Colie’s Closet wants to thank UUCB for choosing us as the recipient of your Share-our-Plate Ministry in November.  Colie’s Closet is a high school peer education program in its 10th year. Our trained high school students from BVSD  make presentations in BVSD middle and high school classrooms on the topic of depression and suicide awareness. They also cover what to do for a friend or oneself and offer resources to the students. These mentor students presented to over 2600 students in BVSD in the last school year alone.

Because suicide is the second leading cause of death for our youth and because untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide (for any age group), Colie’s Closet strives to diminish the stigma of depression by talking about depression and urging students to get help from a trusted adult when dealing with deep emotions. 

Come listen to our Colie’s Closet story and meet one of our amazing teen members at  November services. 

The Share-Our-Plate non-profit for the four Sundays in September is well known at UUCB, since many of us volunteer for or are served by this organization.

PRISM (Progressive, Radically Inclusive Student Ministry) is an ecumenical campus ministry at CU Boulder sponsored by local Unitarian Universalist and Christian congregations. Our ministry has been in existence on campus for 53 continuous years. We offer students of all backgrounds a welcoming, safe, and supportive community that encourages them to explore their faith, deepen their spirituality, build meaningful relationships, and put faith into action to make a better world.

 We are a liberal, GLBTQ-affirming community of students. We have students who identify as Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and some who are just searching and glad to be in community. We are gay and straight, undergrads and graduate students, some grew up in a spiritual community and some didn’t, but we are all seeking the progressive, inclusive way of the Spirit.  We welcome all students wanting a safe place to explore their identity, their faith, and their future. We are the only University of Colorado campus ministry endorsed by the GLBTQ Resource Center on campus.

When we Share-Our-Plate, we give half our Sunday morning plate collections for an entire month to a selected local non-profit. Members also volunteer to help these non-profits.
This is part of our external ministry.

It is once again time to begin considering and researching those organizations that you as UUCB members would like to be nominated and chosen to receive our Sunday full plate offering for a period of one month. The organizations nominated must meet all of the following criteria.

They must, A. Be non-profit, B. Provide services to all Boulder County residents,C. Be non-political, D. Their mission must align with the UUCB’s Principals and mission and E. Allow/encourage UUCBs members to volunteer.

Nominations will be received beginning March 22,2015. Forms will be available in the church office in the S.O.P. mailbox and can be returned there for collection.You can also respond by Email to Sharon Cronk Daudt at scronkdaudt@yahoo.com.DEADLINE for submission will be April 5, 2015. Forms to be collected at service conclusion.

A finalized list will be presented to the board during their April meeting. Once reviewed and approved,a ballot will be prepared and presened for member voting prior to the May all congregation meeting. No nominations will be allowed during this time.

Address questions or concerns to Sharon Cronk Daudt. Good luck to all, this is a wonderful way to share with our community.

2015 Description of the Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County

The Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County will celebrate its 10^th anniversary in 2015! The Center was founded to help community members address issues of citizenship and immigration status, while maintaining roots in community organizing. As a non-profit the Center provides educational programs for immigrants and the broader community, focusing on the many inconsistencies in U.S. immigration policy and the need for change. As a law office the Center has provided assistance to more than 3,500 clients, and has helped hundreds obtain lawful permanent resident (or green-card) status. Following President Obama’s 2012 announcement of “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA,) the Center launched a clinical program to provide affordable legal assistance to more than 350 DACA-eligible community members. With a clinical program already running smoothly the Center is ready to implement the new “Deferred Action for Parental Accountability” (DAPA) program that was announced by President Obama on November 20, 2014. There are estimates that between 20,000 and 50,000 Colorado immigrants may qualify for DAPA. The Immigrant Legal Center intends to be ready for the May, 2015 start date with help from additional community volunteers. Our organizational goal, however, is to provide legal assistance related to a long-overdue comprehensive immigration reform. Thank you for sharing your plate with the Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County, and we would love to talk with you about volunteer opportunities!

There With care is honored to receive the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder’s Share-Our-Plate contribution for the month of January, 2015! There With Care’s mission is to provide a wide range of thoughtful and fundamental services to children and families during the critical phase of a medical crisis. They serve families referred by medical agencies, by building a network of services and people who ease the burden of life’s day-to-day obligations with compassion and care. There With Care families receive services during the critical phase of a medical crisis. The timeframe for services is unique to the circumstances of each individual family and is determined by the Program Coordinators and the medical Social Workers.  When a patient is transitioned into maintenance or has moved from the critical phase of their treatments, the family is transitioned from services. This allows services to be moved to other families going through a medical crisis.

The congregation has elected the following organizations for our “Share Our Plate” giving in 2014-2015.  Please give freely as you can and remember volunteerism is an import aspect of the UUCB.

JULY                                    – open month –

AUGUST                           Imagine

SEPTEMBER                  Attention Homes

OCTOBER                           Safehouse Progressive Alliance (SPAN)

NOVEMBER                  Bridge House / Community Table

DECEMBER                  – open month –

JANUARY                           There With Care

FEBRUARY                  Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County

MARCH                           – open month –

APRIL                           Earth Guardians

MAY                                    Freedom Fund

JUNE                           – open month –

The time has come once again to review, consider, and vote on the organizations who will receive one month’s offering plate donations. Please take a moment and read through the fifteen nominations. Addresses are provided for further information if you desire.

Voting will take place via ballot after church services May 18th

1. Imagine – providing services and support to individuals with developmental, cognitive and/or physical challenges.  www.imaginecolorado.org
2. Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County-providing legal aid and support to those with need. Bi-lingual program supports the Immigration Ministry of the church.  www.boulderayuda.org
3. The Robert D. Sutherland Memorial Foundation – Focusing on the evaluation and treatment of  Bi-Polar Disorder in  Boulder County.  www.RDSFoundation.org
4. Bridge House/Community Table – Provide meals and needed services to the homeless and working poor population of Boulder County.  www.boulderbridgehouse.org
5. Freedom Fund – seeks to insure that all Colorado women have equal access to reproductive options to exercise their right of reproductive self determination. www.Prochoicecolorado.org
6. St. Benedict Health and Healing Ministry – provides medical services to uninsured and financially challenged residents within Boulder County. www.sbhhm.org
7. Victims Advocate Program of Boulder County – Provides personal crime scene and trauma assistance and support within Boulder County.  www.bouldercounty.org
8. There With Care – provides various services to assist and lighten the burden on families dealing with a critical illness. www.therewithcare.org
9. Meals On Wheels – provides regularly scheduled healthy meals to Boulder County, assuring one balanced meal daily. www.mowboulder.org
10. BCAP – Boulder City Aids Project, provides testing, risk counseling, case management and numerous services. www.bcap.org
11. SPAN – Safehouse Progressive Alliance – serving women, men, and children who are involved in domestic violence. www.safehousealliancefornonviolence.org
12. Boulder Senior Services – East and West Centers provide help with rent and medical expenses, and foster the engagement for elderly and their families. www.bouldercolorado.gov/seniors.
13. Earth Guardians – today’s youth centered on environmental activism, working to preserve our earth’s wind, water, land, and wildlife. www.earthguardians.org
14. OUT Boulder – Boulder county organization serving all ages of Lesbian, Gay, Bi sexual, Transgender or Queer, focusing on equality, respect and dignity. www.outboulder.org
15. Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center – providing rehabilitating care for greater than 2,000 wild birds and animals; Plus presentations to more than 3,200. www.greenwoodwildlife.org
16. Attention Homes – a safe resource for youth in crisis providing shelter, structure, and access to critical services for displaced youth www.attentionhomes.org

Out Boulder is a 501(c) (3) organization that serves as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Boulder County. Since 1994 the organization has provided services, programs, advocacy and activities for the LGBTQA community. Through collaborations with other social justice organizations, Out Boulder offers safe environments for self-expression, gathering support, and dialogue. More info at outboulder.org

The Share Our Plate recipient for April was to be the Parenting Place. Unfortunately, the organization closed down in October after around 30 years of service to our community. The Board voted to include a few special plates substituting for Parenting Place. The three organizations we will support are organizations that are supported by our Unitarian Universalist faith.

PRISM – 3/30

Progressive Radically Inclusive Student Ministry (PRISM) students of all backgrounds a welcoming, safe, and supportive community that encourages them to explore their faith, deepen their spirituality, build meaningful relationships, and put faith into action to make a better world. We are an ecumenical campus ministry at CU-Boulder sponsored by local Christian and Unitarian Universalist partners.

Living into Covenant Program – 4/13

Living Into Covenant is a program under the auspices of the Boulder Denver Cluster of Unitarian Universalist congregations.  It is an intentional program that creates a learning and caring community for seminary students, religious educators, lay people, and all Unitarian Universalist ministers from the Front Range of Colorado.  The Living Into Covenant program has become a national model for the support and nurture of Unitarian Universalist seminarians as they embark on their ministerial formation.   It is a a program that creates and supports excellence in ministry, healthy congregations, and a dynamic public witness for our faith.

The Freedom Fund – 4/6

The Freedom Fund seeks to ensure that all Colorado women have equal access to reproductive options and are empowered to exercise their right for reproductive self-determination. The Freedom Fund provides financial assistance to low-income women who make the difficult decision to end their pregnancy. Women come to The Freedom Fund in crisis and in need of assistance. We need your support to continue this important work.

When we Share-Our-Plate, we give all our plate collections for an entire month to a selected local non-profit organization (except donations otherwise designated). Members also volunteer to help these non-profits. This is part of our social justice external ministry.

Nominations close April 8th. So now is the time for you to nominate your favorite non-profit(s) to be our Share-Our-Plate recipient(s) this next 2014–15 church year. You can nominate past recipients or brand new ones.

Info on the nominees will be published in your May Clearlight Messenger newsletter. This will give all of us time to research the nominees (such as reviewing their websites) before we vote on them at our Annual Congregational Meeting in May. Nominations close April 8th, so get yours in ASAP.

As many as eight (8) Share-Our Plate recipients will be selected using these guidelines: Nominees should be: (a) a local non-profit organization, (b) serving Boulder County residents, (c) non-political, (d) whose mission aligns with UU Principles and UUCB’s Mission, and (e) where UUCB members can volunteer.

The person who nominates a successful recipient will be asked to notify and becomes UUCB’s Liaison to them.

Please submit your nominations to Aaron Norris, Share-Our-Plate ministry volunteer coordinator, Aaron Norris. Thank you for helping make our Share-Our-Plate ministry so very successful.

UUCB’S Share-Our-Plate recipient for the month of February is the Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County; sponsored by our Immigration Ministry — Fred Cole will be their host during the month. The Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County was founded in 2005 to help community members address issues of citizenship and immigration status, while maintaining roots in community organizing.  As a non-profit the Center has provided dozens of educational programs, encouraging the community to focus on the many inconsistencies in U.S. immigration policy.

As a law office, the Center has provided assistance to more than 3,000 families, helping hundreds of them to obtain lawful permanent residence (or green-card) status.  Following President Obama’s 2012 announcement of “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA) the Center launched a clinical program, providing affordable legal assistance to more than 200 eligible young people, in Boulder County.

With a clinical program already running smoothly the Center is ready for “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” — however it proceeds through Congress.  With help from our wider community, volunteers within the clinical program can easily expand to assist thousands, in navigating the process. Thank you for sharing your plate with the Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County, and we would love to talk with you about volunteer opportunities!

There With care is honored to receive the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder’s Share-Our-Plate contribution for the month of January, 2014! There With Care’s mission is to provide a wide range of thoughtful and fundamental services to children and families during the critical phase of a medical crisis. They serve families referred by medical agencies, by building a network of services and people who ease the burden of life’s day-to-day obligations with compassion and care. There With Care families receive services during the critical phase of a medical crisis. The timeframe for services is unique to the circumstances of each individual family and is determined by the Program Coordinators and the medical Social Workers.  When a patient is transitioned into maintenance or has moved from the critical phase of their treatments, the family is transitioned from services. This allows services to be moved to other families going through a medical crisis.

UUCB’s December Share-Our-Plate is the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless. Their mission is to provide safe shelter, food, support services, and an avenue to self-sufficiency for homeless adults in our community, based on a belief that all people deserve the basic necessities of life, and the community in which we live is called to serve this purpose.

The shelter’s precursor organization was founded by volunteers during the winter of 1982, in response to the death of a local homeless veteran who died of exposure in downtown Boulder. In 1987, the Shelter became a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation and has expanded and moved over the years, to its current location in north Boulder. This location also serves as home base for Boulder County Cares, and case management for the Boulder County Housing First program.

The Boulder Shelter for the Homeless is not run by the City or County of Boulder but is a private nonprofit corporation. The Shelter has always been for and of the local community, and still relies on the support of women and men who refuse to stand idly by while others suffer through bitterly cold nights for lack of housing.

Each year, 1,000 different men and women turn to the Shelter for help and each has a unique story. Some have been on the streets for years while others find themselves with no where else to turn for the first time in their lives. Some are battling addictions or mental health issues while some have just had a string of setbacks. Some never made it through high school and some have advanced degrees. Three quarters of Shelter residents are men and 20 to 25% have served in the military. About 40% of the Shelter population is working and another 20% are actively seeking employment.

The Shelter’s programs include:

• Boulder County Cares (BCC) street outreach program equips those living on the streets in winter with basic life-sustaining supplies, transportation, and referrals to appropriate services and agencies.
• The Winter Sheltering program furnishes hot meals and a warm, safe place to spend the night for those who have no other options during the months of October through April. Additionally, the Shelter is open each morning year-round to provide a hot breakfast, access to showers, and other limited services to those not staying overnight at the Shelter.
• The Transition Program is a year-round service offered to homeless men and women who are committed to regaining independent housing and who live drug- and alcohol-free, have sustainable income, and a clear budget and savings plan. The goal for the program is to serve homeless individuals in transition to permanent housing via case management and contract arrangements with the objective of clients developing individual life plans to identify and address issues that have led them to homelessness and to break the cycle of poverty.
• Off-site longer-term housing for individuals and families is provided through Transitional Housing.
• The Housing First program is a collaborative regional initiative emphasizing placement of Boulder County’s most chronically homeless individuals into permanent housing, supported by concentrated case management.

Meet the organization that will get 100% of our four November Sunday “Share the Plate” collections.  It’s Boulder Meals on Wheels.  Their motto is “We deliver energy … and smiles!”  The motto refers to the fact that Meals on Wheels delivers nourishing food along with the friendly, loving care of volunteers and staff.

Meals on Wheels of Boulder was founded in 1969 and their mission is to provide tasty, nutritious fully prepared meals to residents of our community who need their service, regardless of age or income.  Their goals are to provide nutritious, well-balanced meals, to help clients maintain or restore their health, to remain independent in their own homes, and to provide a daily ”wellness check.”

The Boulder County AIDS Project is the local nonprofit agency for our plate collection during August. All cash and checks that are not marked for another purpose (e.g., your pledge) will be donated to the Boulder County AIDS Project–half going to the Unmet Needs Fund and half to the general budget.

In 2013, BCAP has served 189 clients: 33 women and 156 men. BCAP provides counseling and referrals to other social service agencies for people who are living with HIV/AIDS in Boulder and Broomfield Counties and in mountain communities not served by other agencies assisting people living with HIV/AIDS. Ten new clients have come to BCAP since January. Six of them were homeless. Most of BCAP’s clients are low income.

BCAP has a food and supplies pantry, where low-income clients may receive items at no cost. UUCB held a drive for that pantry in July. A counselor determines the amount of items a client may receive on a bi-weekly basis by the size of the client’s family and income. BCAP also provides HIV testing, educational outreach programs to students, to the Spanish-speaking community, and to various community organizations. BCAP also maintains a group home for a number of low-income clients.

BCAP’s Unmet Needs Fund was begun by the Interfaith AIDS Coalition (IAC) to provide for client needs that cannot be met from general funds. IAC is a group founded to support BCAP; UUCB is a member congregation. As a recipient of grants, much of BCAP’s budget is restricted to providing specific services or operating funds. Examples of recent client grants from this special fund are

1.        A woman who lives outside of Boulder, but gets her HIV care at the Beacon Clinic (AIDS clinic in Boulder) and primary care in Boulder, needed an alignment for her car so the Unmet Needs Fund paid for that.

2.       A man who is trying to re-enter the work force was given checks to purchase a suit and pair of shoes appropriate for interviewing

3.       A man who is moving out of his apartment was given a check to purchase some cleaning supplies so he can get his deposit back when he moves.

Other unexpected needs have come up recently. Your donations can help with these needs too. BCAP had to buy a new freezer for the pantry. Every month, BCAP spends over $650 to provide meat and soy protein to its clients. Having a high-protein diet is essential to keeping a strong immune system for people living with HIV.  Without a freezer, it would be extremely difficult to provide this protein to clients.  Unfortunately, the new freezer cost BCAP $539.10. In addition, Big Red, BCAP’s truck, needs two tie rods. Repairs needed add up to $944.21.The truck is used by volunteers to take food deliveries to BCAP’s clients, who are unable to come to the pantry in person.

There are many opportunities to volunteer, such as shopping at Community FoodShare for the BCAP pantry, helping with fund-raising events, participating in the IAC, staffing the reception desk, bagging groceries in the pantry, providing rides for clients to appointments, and helping in many other large or small ways. Volunteers who work directly with clients are required to take a training class.

Big Red Needs Repairs

“We want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone at UUCB. Each of us felt so welcomed by your entire membership; what a warm and giving community! A total of seven people asked about volunteering. Thank you again for your support of Women’s Health; we are grateful,” said Suzy Gardner, Development Director of Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center. $2,110 was donated by UUCB members and friends in May to Women’s Health.

For our 2012–13 church year ending May 31st, Share-Our-Plate collections totaled $18,160, an average of $2,018 donated to nine local non-profit recipients by UUCB members and friends.

In summary, when we Share-Our-Plate, we give all our Sunday morning plate collections for an entire month to a selected local non-profit as part of our Social Justice ministry. Members also volunteer to help these non-profits.

Thank you for supporting our Share-Our-Plate Ministry. It has been my pleasure to organize and coordinate it these past two years. And thanks to Aaron Norris who will be the Volunteer Coordinator this coming year.

–Hilton Fitt-Peaster

July: MDD Emergency Relief Fund for Waldo Canyon fire victims near Colorado Springs, $1,767. (5 Sundays)

September: Attention Homes, Laurie Duncan, Liaison, $2,184. (5 Sundays)

October: Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN), Mary Dineen, Liaison, $2,106. (4 Sundays)

November: Planned Parenthood, George Brandon, Liaison, $1,970. (4 Sundays)

December: Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, Sharon Jewell, Liaison, $2,134. (5 Sundays)

January: Clinica Family Health Services, Janet Kern, Liaison, $1,928. (4 Sundays)

February: Intercambio, David Mendosa, Liaison, $1,789 (4 Sundays)

April: TRU Community Care (fka Hospice of Boulder & Broomfield Counties, Hilton
Fitt-Peaster, Liaison. $2,172, (4 Sundays)

May: Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center, Carol Saunders, Liaison, $2,110,
(4 Sundays)

Total Share-Our-Plate collections through May: $18,160 (9 month average is $2,018.)

Very important: In addition to the above financial contributions, numerous UUCB members and friends have signed up to volunteer their time to these non-profits.

For our upcoming 2013–14 Church-year: our Recipient nominations are now in process. A Schedule of Procedures (instructions and timelines) for the Volunteer Coordinator have been written. Training materials for the Liaisons to each Recipient organization have been prepared. Having organized and coordinated Share-Our-Plate for two years, I (Hilton) am now stepping aside and have given these items to Aaron Norris who has agreed to serve as next year’s Volunteer Coordinator for Share-Our-Plate.

Our April Share-Our-Plate recipient is TRU Community Care, formerly called HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties.

Founded as Boulder County Hospice in 1976 to provide expert medical, emotional and spiritual care to terminally ill people and their families, for almost four decades they have done just that — easing the burden and improving the quality of life for tens of thousands of people when compassionate care has been needed most.

Why the new name? As our community’s needs have changed throughout the years, TRU Community Care responded — with programs that extend beyond hospice to include supportive services for those with advanced illness and their families. One way TRU Community Care helps those in need is to care for all regardless of ability to pay. In 2012, they provided care for three times more indigent patients than the year before.

To find out more, go to www.trucare.org, or talk with a TRU Community Care representative in our Sky Room after each Sunday service in April.

Last chance. Please Nominate Next Year’s Share-Our-Plate Recipients ASAP.

Nominations close April 8th. So now is the time for you to nominate your favorite non-profit(s) to be our Share-Our-Plate recipient(s) this next 2013–14 church year. You can nominate past recipients or brand new ones.

As many as eight (8) Share-Our Plate recipients will be selected using these guidelines: Nominees should be: (a) a local non-profit organization, (b) serving Boulder County residents, (c) non-political, (d) whose mission aligns with UU Principles and UUCB’s Mission, and (e) where UUCB members can volunteer.

Info on the nominees will be published in your May Clearlight Messenger newsletter. This will give all of us time to research the nominees (such as reviewing their websites) before we vote on them at our Annual Congregational Meeting on May 19th. Nominations close April 8th, so get yours in this month.

The person who nominates a successful recipient will be asked to notify and be UUCB’s Liaison to them.

Please submit your nominations to Hilton Fitt-Peaster, Share-Our-Plate ministry volunteer coordinator: email (preferred) . Thank you for helping make our Share-Our-Plate ministry so very successful.

When we Share-Our-Plate, we give all our plate collections for an entire month to a selected local non-profit organization (except donations otherwise designated). Members also volunteer to help these non-profits. This is part of our social justice external ministry.