Social Action and Justice

Mission

The mission of the Social Action and Justice Committee of the UUCSV is to help create a more socially just and responsible world by providing opportunities for members and friends of the congregation to support and become involved in social action and justice activities that reflect Unitarian Universalism's seven principles.

Through this Committee’s work it is hoped that a large proportion of our congregants will participate in social action projects locally, nationally, or globally and that the UUCSV will be known in the Shenandoah Valley as a congregation that puts its social action and justice principles into action.

Ongoing Activities and Projects

If you are interested in participating in any of these events contact a member of the committee and/or watch the announcements for details.

The ARC of Virginia: The arc of history bends toward justice,” said Martin Luther King.  But for members of The Arc, a leading advocacy organization for people with intellectual disabilities – it bends very slowly, especially in states like Virginia, with long, entrenched histories of segregating people in institutional facilities – at no small cost to taxpayers.

Help support change!  Go to The Arc of Virginia’s website (www.thearcofva.org) and learn about findings made by the Department of Justice this year after a two year investigation of Virginia’s training centers.  Opportunities are emerging!

Sample advocacy letters coming, HERE, once the Governor’s budget is unveiled and terms for immediate advocacy more clearly defined.  Your voice makes a difference!!!  THANKS!

- Food Bank: We help the Lord Fairfax Area Food Bank to collect and box contributions after food drives, assist with fundraising events, and administer hunger surveys when necessary.  In particular, the activities include sorting thousands of pounds of food collected during nation-wide food drives in November and May each year and assisting in other food drives and fund-raising during the year.  Also, there are a few congregants who regularly assist at the food bank in collecting food from local stores, and filling orders from local food pantries and soup kitchens.

- Volunteer Farm: Throughout the growing season, members and friends volunteer time planting, weeding and harvesting vegetables at the Farm in Woodstock. All produce goes to area Food Banks to feed the hungry. This activity is open to all ages and runs from May through September each year.  Congregants may either participate as individuals Monday through Saturday or may join the SAJ group that car pools from the church two Saturday’s each month.

- Habitat for Humanity: We have supported the HFH build in Winchester/Stephens City [www.habitatwfc.org/] with volunteer help, individual financial contributions and grants from the church's fund for community welfare projects. The past two years, these funds have been used to purchase the windows in two Habitat houses.  The first year it was an interfaith build and this past year, it was a "green build."  

- Guest At Your Table (GAYT) is an annual activity where all church members/friends are encouraged to collect money to support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and its projects around the world.  This activity provides educational information and encourages children, youth, and others to donate spare change, or the cost of one serving each meal. This is a church-wide event from late November through January each year.


- Monthly Collections: p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }

Each month, a regional non-profit organization is chosen to receive food and goods donated by church congregants.  Read the announcements and/or look at the sign above the collection basket in the narthex for the non-profit of the month.  It includes Laurel Center (Battered Women’s Shelter), Woodstock Women’s Shelter, SPCA, House of Hope (Front Royal), C-CAP (Winchester), C-CAP (Berkeley County WV), the Lord Fairfax Area Food Bank, the Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter, and Pine Ridge Reservation..

- Penny Collection: This is an ongoing project for our children and youth (with assistance from church adults). The money collected goes to support an Indian orphan, Distabor Nongrum, at the Unitarian orphanage in the Khasi Hills area of India.  The funds pay for his care in the orphanage and cover:  food, clothing, shelter, education, healthcare, supervision, etc.  





- Virginia Organizing (VOP): VOP addresses many political, social, and ethical issues important to all Virginians. SA/J maintains a list serve to inform our congregation of activities and provide information for those wishing to advocate for and bear witness to supporting these issues.

- Environment:  The committee is working towards improving the footprint of UUCSV and educating the congregation on the environment. Toward this end, we have established a comprehensive recycling program and hold workshops for the congregation on issues such as the use of rain barrels.

Do you have a great idea for the SA/J Committee?
Issues/Interests Request [s] Forms and Urgent Need Forms are also available on the Social Action & Justice Board in the church narthex.  Please remember we need people, not just ideas.

Committee Members:

We welcome anyone interested in joining the committee to contact one of the above committee members. Regular meetings are the second Sunday of the month at 9:00 am in the church library.