A Holiday Tradition You Can Count On: October 30, 2020
Dear Ones, in a season where it might be hard to get your cheer and bearings, THERE WILL BE A MITTEN TREE. This tradition has over 3 decades of rich history at UCE and highlights the love and care of many of our members to help us all live our UU value of respect for the interdependent web of all existence in which we are a part.
In full disclosure, Mitten Tree will be a little different this year. Beyond the need to modify for safety of our congregation and our partnering communities, this is my first time taking the lead to coordinate our efforts. I have big mittens to fill and am in awe that Carol Nielsen devoted so many years of intention, relationships, and great record keeping that I have the honor to maintain.
This year, we will be partnering with 3 very special organizations to make the holiday season a little brighter:
The Rice Child & Family Center is located just down Ridge from UCE and is a safe home with wrap around services for children with post-traumatic behavioral dysregulation making traditional foster care inaccessible to them. The facility includes a medical clinic, group therapy classrooms, special education facilities, art therapy and maintains a goal of helping children return to a loving family environment. This year, we will be matched with 12 children to fulfill their holiday wish list. For security and safety, items can be purchased from an Amazon registry and sent directly to the Rice Center.
Connections for the Homeless is an organization near and dear to our UCE community. Whether through shared plate, Mitten Trees past, Our Giving House donations, or supporting affordable housing programs, Connections has and will continue to be a meaningful partnership for us. Connections supports more than 1500 people a year – preventing homelessness, sheltering those in crisis, providing advocacy services, and fostering development of job and educational skills. This year, we are looking to fulfill requests from 50 of their deserving clients.
Our third partnering organization this year is NEW. Sarah’s Circle has a proud history dating back to 1979 focused on meeting the needs of homeless women in Chicago. In December 2020, they will be opening a 38 unit Permanent Supportive Housing facility in Uptown. It is truly inspiring to see their team bring the pieces together, and we have the opportunity to make sure every new home has towels and dishes for each woman’s new home. Check out their website at https://sarahs-circle.org/ to learn more about this amazing organization.
Beginning in the second week of November, electronic “mittens” will be available for members to claim to purchase the requested items. In the meantime, please email me at bridget.wild@gmail.com or call or text if you would like to volunteer for Mitten Tree. This year, we would especially welcome people who are “Sign Up Geniuses” wishing to help set up and manage a list, “package guardians” who can receive purchased items for two of our organizations, “shuttlers” to help with delivering the collected items, and “designated shoppers” to fulfill last minute gifts.