Community Service

In times of need, OCUUC and its members give tangible support to the needs of others. We divide half of the loose plate collected on Sundays to many different non-profits and communities in need. These organizations do great work in Orange County and beyond and we are proud to partner with them.

May Recipient of Church Funds

From time to time it is necessary to help folks in our church community. The “Finance Council” is aware of persons who need assistance so that they may attend General Assembly, in Phoenix. It is appropriate that we take-on meeting the needs of our own. The Finance Council will decide those persons we can help with our shared plate. See Christine Hernandez V.P. Finance for more information.

April Recipient of Church Funds: Save Our Youth (SOY)

Save Our Youth (SOY) is a youth violence prevention center serving the low income Westside community of Costa Mesa. SOY was founded in 1993 by concerned mothers who were losing their sons and daughters to a growing culture of gang violence. The center operates in the after school hours and serves youths in grades 8 – 12 in the Newport Mesa School District. Programing includes community health and fitness, a female empowerment program (SOY Girls), sports teams, recreation and educational field trips, social activities, and a scholarship program that helps students and gives them opportunity to earn scholarship money for their grades that can be used for college expenses. SOY’s greatest need is for tutors in Math, English, History, and Science. For more details about the organization, see Judith Stamper or contact Save Our Youth at, (949) 548-3255. Featured monthly recipients are recommended by church members. For assistance with your nomination, see Naomi Blackwood, Kathleen McFarlin or Maurice Giss.

March Recipient of Church Funds: The Ride to Beat Hunger

“The Ride To Beat Hunger”- April 22 to May 22, 2012, Costa Mesa to Vero Beach Florida – 3,300 Miles: Rev. Scott Alexander, minister of the UU Fellowship of Vero Beach, a 62 year old, severe arthritic, knee joint replaced cyclist is going to undertake a demanding month-long, 115 mile-a-day bike ride across America with the “Social Justice” message of beating hunger. He will begin by dipping his rear wheel in the Pacific on April 22nd at Costa Mesa and end on May 22nd by dipping his front wheel in the Atlantic. Donated funds will go to the Stop Hunger Now organization that distributes millions of simple meal packets t through school feeding programs in hunger-stricken regions of the world. Rev. Alexander says, “Being free of hunger is humanity’s most fundamental need and human right.” It is appropriate that we start “The Ride To Beat Hunger” as it begins here. For more information, visit, www.theridetobeathunger.org.

Our church has the opportunity to be a part of many lives in many ways. The Community Service Committee looks to you to identify efforts that need our assistance. For help with nominating a worthy cause contact, Naomi Blackwood, Kathleen McFarlin or Maurice Giss.

Recently, the Community Service Committee developed a Volunteer Survey to see where members of OCUUC are volunteering their talents and which kinds of volunteer opportunities might be available to those who would like to become volunteers. Forms are at the church online or mmgisscomline dot com (mmgisscomline dot com) . For assistance in nominating a monthly recipient for funds, see Naomi Blackwood, Kathleen McFarlin or Maurice Giss.

Volunteer Guide

Over the past five years, some 60 deserving non-profit organizations have been identified and designated the recipients of one-half of the Sunday collections. We have been able to benefit the lives of many worthwhile and deserving causes. Recently, it was pointed-out that a number of the members of our congregation do more than just give money. They take a “hands-on” approach and work to help programs in a variety of ways.

From time to time, visitors and members at OCUUC ask about getting involved with community outreach and volunteering to be of service to others. To this end, we would like to be able to provide a listing of possible service opportunities and to be able to refer those interested to members of our congregation who are already acting in “hands-on” efforts helping to meet real community needs. Please let us know what you are doing, where you are volunteering… with young people/old people, health and nutrition, the homeless,

education, addiction, the arts, the environment, political action or any activity where others may join you so they might benefit from the great rewards that are derived from being of service. Your Community Service Committee continues to seek to identify non-profit groups who can use our financial assistance and now we would like to be able to help by providing a guide for volunteerism. Please let us know about programs or projects you are a part of and how others may make contact and volunteer their time and energies. Respond as soon as possible with your name, a little about the program and how contact may be made. We thank you for helping us start to develop a “Volunteer Guide”. Your responses may be given to a member of the Community Service Committee, Naomi Blackwood, Kathleen McFarlin, Maurice Giss, the Church office or to mmgisscomlinecom.

A Volunteer Guide Survey may be downloaded by clicking this link.

Volunteer Guide Survey

A number of the members of our congregation are actively involved serving as volunteers. They take a “hands-on” approach to meet

the needs of the broader community. They work with young people/old people, health and nutrition, the homeless, the arts, the

environment, education, political action and more. Visitors and members at OCUUC ask about getting involved with community outreach and volunteering to be of service to others. To this end, we would like to be able to provide a listing of existing and possible service opportunities. Please let us know what you are doing or what types of service opportunities you would be interested in becoming involved.

I am a volunteering with: __________________________________

Brief description of organization and your service along with contact information:

I would be interested in volunteering to be of service in the following programmatic areas:

Name:____________________________ E-mail:_____________________ Telephone:____________________

**Please leave completed surveys at the church office; place it in the “Shining Star” box in the Social Hall or; submit to mmgisscomlinecom.

Suggest an Organization

The Community Service Committee looks to you to identify those non-profit causes that can benefit from our involvement. To recommend a potential recipient see Naomi Blackwood, Kathleen McFarlin or Maurice Giss.