Social Action Partnership

To celebrate its 50th anniversary the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito (UUFSD) has designated the Community Resource Center of Encinitas as its Social Justice partner. The CRC is committed to breaking the cycle of family violence and reducing hunger and homelessness in our community. "It is an ongoing, natural partnership, deepened this year to celebrate the Fellowship's 50th anniversary," according to Robin Sales, who is spearheading the church's Anniversary Social Justice Program.

San Dieguito Unitatarian Universalist members Robin Sales, Lucy Solomon, and Lilia Welsh present backpacks and school supplies to Community Resource Director Laurin Pause.

For the past 19 years UUFSD members have brought non-perishable food items to their Sunday services to be delivered to the CRC and have participated in their Interfaith Shelter Program to provide temporary housing for homeless families during winter months.

This year they also provided 20 new backpacks, some filled with school supplies, and $400, which was used to buy additional backpacks and supplies. Laurin Pause, Executive Director of the CRC, said, "On behalf of all the children in Community Resource Center programs whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence and homelessness, we thank the congregation for providing new backpacks, filled with school supplies, to assist children as they start on new paths towards new lives filled with hope and happiness. The CRC is pleased to partner with such a caring group that puts people first."

"The Fellowship participates in other community social action projects on an ongoing basis, including clean-up and removal of non-native plants from San Elijo Lagoon, participation in the Interfaith Committee for Social Justice, and Homes for Hope, which involves building homes in Tijuana,” according to Ms. Sales.

2009 Completed Projects

We are proud of our undertakings and of the splendid support of all members and friends who made these projects successful. Listed below are the projects we have undertaken in 2009 and some of our future projects.

MONARCH PROJECT

The Monarch School is one of just two programs for homeless children in the United States. The School serves nearly 500 homeless students, in San Diego, annually. Toiletry items for these students are urgently needed. Our goal was to provide 250 toiletry kits to Monarch students. The UUFSD RE children assembled over 100 toiletry kits and supplies for another 50 kits were collected. Clothing donations were also made. In addition gift certificates adding up to $150, to various apparel stores were donated. Our April Generosity Sunday collection for the Monarch School Project totaled $1533, which will more than cover the costs for the additional 150 toiletry kits.

KIDS’ CARNIVAL AND HOME BUILD

The Kid's Carnival last month at UU Fellowship of San Dieguito (UUFSD) in Solana Beach raised $1,600.00 for a Tijuana home build. Another $500.00 was raised on Easter Sunday. A team of 25 people will participate in the build on Mother's Day. " Kathy and UUFSD are featured in an article in uuworld.org titled, "California Congregation Forms Tie to Tijuana Families."

HOMES OF HOPE BUILD

Volunteers from the Fellowship traveled to Tijuana to build a home for the Ramirez Mejia Family. They are a family of seven, and their previous house was made of plywood, with no windows or doors. The stucco was cracked and the sheetrock had large holes. The Ramirez Mejias family now has a new home.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME BUILD

On May 23rd, ten members of the fellowship traveled to Oceanside to participate in the Habitat For Humanity Oceanside Build. The volunteers worked on the Libby lake Village, consisting of 20 single-family homes.

COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM

Members of the Fellowship are volunteering to distribute food at the Encinitas Community Resource Center every Thursday Morning from 9 to 12:00 Noon.

GAY PRIDE PARADE

Members of the fellowship participated in the Gay Pride Parade, in July 2009.

BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAM

The fellowship has an annual “Back to School Backpack Project” for children of women in the Community Resource Center’s Battered Women’s Program. As in years past, we surpassed our goal of 25 backpacks. We collected 33 backpacks loaded with supplies.

INTERFAITH SHELTER PROGRAM

The Fellowship was responsible for the Interfaith Shelter Program from Sunday November 1 through November 8. The Shelter is located at St. James Catholic Church, in Solana Beach.

HOLIDAY GREETINGS PROGRAM

The fellowship participated in a holiday card distribution and visitations to residents of Residential Care Facilities and the Veterans Hospital. This program took place during the Xmas/Hanukkah season.

New Projects

COLONIA COMMUNITY CENTER

In the Spring of 2010 we will be building a Community Center for 35 families in a small colonia in Mexico. We need your support and donations to make this dream a reality. This is part of the “Esperanza Sin Fronteras” (Hope Without Borders) program. Sign ups for this project will be held through September.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

The fellowship will have other opportunities in 2009 and 2010 to participate in Habitat For Humanity Home Builds. Dates to be announced later this year.