Food and Shelter Team
For information about the Mitten Tree, click here
Mission: The Food and Shelter Team (FAST) explores ways to alleviate homelessness and hunger and present meaningful service opportunities and programs toward the goal of further understanding the experience and issues of hunger and homelessness through direct service and education for the UCE congregation.
Programs of the Food and Shelter Team
Emergency Overnight Shelter
Soup Kitchen
Bundled Blessings
“Our House” Curt’s Café
A brochure describing the work of Interfaith Action of Evanston and how you can participate: Soup Kitchen Volunteer Flyer
Updates & Upcoming Events
Update from the UCE-Connections Partnership: December 18, 2020
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO, LATELY?
1,025 tasty, healthy sack lunches, that’s what!
Bravo! to the volunteers who shopped, made sandwiches, packed and delivered them! Many hungry people had a meal instead of an empty stomach.
Last October an article in our Newsletter gave details of our new partnership with Connections for the Homeless. Connections is a long-standing non-profit in Evanston with the goal of finding permanent housing for all, with supportive resources all along the way. UCE has had a relationship with Connections for many years, through our Giving House, Mitten Tree, and volunteer work of many of our members.
The UCE Endowment Fund and the Board of Trustees approved a grant of $40,000 to fund a Housing Specialist position for Connections for the Homeless. We also wanted to find volunteer opportunities for our members to assist in the effort to change lives, one person at a time.
One of the areas we decided to focus on, as a start, is the sack lunch program run by Connections at three locations in Evanston. We worked out a plan where we would supply each volunteer lunch-maker with a bag of non-perishables needed for 25-30 lunches, (granola bars, juice boxes, mustard/mayo packets, bags). Volunteers signed up online for the day they wanted, packed the lunches, and delivered them to their chosen location. They were responsible for providing the fresh components of the lunches – bread, lunch meat, cheese and fresh fruit.
Many people found this to be easy enough that they contributed lunches on several days. Some folks found it was fun to do with a partner to share the task and the costs. Through December, we will have provided over 1,000 lunches – all through generous volunteer efforts. Many thanks to everyone who participated in making such a success of this undertaking.
In case you missed out on this opportunity, or just want to do more, we have good news. We have received generous funding from Martha Holman and Faith in Place to keep our lunches-for-hungry-people going. After a break in January, we will resume sign-ups starting Monday February 1.
This is a chance to volunteer with the safety of physical distancing, in a way that produces immediate, concrete, satisfying results. Give it a go!
Carol Nielsen, Maggie Weiss, Sheila Holder
Serving Connections in the Season of Giving: November 13, 2020
Try on one of these ideas and find a fit – Serving Connections for the Homeless in the Season of Giving
As the winter holiday season approaches, have you wondered how you and your family could tangibly help other community members? Do you find yourself torn between feeding the hungry or advocating to build affordable housing in Evanston?
UCE has started a partnership with Connections for the Homeless and their housing advocacy group, Joining Forces for Affordable Housing. You can work with UCE friends to do some task from a wide range of service work from making lunches, collecting specific clothing, working at Hilda’s place or working on a myriad of housing advocacy projects including advocacy work with our local and state governments. Whether your passion is food, housing, children’s issues, legal justice reform, mental health, or equity, there is a role for you in this project.
Below are two links that will give you background on volunteering efforts you can participate in – one link to advocacy tasks that you can do from home and one to more direct service tasks, like providing sack lunches or volunteering in the clothing closet. Some of these tasks are family friendly and some can be done comfortably by one adult alone at home. Some are easy (join an email list), and some are harder (attend a monthly meeting and report what happened).
Find one thing on these lists you can do before the year end and make your contribution to our UCE partners in justice and to the people they serve. Guaranteed to make your holiday brighter!
To explore where to begin with your preferred volunteer efforts, contact Carol Nielsen (carolnielsen2100@gmail.com) for direct service opportunities, Dale Griffin (dalecgriffin@comcast.net), Les Butler (wb1630@hotmail.com), or Judy LeFevour (judy.m.lefevour@gmail.com) for prison ministry support or Sarah Vanderwicken (vanderesq@mindspring.com) to discuss housing advocacy.
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.
Your Chance to Connect with Connections for the Homeless: October 23, 2020
We have new opportunities for volunteers who want to make a difference in our community in very concrete ways. Connections for the Homeless is a well-established, non-profit organization in Evanston, providing a wide range of services to homeless people. To address the complexities of services during the Covid19 pandemic, they have been creative and flexible and have increased their efforts to meet greater needs. They provide temporary housing, lunches, clothing and access to other essential services, including a path to permanent housing.
The UCE Prison Ministry and Food and Shelter Team are launching a renewed and invigorated partnership with Connections, along with a $40,000 donation from our Endowment Fund. Connections has effective infrastructure to provide services, which all depend on lots of volunteers. That’s where we come in – with volunteers! We’re starting with two areas – bag lunches and the Clothing Room at Hilda’s Place. We’re hopeful that in 2021 we can expand to other projects, as well.
There are roles for all adults, with varying levels of contact with other people. The 25 bag lunches (sandwich, fruit, snack and drink) are made and delivered to Hilda’s Place on Monday through Friday. Hilda’s Place is in the basement of Lake Street Church, 1458 Chicago Ave. in Evanston. The cost of the food is already covered.
The Clothing Room at Hilda’s Place is a way for people to get clean, warm clothing. It also helps provide a sense of value and dignity and a way to build relationships with people living on the street. Winter is almost here! Volunteers are needed to gather new socks and underwear or lightly used hoodies, jackets, sweatshirts. They can’t use dress clothes, like sport jackets.
These are tasks that can be done in small groups or individually. The lunches can be made at home or in the UCE kitchen. Please use the link below to sign up for a date to help with bag lunches. This is a great way to invest in our community in a practical, meaningful way.
Questions? Contact Sheila Holder at skholder8@gmail.com.
New Partnership with Connections for the Homeless: October 9, 2020
New Partnership Launched with UCE and Connections for the Homeless: Calling UCE Congregants to be Part of Changing the World One Person at a Time
We are pleased to announce that the UCE Endowment Fund and the Board of Trustees have approved a grant of $40,000 to fund a Housing Specialist position for Connections for the Homeless (CFTH). The Prison Ministry and the Food and Shelter Team cooperated in submitting the proposal to the Endowment Fund for this position. At CFTH, a housing specialist identifies landlords who will accept persons who are homeless, some returning from prison, some with substance abuse problems, and mental illness. The specialist also helps clients understand what is involved in renting an apartment. In a recent meeting with the staff at CFTH we learned that this is one of the largest gifts from a faith community.
We should be proud of this new partnership and the bold efforts we will make to change lives, one person at a time. There are three areas where volunteers are needed: Direct Service, Housing Advocacy and Prison Ministry. We want you to be a part of this partnership. Let's lift up UCE's financial commitment and match it with a commitment of time, skills, and love.
The Volunteer Opportunities Will Focus on Three Areas
Direct Service including options such as making lunches, helping at the clothing room, collecting appropriate clothing, or doing a toiletry drive.
Affordable Housing Advocacy including writing letters, talking with legislators, attending meetings with City of Evanston staff, and
Solidarity Circles including providing support to persons recently released from prison by helping them get their feet on the ground, listening and building relationships with those with criminal records, and providing various types of support.
More information will be available as we organize the congregation to help build this new partnership.
Opportunities for UCE to be an Ally with Connections
We can assist in these efforts while increasing awareness, advocacy, and volunteer efforts for UCE congregants and build on the existing relationship with CFTH. Social justice projects, using volunteers, provide an opportunity for church members to build relationships with persons returning from prison and people who are homeless, thus deepening our understanding of what it means to be in relationship with people who have been marginalized.
How Do we Start this Partnership?
A UCE Coordinating Committee has been organized to work in three areas to promote volunteering opportunities. The group has met with staff at CFTH, and soon will be offering volunteer options for the congregation. Members of the Committee include Shirley Adams, Les Butler, Dale Griffin, Sheila Holder, Jeanne Kerl, Judy LeFevour, Carol Nielsen, Maggie Weiss, and Dennis Wilson with support from Rev. Susan Frances.
Prison Ministry and Food and Shelter Team
The UCE Prison Ministry Team has a goal of encouraging supportive housing on the North Shore for people returning from prison or with a criminal record. Finding housing is often more critical even before getting a job. Persons returning from prison often do not have credit or a work history, and with a criminal record, landlords are reluctant to rent to them. The Food and Shelter Team has worked on a variety of housing related issues in the past, most notably sponsoring a refugee family to furnish their apartment and providing support for their integration into American society.
Some of the Challenges for Finding Housing:
Why We Chose Connections for the Homeless:
Connections for the Homeless is an organization based in Evanston with strong ties to our church community. Several congregants have volunteered with CFTH over the past ten years. We have also served clients through the Mitten Tree and Our Giving House. The mission of Connections is to combat homelessness, the most visible and solvable form of poverty. Homelessness is also a symptom of institutional racism, historical inequities, and failures in many systems on many levels. CFTH’s recent response to the COVID-19 pandemic is an example of their success in responding to a crisis and finding both financial resources and housing at this critical time.
Connections for the Homeless serves 2,100 people a year. In addition to the direct services they provide, CFTH has been working vigorously with others in the community to identify root causes of homelessness through advocacy for more affordable housing and greater equity in housing practices.
CFTH estimates that at least half of their clients have criminal records, making the search for housing difficult. Approximately 50 % of CFTH clients are women, so their efforts support the housing of both men and women returning from prison.
Why does our Faith Call us to do this work?
We are called to undertake this work by our respect for the inherent worth and dignity of each person, by our understanding that “hurt people hurt people”, and by our desire to promote healing of trauma caused by systemic injustice. We promote justice, equity, and compassion. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. We want to engage in action, and not fall into the easy practice of just studying the problem. By getting our members proximate to the lives of those directly affected, we hope to motivate our members with a sense of urgency for change.
Submitted by Dale Griffin and Carol Nielsen
What is that Overnight Shelter like, anyway?
Submitted by: Sheila Holder
We’re talking about the Evanston Emergency Overnight Shelter, sponsored by Interfaith Action. We are participants at UCE and will host people during the weeks of Feb. 25, Mar. 4, and Mar. 18, providing the night time temperature will be 15 degrees or lower.
I was curious, myself, so I took a short training in the Fall. Volunteers are needed for three time frames: set up 8-9:30pm; overnight 9:30pm-7am; cleanup 6-7am. I didn’t intend to ever do the overnight shift, but when extreme temperatures were sustained during the holiday period, I decided I’d give it a try.
This is what I found – It’s not so bad – I would do this again! The guests (18 the night I was there) were grateful to have a safe, warm place to go, even with such strict time limits. They were respectful of the rules, each other and the volunteers. A staff member was always there – I was never alone. I met a friendly couple, Howard and Lisa, from Beth Emet who were finishing up their set-up shift. I had a comfy armchair (a cot, if I wanted it) and a light, which was perfect, because I had brought a lot to read. I actually got several hours of sleep.
The a.m. volunteers were there before I knew it and my day got an early start and a boost from feeling useful and productive.
We will need many volunteers for all shifts during the weeks that we host. The shelter is held only if the temperature is low enough, so you may or may not be needed on a particular day. Based on my experience, I recommend this to everyone who is looking for a flexible, rewarding volunteer experience that truly makes a difference to people in our community.
More Information
OUR GIVING HOUSE COLLECTION 2015/16
September/October: Welcome Kits –Regular size soap, toothbrush, tooth paste, conditioner, baby powder lotion, shampoo, razors, washcloths, shampoo
November: long underwear and socks
December: no collection-Mitten Tree
January: Canned tuna, chicken, salmon
February: Diapers
March: Tuna, salmon, chicken
April: Hearty canned soups/stews
May: Card games, kids small games or puzzles
GIVING HOUSE GUIDELINES FOR SPONSORS
The Giving House is under the care of the Van Dyke Covenant Group for this year. We publicize, and see to it that there is a sponsor every month. The sponsors (often a Covenant Group) volunteer for a given month, and are responsible for 2 things. 1) matching the amount of product in the Giving House for their month, and 2) getting it to Hilda’s Place along with the existing contributions from the house. However your group decides to accomplish this is entirely up to you. We will count up the contents, call you with the amount you need to contribute on the LAST DAY OF THE MONTH, and when you are ready, we will choose a time to consolidate all of the items for your group to deliver. We will need a contact from your group.
This is an excellent activity for Covenant Groups. It is simple, rewarding, team oriented, and not too expensive. ($10.00 to $20.00 a person) If you have a problem with the cost of your particular month, just let us know. We will help out.
The collection and counting of the Giving House items is made on the last day of the month by us. Please let us know if you have any questions. We hope you will choose to volunteer.
If you wish to participate, or have any questions please contact Johna Van Dyke at johnavandyke@gmail.com.
UCE’S REFUGEE PROJECT
The refugee project is busy at work. We had a great turnout at our Potluck on May 2nd and many people have volunteered to help. We are now ready to seek congregation-wide volunteers.
We will sponsor a Syrian family in September. We are working with Refugee One, a Chicago-based organization that has helped thousands of refugees settle in Chicagoland. Refugee One will handle a wide array of responsibilities. The UCE Refugee Committee’s responsibilities are to:
* raise money for rent/utilities/ and other necessities (approx. $8000-$10,000).
* gather furnishings and housewares for the family’s apartment (Refugee One finds the apartment and provides mattresses and bed frames).
* provide mentors for the family for at least 1 year. Mentors orient the family to basic ways of life in the U.S.: how to take public transport, how to shop for groceries, etc. Mentors also practice English with them and may take them to appointments, and to share social outings so they can get to know Chicago.
* prepare the apartment: clean, paint, and get the apartment ready to move in.
* meet the family at the airport and stock their pantry with at least 2 weeks of supplies and prepare them a welcoming meal.
* provide tutoring to help family members learn English.
* provide clothing for winter
* help the family understand the American school & higher education systems.
* help the family find a house of worship, childcare, etc.
Refugee One has language classes and helps refugees find jobs. Refugee One partners with local employers–so they get jobs pretty quickly in most cases.
What can you do? We will be launching the fundraising effort and will notify the congregation. We want you to share the funding page with your friends and co-workers. We need volunteers, please consider joining one of our volunteer teams. A volunteer sign-up chart is posted on the Food and Shelter Team Bulletin Board.
Questions? email: Jeanne Kerl (figkerl@gmail.com) or Carol Nielsen (carolsnielsen@sbcglobal.net)
UCE’S REFUGEE FUNDRAISING FOR SPONSORSHIP BEGINS
UCE is co-sponsoring a Syrian family, in partnership with RefugeeOne, an organization working with the US State Department. We hope that the family will be housed in Rogers Park but we will not know until early September exactly where they will live.
There are two main parts to this project: the first phase is raising funds. We have set up a website hosted by Refugee One to begin the fundraising. We cannot commit to having a family until we have raised the $8000 that will be required for six months rent and utilities. Please visit our fundraising site to make a donation.
You may be contacted by one of the UCE Refugee Committee members to ask for your support. All levels of donations are welcome.
The second phase is preparing for the family’s arrival hopefully sometime in September. We will also be helping the family learn English, navigate the school system, find a job, and learn the everyday living responsibilities of life in Chicago.
There is a role for you! Please make a donation. Sign up at the UCE Social Action Bulletin Board to help on one of the teams. Questions: contact Jeanne Kerl (figkerl@gmail.com) or Carol Nielsen (carolsnielsen@sbcglobal.net). We look forward to working with you to change the lives of a refugee family.
UCE’S SOUP KITCHEN LOWDOWN
UCE’s soup kitchen work is part of an Evanston-wide system that provides a meal every day of the week 365 days a year. Several are coordinated by Interfaith Action of Evanston, and others are run independently by congregations. A schedule of all the offerings is available here.
During the fall and spring, UCE hosts Wednesday dinners when our neighbor Beth Emet is celebrating holidays and unable to host. We serve dinner and provide a sack lunch. This fall we are hosting on September 16 and 23 .
During the summer, we host three Monday lunches at Second Baptist and just completed our third on August 17th.
Like many of the congregations that host regularly, we aim to offer “radical hospitality” and believe that community, respect, and dignity are as important as food. We serve a nutritious and delicious meal we would be glad to have ourselves. We use tablecloths and real silverware, and often have piano music from our own Robb Geiger. We have practices to make our guests feel welcome and at ease.
Here are a few questions and answers we often get asked:
Who attends the soup kitchens? Some of the guests are homeless and depend on Evanston’s soup kitchens, warming centers, and shelter. Many others have housing but don’t have income for enough food. Some may even have the basics of housing and food but come for the community meal. All are welcome.
Why don’t we substitute at UCE more often for other churches? Our dates helping Beth Emet each year are determined by their rabbi and the Jewish calendar. Other congregations don’t need a substitute location because they don’t have the same limits on holidays as the Jewish congregations. They do offer the opportunity for outside groups to serve on their schedule, which you can read about at the Interfaith Action page linked above.
Why do I have to bring the casseroles hot on Wednesday? Our kitchen facilities don’t support heating up 10 casseroles from the refrigerator. We know cooking on Wednesday afternoon isn’t convenient for everyone, and really appreciate our cooks!
Why is there sometimes so much extra food? The number of people who attend the soup kitchen dinners varies unpredictably from 75-140 depending on weather, the beginning or end of the month, and the economy. We want our guests to relax and be sure there will be plenty of food. We almost always offer seconds and plastic containers for taking leftovers. If we still have significant leftovers we bring them to Hilda’s Place.
Ready to get involved? You can sign up on the volunteer page to cook, purchase food, or volunteer. There are also opportunities to serve as coordinators in the kitchen, security/hospitality, and clean-up. If interested, contact me.
I have been coordinating the Wednesday soup kitchens for almost 10 years. I have used my skills in planning and organizing to help others, plus learned new skills and made great friends. Come join us, we have lots of fun!
Janet Hartmann