADS Lunch Signup for June, July, August Dotty CarringiUUCE PADS Coordinator847-502-4835 “Homeless Doesn’t Have To Mean Hopeless” — Elgin PADS

Fourth Sunday Styrofoam Collection

The Fourth Sunday Styrofoam Collection is on May 28 from 11:30am to 12 Noon. Place your bags of foam in the Blue Prius near the church entrance. Please separate CLEAN Food Grade Styrofoam from packaging Styrofoam, and bag the food grade foam. No Styrofoam peanuts (they can no longer be taken to a UPS store). Thank you for recycling your Styrofoam and try to cut down your use. Styrofoam can be avoided to a great extent. It is damaging our…

PADS Signup for June — Save the Dates!

Dear Friends, Please save the dates for June PADS signup. We need volunteers for Monday, June 5 and Monday, June 19. UUCE is committed to supporting basic needs of our homeless neighbors by regularly delivering meals and supplies to Elgin PADS, which stands for Public Action to Deliver Shelter. You may sign up to prepare and deliver one or all three courses, or you may volunteer as a server. Thank you! PADS Lunch Signup for Junesignupgenius.com Dotty CarringiUUCE PADS Coordinator847-502-4835…
Copper collection plate on a wooden table

Faith In Place

The Share the Plate recipient for the month of May is:  Faith In Place; People of Faith and Justice Protecting Our Earth   Faith in Place is a local organization based in Chicago, Illinois that coordinates religious leaders of diverse faiths and spiritualities leading the environmental movement to create healthy, just, and sustainable communities for all.  Faith in Place empowers people of diverse faiths and spiritualities to be leaders in advancing environmental and racial justice, providing resources to educate, connect, and…

PADS Shelter Signup for May

Dear Friends, Here is the link to sign up for lunch preparation and/or serving. UUCE is now volunteering for Elgin PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) on the first and third Monday of each month. Thank you for your service and support! Dotty CarringiUUCE PADS Coordinator847-502-4835 “Homeless Doesn’t Have To Mean Hopeless” — Elgin PADS

Elgin Pride: Save the Date! 

UUCE is proud to support Elgin’s first ever Pride parade and festival on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Pride month and related annual events are celebrated globally, with its origins being the result of decades of LGBTQIA+ activism and organizing for equal rights. On June 28, 1970, on the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Thousands of LGBTQIA+ people gathered to commemorate Stonewall and demonstrate for equal rights. Elgin’s plans…

PADS homeless shelter – Changes to our schedule

Hello, Friends, The UUCE commitment to provide lunches to the Elgin PADS homeless shelter is changing. Because of the limited number of volunteers, our church will now donate meals twice per month, instead of each Monday. We will plan on delivering, with the option of also serving, lunch on the first and third Mondays of each month, beginning in May. I encourage you to help on your own on the two or three Mondays not covered by our church. You would…
Copper collection plate on a wooden table

Community Crisis Center

The Share the Plate recipient for the month of April is: The Community Crisis Center The Gretchen S. Vapnar Community Crisis Center chosen by the youth of our church in recognition of April being Sexual Assault Awareness month. The Crisis Center was founded in 1975 to meet the needs of individuals and families in crisis. Employees provide comprehensive services to individuals and families suffering due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or economic difficulties. The mission of the Community Crisis Center…

PADS Shelter Update

There is one opening to provide lunch for the PADS shelter on the last Monday in March. You may sign up at UUCE.org and scroll down to the box “Help the Community.”Thank you. Dotty Carringi

PADS Needs and March Signup

Dear Friends, This week the PADS shelter needs: regular flavored coffee pods, paper plates, paper bowls, disposable face masks and disinfecting wipes. These donations may be placed in the basket near the entrance at church. Thank you to everyone who signed up in February to provide or serve lunches. We now need volunteers for each Monday in March. You may sign up on our website uuce.org. Here is the link for the March signup.  PADS Lunch Signup for Marchsignupgenius.com Thank you! Dotty CarringiUUCE…