How would you like to make some kids happy? Okay!  It’s holiday shoe-box time.  Each year, around the holidays, UUCW participates in gift giving.  This year, for the first time, we will be focusing on some of Worcester’s high-risk inner-city children ranging from two 9-month-old baby boys to 14-years-olds.  Some of the older ones on our list of 32 hold state-funded vouchers to attend Judy Perry’s “Jubilee After School Arts Program” which can be very healing and a balance to one’s spirit.  The young ones at home are their siblings.  In Fellowship Hall, you will be provided with everything you need to know regarding what to do.

Thank you for your good will and generosity.

Pauline Courchesne, shoeboxproject@uucworcester.org

The post 2024 Holiday Shoe Box Project to benefit Jubilee After School Arts Program first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Shoe Boxes, ACE kids, Holidays, UU.  What?

Here at UU, we continue our tradition of giving gifts to the refugee and immigrant children of ACE (African Community Education) in Worcester.  If you care to participate, here’s what to do in Fellowship Hall after any Sunday before Dec. 17.

1)  Go to the ACE table in Fellowship Hall starting Nov. 19. See you there. Choose an ACE child among the students on my list and sign your name next to your choice. My sheets contain the name, age, gender, grade and place of origin  of each child. You will walk away with a card bearing the same info as your choice.

2)  Fill the box (not much larger than our original shoe box), which you provide, with new gifts.

Write a note if you care to and place inside the box.  Wrap the box in holiday paper and write the name of your chosen child on top of the wrapped box. Please:  no candy, religious items or “violent” toys.  I will hand out a list of suggestions and a few world maps if anyone cares to have one.

Drop off dates in Fellowship Hall on Dec. 3, 10, and 17.

Thank you for  your good will and generosity.  See you in Fellowship Hall.

Pauline Courchesne, shoeboxproject@uucworcester.org

The post 2023 Holiday Shoe Box Project to benefit African Community Education of Worcester first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

As of Sunday, Nov. 27, people have signed on to fill shoe boxes with gifts for 67 students.  Is there anyone out there who would like to help out with buying gifts for the last three kids not yet chosen?  The 3 boys are 13, 14 and 16.

Drop-off dates in Fellowship Hall are Dec. 4, 11 and 18.

Pauline Courchesne, shoeboxproject@uucworcester.org

The post 2022 Holiday Shoe Box Project to benefit African Community Education of Worcester Update first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Today is known across our country as “Giving Tuesday”.  A day when we are encouraged to “reimagine a world built upon shared humanity and generosity.” We are so very grateful for our many members and friends who contribute regularly financially and with their gifts of time and talent in order that we thrive in our ongoing mission and ministries to “inspire people to take on the challenges of a changing world.” 

On this special day we encourage all of our friends to consider supporting our efforts to serve our community and bring about a world with more love, hope, and justice.  Your financial contribution will help us continue to address hunger insecurity for our neighbors and friends through support for the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry. Donated dollars also support our efforts to companion refugee families as they are introduced to our country and community.  Money given also continues our homelessness ministries to continue to provide shelter resources through our partnerships with local family and emergency shelters.  Resources also assist in our ongoing ministry to promote native-plant gardening and inspire a renewed effort to inspire our community to participate in renewing its relationship with the environment.  And, as a justice-making people, your contributions continue to support our efforts to promote anti-oppression, democratic rights and human welfare in so many other ways.  

Please help us continue to serve the community we all love and donate today.

The post Giving Tuesday at UUCW first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Shoe Boxes, ACE kids, Holidays, UU.  What?

Here at UU, we continue our tradition of giving gifts to the refugee and immigrant children of ACE (African Community Education) in Worcester.  If you care to participate, here’s what to do in Fellowship Hall after any Sunday before Dec. 18. 

1)  Go to the ACE table.  Choose an ACE child among the 70 students on my list and sign your name next to your choice. My sheets contain the name, age, gender, grade and place of origin  of each child. You will walk away with a card bearing the same info as your choice.

2)  Fill the box (not much larger than our original shoe box), which you provide, with new gifts.

Write a note if you care to and place inside the box.  Wrap the box in holiday paper and write the name of your chosen child on top of the wrapped box. Please:  no candy, religious items or “violent” toys.  I will hand out a list of suggestions and a few world maps if anyone cares to have one.

Drop off dates in Fellowship Hall on Dec. 4, 11, and 18. 

Thank you for  your good will and generosity.  See you in Fellowship Hall.

Pauline Courchesne, shoeboxproject@uucworcester.org

The post 2022 Holiday Shoe Box Project to benefit African Community Education of Worcester first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

It’s holiday shoe-box time.  Each year around the holidays, UUCW participates in gift giving to the ACE (African Community Education) children of Worcester.  ACE assists these refugee and immigrant children of poor circumstances through academic support, one of many programs available to them.  Our outreach at this time is very important as they have become very much aware of a national climate of unrest and racial injustice.  Let’s not let them down, especially under the current cloud of fear and hate. 

If you’d like to enhance their holidays, please sign up HERE.  Because of privacy issues, we will list the children by first name, still retaining the columns of gender, age, grade and country of origin.  The ages range from 10 to 21.  Please sign up on the horizontal line of the number you have chosen.

Drop off dates: Dec 5, 12 & 19 at church from 1-3 pm.  Please contact shoeboxproject@uucworcester.org for any questions about this project.

Here’s what to do.  

• Find a shoe box or something of similar size. 
• Buy gifts that are gender-and-age appropriate. Suggested gifts:

• hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, earmuffs, leg warmers
• warm winter socks and fashion socks
• gift cards to Wal*Mart, Target, etc. . .
• toiletries (nail file set, lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hairbrush, etc…) combs, nail art, barrettes 
• jewelry
• games, playing cards, puzzles, indoor soft balls
• LED flashlight
• art + school supplies including note pads, pencil sharpeners, paper clips
• magazines, journals, books, photo albums

• Place in shoe box (with a note or greeting card if you care to), then wrap with holiday paper and write the name of the child on the box.  Otherwise, we will not know whose gift it is. 
• Please: no candy, no “violent” toys and no religious items.

The post 2021 Holiday Shoe Box Project to benefit African Community Education of Worcester first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Over the past several weeks, Marilyn Martin and Dianne Mann have been meeting with a group of area Churches and Ascentria to determine how to help an Afghan family resettle in our area.  Ascentria is the largest resettlement agency in the area and is set to receive the largest group of immigrants. There are approximately 60,000 Afghans on U.S. soil living on military bases until they are resettled.  Ascentria is setting up Neighborhood Settlement Teams (NST)  in order to help transition as many folks as possible.  Each NST will need approximately 20 – 30 people, raise $8,000 – $12,000 for the family, provide transportation, help sign up for benefits, secure housing, food, etc.  Due to the size of this request, we will be joining other Churches to form an NST.  The Churches in our NST are Immanuel Lutheran of Holden, Emmanuel Lutheran of Worcester, Beth Israel and us.  This is a great opportunity for interfaith work and we are looking forward to it.

If you are interested in learning more about our work, want to help, etc., contact:  refugeeministry@uucworcester.org.

The post UUCW Immigrant Assistance Team – Afghan Refugee Update first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.