Social Justice

UUFH’s Social Justice Team is a program of the congregation to focus our social justice efforts around several initiatives. SJT is focusing on the following initiatives:

  • Latino Justice, which includes the following dimensions:
    • Henderson County DREAM Scholarship which supports local youth facing the mandate of out of state tuition.
    • Annual collection of goods for migrant workers (e.g., clothing, bedding, household items)
    • Local collaborative efforts with Mexican Consulate to provide ID cards
    • Local advocacy and education efforts including co-sponsoring forums and meetings
  • LGBTQ Justice, which includes the following:
    • Anti-bullying efforts, including linkage with local/regional efforts and “ally” education with UUFH youth
    • NC Marriage Amendment
  • Environmental Justice
  • Youth Hunger, which includes the following dimensions:
    • Collaborative efforts with local volunteers to support Feed the Kids
    • Collaborative efforts with local volunteers to support BackPack Program
  • Legislative Issues, which includes the following dimensions:
    • Immigration
    • LGBTQ Justice
    • Environmental Concerns
    • Economic Justice
  • Outreach Collections: Several times each year, UUFH conducts a collection for a special purpose, aligned with and integrated into the SJT Initiatives including the DREAM Scholarship, Youth Hunger, and Environmental Justice. Nonprofit organization recipients of the SJT Outreach have included Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County, Children & Family Resource Center, Feed the Kids/Backpack Program,Interfaith Assistance Ministry, Heifer International, Henderson County Literacy Council, Safelight, and The Free Clinics.
  • Community Support Activities, which include the following dimensions:
    • Share the Warmth
    • Guest at Your Table 
    • Mitten Tree which engages the children in youth in collecting mittens, scarves, and hats during the winter holiday celebrations to donate to local youth
    • IAM Food collections which encourages the congregation to donate needed food items to the Interfaith Assistance Ministry food pantry
    • Gifts with Meaning: an annual holiday fair with local/international nonprofits selected each year to encourage giving to charity in honor of friends and family
    • Fair Trade Coffee/Chocolate – On sale the first Sunday of each month during the social hour in Fellowship Hall.