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.
The OCUUC membership has expressed the desire to address the needs of homeless persons in Orange County. A “Homelessness Action” group was asked to explore ways our church can make a difference in our area. After considerable effort the Homelessness group determined that can best utilize our volunteerism and financial support by joining forces with an established organization with programs that would benefit an underserved portion of the homeless in our community.
April 2020: Orange County Justice Fund
The Orange County Justice Fund (“OCJF”) was founded in 2017 by a coalition of immigration law professors, attorneys, and grassroots organizers in Orange County. The purpose of OCJF is to increase access to lawyers for detained immigrants facing deportation and to establish an immigrant bond fund to reunite families separated by immigration detention in Orange County. In 2019, OCJF launched Orange County’s first immigrant bond fund, to provide support so that individuals eligible to be released from detention can do so without being financially devastated. In less than one year of operation, OCJF's bond fund has paid for all or part of the immigration bond for 30 people (as of early January 2020). OCJF board of directors is all-volunteer. They depend on the generosity of donors, and welcome and appreciate all donations, large or small. OCJF is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. OCJF’s board president, Jennifer Lee Koh, was recently interviewed by USC’s Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. This interview provides a good overview of the work of the organization. OCJF also recently posted a Twitter thread that briefly describes the 28 people that OCJF helped to get out of ICE detention in 2019.
To read more about our current Plate Share Recipient, read the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, The Reach (link here).
If you are a Member or Friend of OCUUC, you may nominate a worthy organization by using the Plate Share Nomination Form.
Plate Share Recipients
2019-2020
Stand Up For Kids – Orange County, was established in 1990 and serves homeless and at-risk youth and young adults 25 and younger. They offer street outreach, outreach centers, mentoring, housing support and much more.
2018-2019
Camp de Benneville Pines scholarship fund to help UU youth and families. Retreats are designed to help participants connect with nature and find a sense of authentic community, realizing their own potential to heal the world.
Climate Action Campaignhas a simple mission: to stop climate change. Based in San Diego, Climate Action Campaign employs five key strategies designed to meet their policy goals and satisfy their mission: advocate for effective policy; educate through trainings, presentations, and forums; mobilize the community; organize and build coalitions; provide technical assistance.
Women’s Transitional Living Center, Inc. (WTLC), provides a comprehensive residential program, a children’s program, a crisis hotline, and a community services program. Committed to service all victims of violence including women struggling with substance abuse or mental illness and survivors with older male children.
Hope N Heart Family Grief Centerprovides children, teens, families, and adults grief support, connection and resources. Their vision is to see people supported in their grief journey, help normalize the grief process and create a world where no one has to grieve alone.
2015-2017
Share Our Selves provides support assistance to homeless individuals and families.
The Irvine Animal Care Center provides quality care for abandoned animals. The Center offers two unique services. The Enhanced Care Program receives animals that have been injured or neglected and provides needed medical services. The Third Chance For Pets Program transfers in animals from overcrowded shelters in Orange County and arranges adoptions. All of these services are paid for by donations. The young persons in our Religious Education program submitted June’s recipient. For additional information contact the Irvine Animal Care Center at (949) 724-7740 or animalcare@cityofirvine.org
CIVIC (Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement), a network of community-led visitation programs at immigration detention facilities.
South County Outreach was established in 1989 and has grown to meet the needs of people that are homeless and those persons needing health care services.
Laura’s House has provided shelter and supportive services for more than 4,000 abused women and children and counseling, life skills education and legal assistance to over 50,000 persons.
Mary’s Kitchen in Orange serves three meals a day, along with shower services and clothing distribution
Caterina's Club: In 2005, Bruno and his mother, Caterina, feed nearly 1,200 children, 5 nights a week as well as providing support for qualified "motel families."
Over the past six years, some 80+ 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.
History
As the highly successful 50-50-50 Project drew to a close in 2006, the Community Services Committee evolved. Since then our church has expressed its desire to continue to assist deserving community organizations and programs. Numerous have shared in our Sunday collections. Each recipient has been nominated by a member of our congregation. We act to further the Faith-in-Action goal “…of service and outreach that makes OCUUC visible and respected in Orange County…”
There are numerous opportunities to help make a difference in peoples’ lives. The Community Service Committee seeks your nominations of non-profit organizations or programs that will benefit from our participation. If you would like to make a nomination or if you would like to serve on the Community Service Committee, see Kathleen McFarlin or Ted Lundholm.
2015-2017