What is Share the Plate?

Share the Plate is a community outreach project that reflects the UUCC social justice philosophy. By donating one half of our Sunday non-pledge collection to a nonprofit group selected by the congregation, the UUCC gives back to the community in a meaningful and ongoing way. Thanks to our congregation’s generosity, we have donated approximately $124,000 in Share the Plate contributions to community charities over the past eleven years.

The organization that is the recipient for the current month is asked to provide a representative to share with the congregation about the work that they are doing to help us better understand their mission and to spend time meeting our members.

Past Share the Plate Collections for 2022

January 2022              Minister’s Discretionary Fund                                 $616
February 2022            SC Appleseed Legal Justice                                   $480
March 2022                Congaree Riverkeeper                                            $875
April 2022                   NAMI Mid-Carolina                                                  $665
May 2022                   Planned Parenthood                                                $901
June 2022                  Good Samaritan Clinic                                             $669
July 2022                   Justice 360                                                               $703
August  2022              Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter                           $715
September 2022        Harriet Hancock Center                                           $738
October 2022             Cotton Branch Branch                                             $814
November 2022         Harvest Hope                                                           $770
December 2022         Transitions Homeless Center                                   $858

Share the Plate Calendar for 2023

Below are the 2023 recipients for Share the Plate and the months they will visit UUCC and tell us about their organizations. Thank you for your contributions offered in 2022 to support the Share the Plate program.

2023 Recipients

Congaree Riverkeeper is affiliated with the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect rivers and coasts all over the world.  We work to protect and improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreation on the Congaree, Lower Saluda and Lower Broad Rivers through advocacy, education and enforcement of environmental laws. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. congareeriverkeeper.org

Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary provides a safe haven for abandoned, abused, neglected, and elderly farm animals. While there are many shelters and rescue organizations for animal companions such as cats and dogs, and wildlife, there is a lack of sanctuary for farm animals, who make up 98% of the animals killed in the US each year. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. cottonbranch.org

Good Samaritan Clinic is a faith-based organization offering free health and dental care primarily to the Hispanic community in four South Carolina locations. With the dedication of volunteer physicians, nurses, interpreters, and administrative assistants, as well as the generous support of our funding partners, the clinic is able to serve our communities in the tradition of the Good Samaritan. goodsamaritansc.org

Harriet Hancock LGBT Center located in the heart of Columbia is the hub of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender activity in the Midlands of South Carolina.  Our facility offers a variety of resources including a free lending library, meeting spaces for LGBT-supportive groups, and a directory of LGBT-friendly businesses, organizations, and counselors while also serving as the headquarters for the South Carolina Pride Movement. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. lgbtcentersc.org

The Family Shelter, now under the umbrella of Homeless No More, is a nonprofit organization that believes family homelessness is entirely solvable. Their continuum of care – from emergency services to transitional and affordable housing – keeps each family together and meets their needs at the right time with the right services. By providing the support to move each family toward a permanent, self-sufficient solution, they can eradicate family homelessness and help parents and their children achieve lasting independence. homelessnomore.org

Justice 360 promotes fairness, reliability and transparency in the criminal justice system for individuals facing the death penalty and juveniles facing lengthy sentences in South Carolina. They accomplish this by using resources and support for lawyers tasked with representing capital and juvenile defendants and representing individual clients. They advocate for policy change to address systemic flaws in the criminal justice system and educate the public to raise awareness about the administration of capital and juvenile sentencing in South Carolina. https://justice360sc.org

MIRCI (Mental Illness Recovery Center, Inc.) assists individuals with mental illness to recover in the areas of their lives impacted by their illness through housing, behavioral healthcare, and assistance with obtaining and managing their disability income. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. mirci.org

Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter provides a safe and nurturing environment for abused and neglected children and unaccompanied teens, offering them a broad range of services concentrating on personal healing and development. The shelter is open 24 hours each day of the year and provides medical and mental health care, crisis adjustment/transitional counseling, after-school tutoring, and recreational and social activities in addition to food, clothing, and shelter. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. palmettoplaceshelter.org

Planned Parenthood has promoted for nearly 100 years, a commonsense approach to women’s health and well-being, based on respect for each individual’s right to make informed, independent decisions about health, sex, and family planning.  Contributions to Planned Parenthood Federation of America are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. plannedparenthood.org

SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center fights for low income South Carolinians to overcome social, economic, and legal injustice. Their goal is to influence policymakers to ensure the law is fair, to educate the public and their advocates about the law, and to assist attorneys in bringing systemic litigation where the law is unfair. They are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. scjustice.org