Friend,

With gratitude, we share exciting news! The South Carolina UU Justice Alliance was awarded a UU Funding Program grant to launch our state action net work! Our top activities planned for the first quarter of 2022:

• Continue to share monthly updates & calls for action from across the state
• Visit congregations & groups to learn needs and raise awareness of SCUUJA 
• Provide social justice training and action events based on needs
• Build a directory of SC UU justice leaders and partners
• Expand state-wide partnerships

We are so grateful for the UU Funding Program support and your engagement as we build a more just and more joyful South Carolina UU justice community! 

- Pippin & Jean and the entire Board of South Carolina UU Justice Alliance 

Spartanburg UU Call for Support:

The UU Church in Spartanburg is part of a coalition to support Latinx immigrants across SC during the pandemic. Comprised of immigrant advocacy groups from across the state, the coalition has assisted more than 1,500 individuals with financial support for rent, mortgage, and utilities since April 2020. A detailed report about the project may be read here.

We need your help. The coalition has received a set of grants that challenge us to reach immigrants in some of the most rural counties in SC. If you have connections in these counties--through family, friends, business, service agencies, or congregations--that might be able to help us reach Latinx immigrants there, please share this information with them. We have found personal connections to be the best way to connect with people who may benefit from these resources. This flyer may be downloaded and shared with anyone who might benefit from the assistance we offer. Please share it broadly.

We are trying to reach Latinx immigrants in the following counties: Abbeville | Allendale | Bamberg | Barnwell | Cherokee | Chester | Clarendon | Darlington | Dillon | Fairfield | Florence | Greenwood | Kershaw | Lancaster | Lee | Marion | Marlboro | Orangeburg | Saluda | Sumter | Union | Williamsburg | York

For more information and for any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us directly: Scott Neely (he/him), Minister, minister@uucs.org / 864-585-9230, www.uucs.org

Aiken UU Social Justice Committee

The Aiken UU Church has selected a Christmas project to help homeless students in the area. The Aiken County Public School coordinator for the federal homeless student program noted that the greatest need her students have is for toiletries. Aiken UU’s will provide thirty homeless youth toiletry kits including regular sized shampoo and body wash, toothbrush and toothpaste, sponges, lotion, hand sanitizer, Chapstick, deodorant, and a gift card to Subway.

Members continue their work with the Aiken Homeless Coalition, Family Promise, Jesus Loves Me Ministry, and the Golden Harvest Food Bank. Recently, the church provided a meal to the participants in the Family Promise Keys to Good Tenancy Course. Once a month the church provides sandwiches for the Jesus Loves Me Ministry to the homeless. Over the summer, the church launched and completed a Blessing Box 2.0 project. The church established the Blessing Box right outside the church entrance as a place where the houseless and others could pick up non-perishable food items at any time. Wanting to provide more items and fresh vegetables and fruits, the 2.0 Blessing Box now includes a refrigerator, a place for literature, and space for non-perishable items such as pet food, diapers, and hygiene products. Church members partner with local food banks, especially the Golden Harvest Food Bank, to obtain food. The box is constantly used and constantly replenished!

Aiken UUs also support many other activities and groups including PFLAG, the Aiken County NAACP, and the Green Sanctuary project.

Charleston  UU Social Justice:

Charleston Area Justice Ministry (CAJM): The Unitarian Church in Charleston is an active member of CAJM, a local DART chapter. Through vital community organizing, the church and other local organizations chose an environmental justice focus for collective action in 2022.

Habitat for Humanity: The Social Justice Committee thanks the generosity of our church community and the leadership of our new minister Rev. Rebecca Hinds for the successful giving campaign for Habitat for Humanity.  Donations collected during the month of October were $10,290!  This is a record-breaking amount and reflects the values of our congregation.

Backpack Buddies: Our first Backpack Buddies of the year went very well with 900 bags packed in a little over two hours. Special thanks to: Krystina Deren, Bob Hawley, Jackie McGee, Lisa Ross, Terry Walsh, Cassie Williamson and Christine Williamson.

Refugee Team: The team and church is supporting an immigrant named Ana and her family seeking asylum in the US. We celebrate that Ana now has a work card and continue support as she seeks green card for her children.

Columbia UU Social Action Committee: 

It has been a busy fall for the UU Congregation of Columbia Social Action Committee.  First came the celebration of the Columbia Pride Parade.  Our congregation’s participation was a public reaffirmation of our stance as a welcoming congregation, and a true celebration.  A final flip was that the energy and creativity of our members was rewarded when footage of our float led at least one local TV station’s coverage of the event! 

From there we have pivoted to the UUSC’s “Guest at your table” fundraiser, which funds worthy projects around the world, and the Palmetto Project’s seasonal “Families Helping Families” program, which supports needy families during the holiday season.  Both campaigns are currently ongoing.