Share the Plate
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 $110,000 in Share the Plate contributions to community charities over the past eight 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 2020
January Minister's Discretionary Fund $979.75
February SC Appleseed Legal Justice $904.33
March Congaree Riverkeeper (during COVID) $630.50
April MIRCI (during COVID) $578.75
May Planned Parenthood (during COVID) $711.25
June Free Medical Clinic (during COVID) $779.75
July SCWREN (during COVID) $744.50
August Palmetto Place Children's Shelter (during COVID) $815.50
September Harriet Hancock Center (during COVID) $843.50
October Cotton Branch Branch (during COVID) $555.00
November Meals on Wheels (during COVID) $553.30
December Homeless No More (during COVID) $1,146.00
Share the Plate Calendar for 2021
Below are the 2021 recipients for Share the Plate and the months they will visit UUCC and tell us about their organizations. Thanks for your contributions and for participating in this process each year.
Category | Month | Orangization |
Pre-determined | January | Minister’s Discretionary Fund |
Legal Aid | February | SC Appleseed Legal Justice |
Environmental Issues | March | Congaree Riverkeeper |
Mental Health Issues | April | Mental Illness Recovery Center (MIRCI) |
Women’s Issues | May | Planned Parenthood |
Physical Health Issues | June | Free Medical Clinic |
Social Justice Issues | July | SC Women’s Rights Empowerment Network (SCWREN) |
Children’s Services | August | Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter |
LGBT Issues | September | Harriett Hancock Center |
Animal Shelters / Services | October | Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary |
Food Banks/Food Support | November | Meals on Wheels |
Homeless Shelters | December | Homeless No More (Formerly The Family Shelter) |
2021 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
Free Medical Clinic provides quality healthcare, at no cost, to residents of the community who cannot pay for such services and who have no health insurance. This clinic is their only option to have access to health care. The clinic is able to offer its services free of charge due to the efforts of dedicated volunteers and faithful financial support from the three area hospital systems, corporations (notably BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina), organizations (notably USC School of Medicine), the United Way of the Midlands, churches and individual donors in the Columbia a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. freemedclinic.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
Homeless No More (previously The Family Shelter) 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. homelessnomoresc.org
Meals on Wheels is a program that delivers hot nutritious meals to elderly, frail, and home-bound individuals. Meals are delivered with a smile by a caring volunteer five days a week. Individuals receiving Meals on Wheels are primarily the elderly in our community who cannot maintain an adequate, healthy diet, either because of transportation or financial constraints. South Carolina ranked #8 in the nation for seniors with food insecurity. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. mealsonwheelsamerica.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
SCWREN (Women’s Rights Empowerment Network) is a South Carolina-based network whose mission is to build a movement to advance the health, economic well-being, and rights of South Carolina’s women, girls, and their families. We advocate, educate, engage community, and build coalitions. WREN strives to create a diverse and inclusive movement that amplifies voices and advances justice for all. scwren.org
Collections for 2020
At the close of each year, we report the total offerings donated to our Share the Plate recipients. This year, due to the Covid 19 causing our us to meet virtually our Share the Plate offerings dropped off significantly beginning in March 2020. Our 2019 total was $11,566 compared to our 2020 offering of $7,718. As you can see, our giving was nearly $4,000 less in 2020. This means that not only did our recipients receive $4,000 less but also $4,000 less went into the UUCC general fund. Remember that half of all Share the Plate offerings go to the recipient and half to UUCC. Let us all make a New Year’s resolution to return to our 2019 level of giving for this year’s 2021 Share the Plate. You can send a check once a month to the church at 2701 Heyward St. or go to our website to the donate bar and indicate “Share the Plate”. Thanks to all of you from the Social Action Committee for your continued support of this vital program.