Social Action
Vision Statement
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan, believing that we have something precious to share, supports its members in their pursuit of lives worth living through:
- Reason - understanding our complex lives and the world
- Spirituality - exploring the indefinable and transcendent
- Community - celebrating and nurturing individuals and families of diverse circumstances
- Social Justice - transforming our shared values into action
Emergency Assistance
We give substantial support to the John H. Goodrow fund, which is
described at
http://www.stjohnsmtpleasantmi.org/goodrow.html
This fund is intended to provide emergency assistance, including food,
shelter, clothing, medicine, gasoline, or other support to community
members. Referrals to the fund and to other community aid are obtained
by calling Listening Ear (772-2918).
Ten Thousand Villages
The Mid-Michigan Fair Trade Gift Bazaar is hosted by the UUFCM each fall. This Ten Thousand Villages festival sales brings a global marketplace of fair trade merchandise to the Mount Pleasant community for a weekend. Staffed by friendly UUFCM volunteers who want to help members of their community find holiday gifts that are fair trade and from all over the world. To find out more about Ten Thousand Villages at: http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/catalog/shop.php
Long Term Congregation Wide Social Action Projects
In September of 2007 the UUFCM convened for a Weekend Retreat. The Fellowship chose 2 projects as long term primary focus for social action work. The Malawi Children’s Village is our Global/International project and the Commission on Aging is our Local project.
Malawi Children’s Village
The Malawi Children’s Village (MCV) is village-based program that is
improving the current condition and future prospects of children who
have been orphaned due to the AIDS epidemic in Malawi, Africa.
MCV is located in the Mangochi district (in southern Malawi). The
majority of these children are fostered by members of their village, but
the children who are too young or too sick to be fostered are cared for
at the Nursery/Nutrition Center located on the MCV grounds.
Unfortunately this building burnt down last July and MCV needs help
rebuilding it. All the children and their caregivers survived, but, the
building was irreparably damaged. The children are temporarily lodged in
the guest
house and MCV is considering long-term possibilities.
With our help, MCV can move closer to fulfilling the dream of a newly
furnished Nursery/Nutrition Center.
You can find more information at:
http://www.malawichildrensvillage.com/index.html
&
http://web.mac.com/worldfriends/iWeb/MCV/Welcome.html
Gold Key Volunteer Opportunities at Commission on Aging
- Friendly Visitor - Be a companion to an Older Adult who seeks social
interaction but cannot leave the house alone. Weekly visits
are tailored to the needs and interests of both the visitor and the client. Time spent with the client may vary. Activities may include reading, playing games, talking, writing letters, watching TV, crafts. Planned outings to events or shopping are encouraged when appropriate. - Shopper - Help an Older Adult with grocery shopping weekly or biweekly. May shop alone or with the client.
- Escort Driver - Use your own vehicle to transport Older Adults to scheduled doctor's appointments, medical facilities, or food sites. You must have a good driving record, proper insurance, a valid drivers license, a vehicle in adequate repair and knowledge of our city and county area. The Commission on Aging Gold Key Program arranges all transportation and provides monthly mileage reimbursements. You will need to maintain the mileage log on the back of the volunteer time sheet.
- Meal Site Assistant - Assist at one of six lunchtime meal sites in Isabella County by preparing the kitchen for meals and cleaning afterwards. Set Tables, help serve food. Welcome participants and help them feel comfortable.
- Home Delivered Meal Driver - Use your own transportation to deliver lunchtime meals to homebound Older Adults. Routes are available throughout the county. If you wish, you may pair up with another person. Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.. Mileage reimbursement is provided.
- Receptionist - Answer phones and greet Commission on Aging visitors at the front desk. Refer calls to appropriate staff members, take messages and answer general inquiries. Assist with other general office work, including routine typing. Work a four-hour shift, either 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 12:30-4:30 p.m.
- Craft Worker - Volunteers use their sewing, knitting, crocheting and craft skills to create clown and gingerbread dolls for hospitalized children at Central Michigan Community Hospital in Mt. Pleasant; caps for newborn babies; mittens, hats for elementary children; scarves, lap robes, walker bags for nursing home residents; wooden toys and quilts for infants and children. Each year several thousands of handmade items are distributed to more than 35 local community service agencies and schools.
- Senior News - Take pictures, submit articles, proof articles in the Isabella Senior News for spelling and punctuation errors. Help with the labeling and the preparation for shipping of the newspaper on a monthly basis.
- Central Michigan University / Student Activity Center - Volunteers are
entry monitors who check ID's at the Student Activity Center (SAC). They
may also work as equipment attendants and technical assistants in the
bowling alley. Volunteers usually donate
two (2) hours per weeks or 100 hours per year in exchange for SAC privileges during that time. Volunteers for this project must be
at least 60 years of age or older. - Special Projects - In addition to the previously mentioned volunteer opportunities the Commission on Aging also participates in several other seasonal projects, such as raking leaves or shoveling snow for Older Adults throughout the county.
- Helping Hands - Is a group of volunteers with building or home repair skills. These volunteers will assist Older Adults who are unable to clean-up, repair, fix-up or paint their homes.
All Gold Key volunteers go through an orientation meeting with the Program Coordinator. A registration form is completed and with the permission of the volunteer a criminal background check and a check of the volunteer's driving record is completed with the Michigan State Police. If you are interested in more information about the Gold Key Volunteer Program and becoming a volunteer, you can contact the Program Coordinator, Ginny Cain, by email or by phone at 989.772.0748.