New Chair for Share the Plate

The Share the Plate Committee is happy to report that Nancie Shillington-Perez has volunteered to become the new chair of their committee effective January 1, 2022. She will be replacing Linda McLeod who has held this position for over five years. Thanks to both Nancie and Linda for their willingness to assure us that this program continues as a part of the UUCC community outreach. Be watching for more Share the Plate news in the October Unigram.

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 2021/2022

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 2021                  Free Medical Clinic                                                  $581
July 2021                   SCWREN                                                                 $604
August  2021              Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter                           $737
September 2021         Harriet Hancock Center                                          $489
October 2021            Cotton Branch Branch                                              $936
November 2021         Meals on Wheels                                                     $ 896
December 2021         Homeless No More – The Family Shelter                 $778

Share the Plate Calendar for 2022

Below are the 2022 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 2021to support the Share the Plate program.

2022 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

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

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

Transitions engages clients with various services and provides them a place to stay as they transition from the streets to permanent housing. They also partner with many community agencies that use their expertise to help clients reach their goals. As a result, clients receive services that enable them to stabilize their lives, increase their income, and secure permanent housing. transitionssc.org

2021 SHARE THE PLATE COLLECTIONS TOTALS

Thanks to the generous giving by UUCC members and friends, we have increased our collections for Share the Plate during this second year of being on zoom. UUCC donates half of our cash collections each month to local outside charities or social justice organizations chosen by you. During the first challenging year of the pandemic 2020, we collected $7,718.08 for our Share the Plate recipients, but this year we collected $8,088! Over the last eleven years Share the Plate has given a total of $117,486.51 to our recipients. This also means our General Fund has benefited from this offering as stipulated by the policy. Share the Plate is definitely a win-win program, and the Social Action Committee continues to thank the generosity of our community for recognizing the importance of “Sharing the Plate”.Thanks to all of you from the Social Action Committee for your continued support of this vital program.