SJOT Update:
All members and friends are welcome to join the efforts of the Social Justice Outreach Team. We currently meet via Zoom on the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm. Contact Charlotte Corrigan for access link to participate or observe.
OUTREACH COLLECTION FOR CREATION CARE ALLIANCE
The SJOT Outreach Collection continues in support of the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina through October 18 and focuses on another aspect of our CJCP.
Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina is a network of people of faith and congregations who have united around a moral and spiritual call to preserve the integrity, beauty, and health of Mother Earth/God’s creation. CCAWNC works to promote the protection of our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain environment by bringing practical and hopeful solutions to congregations in Western North Carolina and by engaging hearts and minds through education, service and advocacy.
Contributions can be made through the UUFH donation portal on the website or by mailing a check designated to CCA Outreach Collection to UUFH.
MASKS FOR KIDS
Help needed – the Health Department has asked True Ridge to furnish 200 masks for children ages 3 to 8. The school system also is in need of many masks and has also called on True Ridge. These masks are hard to find; True Ridge can provide sewing patterns if needed.
If you would be willing to make masks and if you don’t feel comfortable shopping True Ridge will buy the materials for you. If money is a problem getting the materials you can buy them and True Ridge will reimburse you when you turn in your receipt.
Contact True Ridge at 828 205 1170 or TrueRidge@nullgmail.com.
CLIMATE JUSTICE CONGREGATIONAL PROJECT (CJCP)
Voter empowerment efforts continue through November 3 Election Day. Contact Kitten if you are interested in serving as driver for rides to the Board of Elections (through November 2) to drop off Absentee Ballots, rides to the polls (October 15-31 Early Voting and/or Election Day) or if you are interested in serving as a Poll Monitor.
VOTER INTERNET RESOURCES
A variety of websites provide the information you need to vote and to vote your UU values; your county Board of Elections and NC BOE website are good places to start for the mechanics of registration and voting.
The new website northcarolina.ballottrax.net/voter/ enrolls you in the NC Board of Elections program to track your absentee ballot status and notify you if any corrections are needed to ensure your vote is not rejected.
Non-partisan websites cover a wider scope of voter education. These include vote411.org (the League of Women Voters resource for candidate information), democracync.org (voter rights) and youcanvote.org which empowers voters with detailed guides including how to register and vote and the “what’s on my ballot” guide to the elected officials involved across local, state and national government for key issues (healthcare, criminal justice, civil rights, education and climate change).
Skip the Post Office for your Absentee Ballots
You can deliver your completed Absentee Ballot directly to the Board of Elections Office (Henderson County: 75 E. Central Street, Hendersonville) now during their office hours. There are no drop boxes in North Carolina. You can also simply mail yours in but don’t wait too long or deliver it in person to Early Voting sites during ”One-Stop” voting.
EARLY VOTING “One-Stop” Plan
Early Voting begins in just two weeks on Thursday, October 15.
Henderson County registered voters can vote in person ahead of Election Day OR deliver completed Absentee Ballots to any of four early voting sites:
Board of Elections Office 75 E. Central St Hendersonville
Etowah Library 101 Brickyard Rd Etowah
Flat Rock Village Hall 110 Village Center Dr Flat Rock
Fletcher Town Hall 300 Old Cane Creek Rd Fletcher
Early Voting Hours in Henderson County are 8:00 am – 7:30 pm M-F, Saturday 10/17 and 10/24 hours are 8 am to 6 pm and Saturday 10/31 hours are 8 am to 3:30 pm. There are no Sunday hours in this county.
Registration or updates to your registration can also be completed in person during Early Voting.