Homelessness and Food Insecurity
The Homelessness Task Force’s purpose is to work with agencies in Monroe County to provide services and support for those experiencing homelessness. Members of UUCB partner with the Interfaith Winter Shelter, a low barrier homeless shelter, to staff it on the second Saturday of every month.
The task force also supports Shalom Community Center, a resource center for people who are living in poverty. Shalom's Executive Director, The Rev. Forrest Gilmore, is a Unitarian Universalist minister who has a healthy relationship with UUCB.
The Habitat for Humanity Task Force works to support Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County with its primary focus to provide decent affordable housing for everyone. Towards this aim it supports ReStore’s (the Habitat for Humanity resale store) efforts to raise funds for the Habitat chapter. The Task Force raises awareness in the congregation about the needs for affordable housing and provides volunteer opportunities to support these goals. For example: every year women in our congregation participate in the "Women's Build", in which a team of women build a house from the ground up in a week.
The Help Feed Our Hungry Neighbors Task Force works to educate the congregation on the growing problem of hunger in our community, and to raise both money and food donations to help alleviate the problem.
Every year we hold food drives for, and donate holiday gift baskets to, Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM). MCUM, founded in part by members of our congregation, provides a high quality licensed preschool facility for low income families and emergency services, including financial assistance.
UUCB volunteers also staff the local Walnut Grove Food Pantry two times per month.
