UUFA News

Family Promise Week August 14 to 21

Family Promise of Athens is a non-profit organization that provides immediate shelter and guidance to homeless families with children due to the impact of misfortunes they face. Once families are accepted into the program, Family Promise provides food, shelter, daycare, and transportation. UUFA serves as a support congregation during weeks that the guest families stay overnight at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. We provide meals and serve as van drivers, dinner hosts, overnight hosts, and weekend Day Center hosts.

Guests’ Information:
There will be three families served during this week, 10 guests total.  Right now, only two families are in the program.  The third family moves in on Friday.  

  1. William David has one son, SJ, who is 5 years old.  Mr. David does not eat seafood.
  2. Jeanette Stinson has two children–Zyion (16 years old) and Wisdom (3 years old).  Zyion is 6′ 3″ and 250 pounds, so there hasn’t been much food left over after each nightly meal!  This family doesn’t eat pork.
  3. Family Three has two parents, two 9 year old twins, and a 3-year-old.  

Food choices recommended by the current families:  meatloaf, baked potatoes, garlic bread, rice, corn, cornbread, lasagna with salad, chili with crackers, hamburgers, fries, chicken, cabbage/rice rolls, roast, green beans, black-eyed peas, salads, fruit, tacos.
Van Drivers:No van drivers will be needed.  The children will be transported to school by the county school buses.  The parents can use public transportation.

Contributions:
Contributions for Kroger gift cards (to help with breakfasts and lunches) can be sent to Diana Pearson (FamilyPromise coordinator at Holy Cross).  Her address is 150 Homestead Drive, Athens 30605.

Volunteer Sign-Up Link

For additional information including how to volunteer, contact UUFA Family Promise Coordinators Becky Parker and Fran Cawthon.October 30-November 6 is the last week of UUFA’s support this calendar year.

Share the Plate/Cause-of-the-Month: Athens-Oconee CASA

During April Athens-Oconee Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a local non-profit, volunteer organization that provides advocacy for children in foster care, will receive one half of all undesignated offerings. For details contact justice@uuathensga.org


Help with Food Insecurity through April CANtributions

Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to Fellowship Hall’s wicker baskets. While all CANtributions are appreciated, in April the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank is especially in need of canned meats (canned chicken, beef stew, chicken and dumplings, spam), tomatoes (the chunky version such as whole, stewed or diced), and snacks (chips, nuts, granola bars, snack crackers). To give by credit card, visit uuathensga.org/give and look for “Charitable Giving.” To give by check, make the check out to UUFA and put “CANtributions 1-8016” in the memo line. To learn more, contact justice@uuathensga.org. If you are experiencing food insecurity or know someone in our UUFA community who is, please contact Rev. Pippin (revpippin@uuathensga.org).


UUFA Justice Partner Highlights

AADM Hosts End School-to-Prison Pipeline (ESTPP) Advocates Training

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement offers this April 11 hands-on workshop to equip individuals with the confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills needed to navigate school systems, avoid the pipeline, and create meaningful change in their communities. The 10 am to noon event is set for the Oconee Street United Methodist Church. 

Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) Meeting

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition on April 17 from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Oconee Street United Methodist Church. For more information contact justice@uuathensga.org