Mitten Tree Update 11/21/2025

THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, is the last day to sign up to purchase gifts for Mitten Tree (sign up HERE or you may stop at the table at the back of the sanctuary after the worship service). There are still many unclaimed items, so don’t delay in signing up! Don’t want to shop? You can donate money and the mitten tree elves will shop for you–you may Zelle or Venmo Jenny Walsh, jmw99free at gmail dot com or 847-309-3648, or write a check to UCE with Mitten Tree in the memo.

 

Gifts are due back at UCE BY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, for sorting and wrapping. 

 

Sign up to help with organizing/shopping/wrapping HERE. 

 

This longstanding tradition is a beautiful snapshot of our community’s shared values. Read on below about where your gifts will go this year, AND MAY WHAT YOU GIVE BRING YOU JOY!

 

In addition to providing gifts for two of the asylum-seeking families whom our congregation is supporting, read on for more information on the three organizations we are partnering with this year:  

 

Lydia Home (formerly 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. UCE has supported residents of the center for a number of years as our own Mitten Tree founder, Carol Nielsen is a long-committed volunteer.  

 

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. 

 

Family Focus Evanston began in 1976 as the original drop-in center for parents in Evanston, Illinois. Forty years later, Family Focus continues to serve the Evanston community. Services available include early childhood home visiting, Family Advocacy Center, after school, Grandparents raising Grandchildren, and community partnership initiatives such as the Foster Street Urban Agriculture program. Family Focus, Inc. offers innovative, community-based programs that help parents, grandparents, and foster and adoptive parents gain confidence and competence as the primary educators of their children.