Community Service

Mission

The mission of the Community Service Committee is “to identify several major needs each year in our local and world communities for which the BAUUC congregation and other sources provide money and services.”

Goals

To research, vote on, and solicit funds and services for local and non-local projects to help needy people.

Members of Committee

Many opportunities are available at BAUUC to help make the world a better place. To become involved with the any of the projects below or to sit in on a BAUUC Community Service Committee (CSC) meeting (typically on the 2nd Sunday from 10:30-11:30 in RE room) or bring a project to the attention of the committee, contact the CSC chair: Jeff Boxell.

Or if you just want to get involved with community service in the Clear Lake area, please visit the following website to see many wonderful opportunities: http://www.volunteerhouston.us/bay/default.htmbay/

July 2006 to July 2007 Accomplishments

• Continued support of Interfaith Caring Ministries (ICM) programs:
  • ICM board member Nadja Calvert continues to represent BAUUC on the ICM board of directors.
  • ICM Resale Shop - Continue to provide services for ICM’s Resale shop. BAUUC members donate their time each week to sort donations and test appliances.
  • ICM Groceries for Seniors - Continue to provide services for ICM’s grocery distribution to needy elders. BAUUC members donate their time one Saturday a month to pack and distribute the groceries.
  • ICM birthday celebration for elderly – BAUUC members purchased and presented 2 ICM sponsored seniors gifts and cake in May.
  • ICM handyman services - Continue to provide handyman services for elderly and disabled people in the community.
  • Visit the ICM website for additional info.
• Continued support of Boys & Girls Harbor.
  • In the fall of 2006, we collected and distributed personal care items for abused, abandoned, and neglected children at Boys & Girls Harbor community.
  • Group purchased graduation gifts for B&G high-school graduate Krystal Umana who will be going on to San Jac.
  • Group matched up Crystal Shivers, a high-school junior, with a local philanthropic group of women who are mentoring her.
  • Visit Boys & Girls Harbor for more information.
• Started two new FINCA (Foundation for International Community Assistance) micro-credit banks funded by a contribution from Bridgeway Partners through the CSC.
  • One in Haiti in late 2006.
  • One in Malawi, South Africa in May, 2007.
  • Visit http://www.villagebanking.org/ for more information.
  This marks the fourth FINCA bank sponsored by BAUUC joining others in Guatemala and Mexico.
• For the 3rd consecutive year, CSC collected and shipped warm clothing and other goods to rural Navajos who live in the most remote place in the U.S., near the Utah/Arizona border. Sam Yazzie, his Navajo family, and Verva & Bob Densmore distributed the items over the Thanksgiving Holidays. Visit the Navaho project webpage for additional info. To learn about our 2008 visit, please see our 2008 Navajo Outreach page.

• Collected books from BAUUC members and from local organizations to be shipped, free of charge, to South Africa to help start a library in a Zulu village. Much time spent arranging the collection and shipment of the books.
• John McCorquodale continued to spear-head trips to New Orleans to help with construction/clean-up throughout the year. Visit the Rebuilding New Orleans project webpage for additional info.
• CSC with BAUUC member support, planned, purchased, prepared and provided meals to Bay Area Turning Point while their kitchen was refurbished.

Plans for July 2007 to July 2008

• Carry on current projects. We will select various projects throughout the year that we hope will involve other members and friends of the congregation in a frequent “Volunteer Saturday.”
• Spearhead fund-raiser with SJC to garner more funds for projects.
• Work with SJC to get more church involvement in FINCA bank program.