Social Action

The newly re-formed Social Action Committee has a two-fold mission:

  • To develop opportunities for the congregation to engage in discussion of issues related to social justice.
  • To identify social-action needs and coordinate and support the congregation in activities in pursuit of social justice locally, nationally, and internationally as a means of living out our Unitarian Universalist principles.
Heifer International

Heifer International

As a recently formed committee, we are in the process of surveying the congregation to learn what social-justice activities individual members currently support and what activities they would like to see the church support. When the surveys are tabulated, we will post a list of organizations supported by members in the Fellowship Hall. We will also use the survey results to propose new areas of social action for the congregation as a whole.

Until we have the results of the survey, we are continuing to support activities already undertaken by the church:

Share-the-Plate

Once a month, the offering is designated for a non-profit organization whose work is consistent with UU principles. Recipient organizations are proposed by members of the congregation and chosen by the Social Action Committee. In addition to donating money, the Share-the-Plate program aims to educate church members about the work being done by each organization so that members can choose to become involved if they wish.

In recent months, the offering has been donated to Beverly Bootstraps Community Services, the Danvers People-to-People Food Pantry, Heifer International, Bird Street Community Center, Hospice of the North Shore, Strays in Need, River House, the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines, Health Quarters, and Camp Come As You Are (Little People of America).

Salem Mission kitchen

Salem Mission kitchen

Salem Mission

On the fourth Sunday of the month, volunteers from the church buy food, cook, and serve a meal to approximately 100 clients of the Salem Mission, an organization dedicated to ending homelessness by providing shelter, housing, meals, and support services to homeless individuals.

Danvers People-to-People Food Pantry

Church members and visitors are encouraged to bring a donation to the Danvers People-to-People Food Pantry when they come to a service. The food items are delivered to the pantry twice a month.