Justice

UUCV’s mission is to transform lives and care for the world. We believe that neither of these things is possible alone. We go out into the world to work to heal the broken places of our world and then we bring those experiences back to our community to begin the work of healing the broken places in our own souls. From this place of healing and transformation we are reenergized to carry our message into the world.

At UUCV we focus on direct action and advocacy in our local community as well as internationally. We pack food at our local food bank and work to support the education of girls in Mozambique. We raise money, walk in parades, protest, meet with our legislators, paint houses and more. Check out the Social Justice Committee to see how you can get involved.

2021 Social Justice Activities

April Social Justice Opportunities

CARES dinner for 40 – 50

It’s hard to believe that we have been doing these dinners for CARES folks for a year now. Connecting with you people who have donated & brought food to the church parking lot each month has been rewarding and something to look forward to every month! Your generosity and dedication is admirable.
The April Dinner for CARES Carlisle will be Sunday, April 18.
Contact Pam if you want to contribute any of the following items:
CASSEROLES – Either chicken and pasta or chicken and rice
      Four or five 9x 13 dishes Needed
VEGETABLES – Steamed green beans, broccoli, or roasted vegetables
      3 or 4 dishes needed
SALADS – oriental Cole slaw, or any vegetable salad
      3 needed
ROLLS – 5 dozen needed, and 2 lb of butter
FRESH FRUIT – Apples, Oranges, Pears, etc.
DESSERTS –  Cupcakes  – 3 or 4 dozen needed
DRINKS – 2 gallons of milk, 2 gallons of lemonade, large can of coffee
Please plan to drop off your items between 3:00 and 3:30 on Sunday,
April 18 at the UUCV Parking Lot.  If you need someone to pick up your item, or if you have any questions, please email Carol Riesmeyer  or call 724/822-6423.  Items should be delivered in non-returnable containers.
A huge thank you to all who make the effort to contribute food!

Antiracism Initiative  – Monthly Meeting

On Saturday, April 17 at 10 am, UUCV’s Antiracism Initiative will meet on Zoom to discuss the book “Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?”:and other conversations about race / by Beverly Daniel Tatum to continue our exploration of racial injustice, racial inequity, and the impact of white privilege. The Cumberland County Library System has several copies of the book including in ebook and audio book format, or it can purchased from your favorite bookseller.

While we are currently focused on continuing to educate ourselves about the numerous impacts of racism, we are also interested in actually doing something to address the issue. With that in mind, we will have time in the meeting for brainstorming ideas for how UUCV can be an active antiracism presence in our community. The time is coming when we will emerge from COVID isolation and there is much work to be done.

Please consider adding your interest, energy, and ideas to this important work of transforming lives and caring for the world. For your convenience, meeting details and the Zoom link will be posted in PreViews and on our Facebook page closer to the meeting date. Hope to see you on April 17th!

Questions? contact Cheryl Parsons at cherylhparsons@comcast.net or Wendy Gebb at wendywinter@comcast.net

Volunteer at the Food Pantry
Volunteers are needed Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Food Pantry located at 123 Lincoln Street in Carlisle.  We will sort local donated fruits, vegetables, and baked goods for those in need from 9:30 – 11:30.

March Social Justice Activities

Antiracism Initiative

Anyone interested in joining the Antiracism Initiative is encouraged to participate in our next meeting on Saturday, March 20th at 10:00am on ZOOM.  We will be using materials from the UUA to discuss this year’s Common Read book:  Breathe A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry. Look for a Zoom link in the March 15th previews in order to join in the discussion

Volunteer at the Food Pantry
Volunteers are needed Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Food Pantry located at 123 Lincoln Street in Carlisle.  We will sort local donated fruits, vegetables, and baked goods for those in need from 9:30 – 11:30.

February Social Justice Activities

Social Justice Committee Invites You…The next UUCV SJC Meeting will be held February 17 at 6:30 pm. on ZOOM https://zoom.us/my/emilyuucv
We are going to watch another TED Talk at the next meeting, This one is about the Suffragettes. It is about five minutes long, but very informative.
We want to invite the larger congregation to join us starting at 6:45 pm February 17. We will have the business portion of our meeting done by then. From 6:45 pm to 7:30pm, we will discuss the film and the suffragettes. We will have some links to additional resources that I will place in the chat, if people would like to learn more on their own. That’s just a bonus, though.
Volunteer at the Food Pantry
Volunteers are needed Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Food Pantry located at 123 Lincoln Street in Carlisle.  We will sort local donated fruits, vegetables, and baked goods for those in need from 9:30 – 11:30.

Social Justice for January

Volunteer at the Food Pantry
Volunteers are needed Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Food Pantry located at 123 Lincoln Street in Carlisle.  We will sort local donated fruits, vegetables, and baked goods for those in need from 9:30 – 11:30.

Social Justice Meeting and Video

Open to All  The next meeting for the UUCV SJC is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 pm via Zoom.

We are going to watch a 7 minute video from the Equal Justice Initiative about Reconstruction and have a conversation about the video. The wider UUCV Membership is welcome to attend. No preparation is necessary.

The meeting will start at 6:30, but the video we will watch at 6:45 (after business is done). Persons who want to watch the film and discuss should sign in about 6:40.

2020 Social Justice Activities

Due to the Pandemic, our activities in the community are greatly reduced.  We are still helping in any way we can and invite you to join us.

Meal for Community CARES

We will deliver a hot meal to 40 – 50 folks at our Local Homeless Shelter.  Check our monthly newsletter and our website and Facebook posts for a list of items needed.  Delivery dates to the UUCV parking lot will be announced each month for you to drop off your food items.

Volunteer at the Food Pantry
Volunteers are needed Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Food Pantry located at 123 Lincoln Street in Carlisle.  We will sort local donated fruits, vegetables, and baked goods for those in need from 9:30 – 11:30.

Community CARES Donation Process

With the increasing numbers of Covid positive cases in our county we feel the need to remind everyone of our donation process. We ask all of those who intend to drop off donations to please call the front desk before you leave and let us know your estimated time of arrival. Our phone number is 717-249-1009 and dial 0. Donations can be dropped off at 50 W Penn Street from 8am-6pm. Please leave your donations inside your vehicle and call to the front desk 717-249-1009 and press 0 or ring the doorbell outside of the resource center. A staff member or trained volunteer will come out and assist you with your donations.

Thank you to the entire community for your support!
Mitten and Hat Collection 
We are collecting warm hats, mittens, scarves and socks for our CARES community.  Personal Hygiene items are also being accepted.
Due to our Meeting House still being closed, we have place two large bins at the parking lot entrance door that will be emptied twice a week.  Please place your items in the bins.
Please have your items in the bin by December 15 for a December 20 drop off to CARES

2019 Social Justice Activities

Give Back during the Holiday Season – December
VOLUNTEER at Project SHARE’S Farm Stand:
Thursday mornings, December 5th and 19th from 9:30 – 11:00.
SUPPORT the Middles Mitten Tree Project

Donate new mittens, gloves, hats, socks, scarves to those in need.

SAVE THE DATE

Sunday, January 19th – The 31st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration. More information to follow.

November Opportunities List:
The SJC presents the film “Suppressed: The Fight to Vote”

The SJC will show the film “Suppressed: The Fight to Vote” on Sunday morning, November 3rd, at 9:15 in UUCV’s Board Room.  This new documentary by Robert Greenwald (director of Outfoxed, Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price, and Making A Killing: Guns, Greed, & the NRA), weaves together personal stories from voters across the state of Georgia to paint an undeniable picture of voter suppression in the 2018 midterm election where Stacey Abrams fought to become the first Black female governor in the U.S.
The issues Georgians faced included polling place closures, voter purges, missing absentee ballots, extreme wait times and a host of voter ID issues – all of which disproportionately prevented many students and people of color from casting their ballots.  The film runs 35 minutes and will be followed by a short discussion period.
VOLUNTEER at the Farm Stand

Help is needed at Project SHARE’S Farm Stand on Thursday morning, November 7th from 9:30 to 11:00. The Farm Stand is located at 12 Lincoln Street, Carlisle, PA.

October Opportunities List:

SHOW UP to help at Project SHARE’S Farm Stand:

When: Thursday mornings, September 12th and 26th from 9:30 – 11:00ish

Where: Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln Street, Carlisle

JOIN UUCV’s team for United Way’s Day of Caring. 

The event will be held on Friday, October 11th.  Sign up at the Social Justice table.

REGISTER for our Beloved Conversations program – begins in October 11th.

September TO DO List:

Join our TEAM to make a difference in our local community.

“Day of Caring” is an incredible opportunity for volunteers to give their time and hearts to help local non-profit organizations complete needed service projects in the greater Carlisle area. Please join Team UUCV on Friday, October 11th as we participate in this community-wide service project.

The morning kicks off at 8 AM in Allison Hall on Dickinson’s campus (99 Mooreland Avenue, Carlisle) at which time volunteers pick up their LIVE UNITED t-shirts and enjoy coffee and donuts.  At 8:30 am, groups head out to their assigned project at a local non-profit.  After finishing their projects and working up an appetite, volunteers are invited to have lunch at Letort Park from 12:15 to 1:15 pm.

Sign-up sheets are available at the Social Justice table in the Social Hall.  Sign up deadline is September 22th.

SHOW UP to help at Project SHARE’S Farm Stand:

When: Thursday mornings, September 12th and 26th from 9:30 – 11:00ish

Where: Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln Street, Carlisle


TAKE PART in the National Public Lands Day Volunteer Event at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center.

Volunteers around the nation will pitch in on National Public Lands Day – Saturday, September 28th – to show appreciation for the nation’s valuable and beautiful public lands. Join the UUCV team and other volunteers for a rewarding morning of volunteering at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center. Tools will be provided, however, feel free to bring your own.  Participants should dress appropriately.

After a morning of volunteering, all participants will are invited to celebrate with a volunteer appreciation lunch, beginning at noon. All ages are welcome. Sign up at the Social Justice table in the Social Hall.

Sign up at the Social Justice table.

 

Change For The World – Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)

The Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) is a local 501c3 organization that serves and enriches the community by encouraging creativity and self-esteem through exploration and appreciation of the visual arts. It does this via classes and workshops, exhibits, and participation in community events. Since its founding in January 1992, CALC has offered a variety of programs for children and adults from hands-on activities to lectures.  These are offered in a number of settings, including the Carlisle YWCA, Carlisle Community Center, One West Penn, Cumberland Crossings, and Memorial Park Train Station. CALC provides financial aid to assure all children and adults have access to art classes and camps.  www.carlislearts.org

Lend a Helping Hand – August 

Project SHARE’S Farm Stand needs our help!

When: Thursday mornings, August 8th and 22nd from 9:30 – 11:00ish

Where: Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln Street, Carlisle

Why: To sort located donated fruits, vegetables, baked goods for distribution to those in need.

Live our mission!  Please sign up at Social Justice table.

Day of Caring – Mark your calendars for Friday, October 11

Register for our Beloved Conversations program – begins in October.

Contact Pam in the office to register 717/249-8944 or pam@uucv.net

 

Change For The World – The Gleaning Project of South Central PA

The Gleaning Project improves access to fresh, healthy, local foods for low income Adams and Franklin County residents.  The Gleaning Project uses volunteers to collect excess fruit and vegetables from local farms and distributes them to local food banks, senior centers, shelters, after school programs, and other similar organizations.  The Gleaning Project seeks to reduce food waste in the fields and distribute this food to those most in need.

Be the Change — July 

Join US at Project SHARE’s Farm Stand!

When: Thursday mornings, July 11th and 25th from 9:30 – 11:00ish

Where: Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln Street, Carlisle

Why: To sort located donated fruits, vegetables, baked goods for distribution to those in need.

Live our mission!  Please sign up at Social Justice table.

Sign up to volunteer at the Central PA PRIDE Festival – July 27th. 

Volunteer sign-ups are located on the Social Justice table.

 

Silent Witness Peacekeeper Training – July 13th or July 16th 

Training for new Peacekeepers will be held at the Central PA LGBTQ center in Harrisburg on Saturday, July 13th at 9:30 am & on Tuesday, July 16th at 6:30 pm.  Sessions last around 2 hours. New Peacekeepers are required to attend ONE session.  Current Peacekeepers are encouraged to attend as a refresher.

 

Consider joining in our Beloved Conversations program – begins in October.

 

Change For The World – Fresh Match (Farmer’s on the Square)

Fresh Match is a matching program whereby low-income persons receiving Food Stamps (SNAP), Women Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition programs, and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program for seniors may purchase limited amounts of eligible food items at the Carlisle Farmers on the Square market for half price.  Fresh Match’s 50-50 matching makes healthy, sustainably–produced foods affordable for low income members of our community

What Will YOU Do This Month? — June

Join US at Project SHARE’s Farm Stand!

When: Thursday mornings, June 13th and 27th from 9:30 – 11:00ish

Where: Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln Street, Carlisle

Why: To sort located donated fruits, vegetables, baked goods for distribution to those in need.

Live our mission!  Please sign up at Social Justice table.

Consider joining in our Beloved Conversations program – begins in October.

 

Save the date for Central PA PRIDE Festival – July 27th. 

Additional information and volunteer sign-ups will go up in mid-June.

 

Change For The World – YWCA Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services of Cumberland County

The YWCA’s Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis program offers a 24-hour Hotline for victims of rape and sexual assault, accompaniment to legal and medical proceedings, individual counseling for victims and their significant others, support groups, advocacy, and prevention/education programs to professional and civic groups, and students in Cumberland County schools.  All Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services are free and confidential.

MAY Events

Join US at Project SHARE’s Farm Stand!

When: Thursday mornings, May 9th & 23rd from 9:30 – 11:00ish

Where: Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln Street, Carlisle

Why: To sort located donated fruits, vegetables, baked goods for distribution to those in need.

Live our mission!  Please sign up at Social Justice table.

VOTE – Tuesday, May 21st

 

Change for The World – HOPE Station

Hope Station, located in Memorial Park, Carlisle, is a non-profit designed to enhance the quality of life, health, safety, and economic opportunities of the people who live in the neighborhood it comprises. Hope Station is not just a building.  Hope Station  seeks to lift up the entire neighborhood by tackling our most difficult problems through education, technology, job development and most importantly, teaching our children to become leaders by learning to respect themselves and others.  Hope Station has a commitment to unity and pride, ad embraces the success ad diversity of its families.  Examples of programs include: Youth Leadership Programs, After School Programs, Summer Food Service location, and Literacy and the Arts.  www.hopestationcarlisle.org

April Events

UUCV is needed at Project SHARE’s Farm Stand!

When: Thursday mornings, April 11th & 25th from 9:30 – 11:00ish

Where: Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln Street, Carlisle

Why: To sort located donated fruits, vegetables, baked goods for distribution to those in need.

Live our mission!  Please sign up at Social Justice table.

Change For The World – Community CARES

Community CARES (Combined Area Resources for Emergency Shelter) was established in 2004 to address homelessness in the Carlisle area.  The program provides comprehensive services to facilitate the individual’s journey from being homeless to a state of self-sufficiency. The Resource Center is open seven days per week, 365 days per year.  The overnight shelter services, which offer a warm and safe place to sleep, are provided by participating area churches, rotating on a monthly basis.  Guests are transported by CARES to and from churches that are not within walking distance of the Resource Center.  Community CARES operates on limited funding. CARES cannot function without volunteer services and donated goods.  A few hundred dollars could enable CARES to purchase needed supplies or meet special targeted needs.

March Events

You are invited to view the film Marshall 

The Social Justice Committee will show Marshall at 1:00 pm & at 6:30 pm on Friday, March 15th.  Marshall is based on the incredible true story of future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and one of the landmark cases of his life.

Project SHARE Farm Stand

Please join us at the Farm Stand on Thursday, March 14th and 28th from 9:30 to 11:00.  It’s easy work that provides a big benefit to a lot of people by providing fresh fruits and vegetables to those who may not be able to afford them.  The Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln St, Carlisle.

 

Carlisle CARES Host Training and Shelter Setup

Training for UUCV volunteers serving as CARES hosts during the month of April will take place after service on Sunday, March 31st.  Set up for the shelter will begin following the training.

Change For The World – Camp Koala

The mission of Camp Koala is to provide grieving children with the tools and resources to help them manage their grief in a healthy way, and to offer companionship in a supportive environment.

February

Fill Kit Karnsey (our beloved grocery cart)

Donate non-perishable food and/or money to the Mt Holly Food Bank.  This is our local food bank that supports the Boiling Springs, Mt Holly Springs, and Gardner’s area. Note: If donating by check please make payable to Mt Holly Springs COG Food Bank.

Sign the petition supporting U.S. House Bill H.R.8.  This bipartisan legislation is designed to require a background check for ALL firearm sales.  This Act removes the deadly loophole in the current federal background check process which allows firearms to be purchased without background checks at gun shows and on the internet.

 

Project SHARE Farm Stand

Please join us on Thursday, February 7th and 28th from 9:30 to 11:00 as we help provide food for those in need.  The Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln St, Carlisle. Please note this is the first and fourth Thursday of February.

 

Black History Festival – a free family event organized by Hope Station

Saturday, February 23rd from 10 to 3 at Hamilton Elementary School, 735 Clay Street, Carlisle.

Volunteers are needed too.  If interested in helping, contact Cindy Good.

Change For The World – Dress For Success, South Central PA

Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Our local branch is located in Harrisburg, PA.

January

Project SHARE Farm Stand

Please join us on Thursday, January 10th and 24th from 9:30 to 11:00 as we help provide food for those in need.  The Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln St, Carlisle.

Women’s Rally on the Square

          Saturday, January 19th from 10 AM to Noon in Courthouse Square in Carlisle.

The Women’s Rally (Men too) will be issue-focused, diverse, and non-partisan.

 

MLK Jr Walk and Commemoration Service

Join us on Sunday, January 20th at 2:45 pm as we participate in Carlisle’s annual MLK Walk.

2:45 – Walk from the St John’s Episcopal Church on the square in Carlisle to the Old Courthouse for a short service.

4:00 – Commemoration Service at St John’s Episcopal Church.

 

Change For The World – PRIDE Festival of Central PA

The 27th Annual Pride Festival of Central PA will be held on Saturday July 27th, 2019 in Soldier’s Grove Memorial Park, Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex, Harrisburg. This event will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and Half a Century of LGBT+ Liberation. The Pride Festival of Central PA is a project of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), fiscal sponsor.