Mitten Tree Starts this Sunday
Following up on Rev. Greg Stewart’s sermon on mercy, his words help guide us to small acts of mercy, giving generously to provide Mitten Tree gifts. We try to find a balance of organizations serving those groups that our Social Justice program supports and also helping local Evanston based organizations.
Mittens will be available on Sundays between services and after church on November 11, 18, and 25. All gifts are due by December 2. On December 9 we will have our annual wrapping party as part of Ornament Sunday. Sign-up to help at the table, sorting gifts, or delivery of gifts. https://tinyurl.com/y89xdubk
Two weeks ago we spotlighted three of the organizations we are serving including The Vet Center, Curt’s Café, and the YWCA Transitional Housing Program. That article can be found at: https://ucevanston.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-Mitten-Tree-Organizations.pdf
Below are the other three organizations we are serving.
The Rice Center of the Children’s Home and Aid Society of Evanston: When a child abruptly leaves a family or foster home due to abuse, violence, or mental illness, he/she may arrive at the Rice Center in Evanston without clothing, personal items, or toys. Through the Mitten Tree, we have been serving the Rice Center since 2011. Recently the director, Keith Polan (who is a UU at Unity Temple) told me that our gifts are spot on! We give the right balance of clothes, toys and therapy or educational items. This year we are serving 12 children. The Rice Center houses approximately 36 children. Children live, play and are educated at the Rice Educational Center on Ridge Avenue. District 65 provides schooling. A team of social workers, psychologists, pediatricians, nurses, art therapists and others provide a structured environment to help children build healthy relationships. The goal for the children is to eventually return to their own family, a foster family, or an adoptive family.
El Rescate: Finding housing for homeless LGBTQ and HIV-positive youth between the ages of 18-24 can be difficult. El Rescate (The Rescue) offers culturally appropriate, identity-affirming housing for these young adults. Also offered are HIV prevention services, employment, educational resources and life skills training. The program is part of the Puerto Rican Community Centers many programs. Our donation of gifts helps support this wonderful program.
The Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants is a non-profit, faith-based organization of staff and volunteers called to respond actively and publicly to the suffering of all individuals and communities affected by immigration detention, deportation, and post-detention through pastoral care, advocacy, public witness and other activities. UCE’s Immigration Solidarity Team has been working with ICDI this year. Their Executive Director, Melanie Schikore (a UU and member of Countryside Church in Palatine) was thrilled to be asked for gift lists.
The Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants is a prophetic voice for just and humane treatment of immigrants caught in the immigration detention process. Upholding the dignity and basic human rights of each individual as ICDI Chicago stands in solidarity with immigrants as a powerful collective voice to minimize the use of detention and to seek justice.