Community Outreach

Community Outreach

“We move mountains, one stone at a time; as Unitarian Universalists, our journey is to transform the big and small, to transform ourselves, and to transform the world.” – Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen 

We are committed and spiritually grounded partners in building social, racial and environmental justice in Greater Hartford and beyond.  We look for opportunities to partner with local organizations actively working for justice in our community.

The following represent current USH partners:

The Village for Families and Children

The Village for Families and Children, whose main campus is adjacent to the Unitarian Society of Hartford, provides mental health services to children, youth, and their families in many settings throughout greater Hartford. USH has a long-standing relationship with The Village and supports its work with speakers, education, and donating to an annual Uniform Fundraiser. To learn more about The Village and ways you can help contact Jrporlando@cox.net or https://thevillage.org/

Horace Bushnell Children’s Food Pantry

Hunger knows no vacations. Food is collected in bins in the lobby of the Meeting House. The list of needed food items is posted above the bins and in the enews. Donations are delivered weekly to the Hartford pantry.

Volunteering with The Fern Street Food Ministry 

Each week, members of the Social Justice Council support the Unitarian Universalist Church of West Hartford in their Food Ministry Backpack program. Our job is to pack up and deliver backpacks to West Hartford Public School families with special dietary needs who require weekend food support. Some members also participate in the Food Pantry program at the Unitarian Universalist Church of West Hartford on the third Saturday of every month, providing non-perishables, fresh produce, and frozen meat and poultry to qualified recipients. pics

Noah Webster Tutoring

USH members tutor at Noah Webster school, in Hartford’s nearby West End, on a weekly basis for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Tutors are matched with teachers and can choose the grade and subject they are most comfortable with. Please contact Diana Heyman at heydiana42@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer.

Good Neighbor Offering (GNO) 

USH partners each month in making a donation to a local organization engaged in social justice. Suggestions for local organizations come from the USH congregation. Speakers for the selected organizations give us insight into the mission and specific programs that we help to fund. The emphasis on building relationships strengthens our giving as a spiritual practice.

2022-2023 GNO partners:

CIRI (CT Institute for Refugees and Immigrants)

Hawkwing

CT Foodshare

Blue Hills Civic Association

Operation Fuel

The REACH Fund of CT (Reproductive Equity, Access and CHoice)

The Village for Families and Children

Wilson-Gray YMCA

Golden Rule Project (Veterans for Peace)

Church Street Eats

2023-2024 partners

September – PFLAG

October – Hawkwing

November – IRIS (Integrated Refugee Immigrant Services)

December – CT Foodshare