Third Sunday Community Offering

The Third Sunday Community Offering began in 2006.  We contribute ALL funds received from a monthly offering to pre-selected non-profit, local organizations.

This charitable act not only supports our wider community, prompting goodwill in human relations, but also encourages generosity within individuals and within the church. To date, our community collections have averaged nearly $1,350/month. 

Click here to see a complete list of recipients.

The Community Offering Committee

This committee oversees the selection of the community agencies/organizations, makes contact with agency representatives, introduces representatives from the selected agency at the third Sunday service(s) and mails the check representing the church’s contribution to the selected agency. 

To choose recipients for the third Sunday Community Offering, the committee solicits input from church members and friends, draws upon personal experiences, considers Sunday service topics, seasonal celebrations and church traditions. 

Contact any one of us if you have a non-profit in mind.

Community Contributions, 2011

October 2011 - Willamette Family Counseling

Willamette Family Counseling will receive our October community offering. The local non-profit offers drug and alcohol treatment programs in men-only and women-only programs as well as an innovative program that lets women live with their children while being treated. More information is at wfts.org. Please plan to give generously on Oct. 16.

September 2011 - HIV Alliance

 HIV Alliance serves clients living with HIV or AIDS, and works to prevent the spread of the virus. To support people living with HIV, they offer advocacy, referrals, emergency financial support, social groups, support groups, holiday dinners, nutrition classes, and have even found dog-sitting help for clients too ill to care for a pet. As part of the Prevention and Education program, the Alliance offers needle exchange and HIV and Hepatitis C testing, always with associated counseling. Someone in the United States is infected with HIV every 9.5 minutes, yet HIV disease is 100% preventable.

August 2011 -  Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)

UUSC is a nonsectarian organization that advances human rights and social justice in the United States and around the world. Through a combination of advocacy, education, and partnerships with grassroots organizations, UUSC promotes economic rights, advances environmental justice, defends civil liberties, and preserves the rights of people in times of humanitarian crisis. UUSC is an associate member of the Unitarian-Universalist Association (UUA), but receives no general financial support from the UUA. Neither do they receive funding from federal or state governments or institutions, ensuring an independent voice. UUSC engages in a broad range of campaigns and activities, from helping to ensure sustainable access to safe, sufficient, affordable water to every person to working with local partners in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq to empower women in becoming active members of their communities.

July 2011 -  Nearby Nature

Nearby Nature is a local organization dedicated to fostering appreciation of nature nearby and providing tools for ecological living.  Staff and volunteers lead nature walks, teach summer daycamps, host school programs,  teach adult workshops, and work on environmental restoration projects, primarily in the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park.  They act on our shared belief that people of all ages, from the tiniest tots to the wisest elders, thrive when they connect with nature nearby.

June 2011 -  Sponsors

 Women in transition often need a safe place to land. Sponsors, a
non-profit, has a Women's Transition Program. It provides 15 residential
beds and 5 "honors" beds for the women, with priority given to those being
released from prison. The program provides structure and support. It offers
a way to reunite women with their children, find employment or go back to
school, and move back into society. More information is at
http://www.sponsorsinc.org/pg10.cfm. 

May 2011 -  Committed Partners for Youth/Big Brothers Big Sisters

CPY is a non-profit mentoring agency serving youth in the Eugene/Springfield community. They work with Eugene/Springfield elementary schools and middle schools, social service agencies, and the juvenile court system to identify youth in need, then match them with adult mentors who agree to spend a few hours with the youth regularly, doing some pleasant activity. CPY's research shows that mentored youth measurably decrease their drug and alcohol use, increase school attendance, reduce negative peer relationships, and increase their trust in parental relationships. 

April 2011 -  City of Refuge

A project that offers direct assistance to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The City of Refuge was founded by Richard Banza Kitumba, who was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and lived there until he was in his early twenties.  He presently lives in Springfield.  The mission of the City of Refuge is to directly serve the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C).  They sponsor foster homes for orphans (approximately 100 at this time), offer microloans, offer scholarships for high school students, and provide crisis relief, livestock development, medical services, and food for the hungry.

March 2011 -  That's My Farmer

The annual "That's My Farmer" event is coming soon (April 6), and we are part of it.
Most of us are familiar with Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSAs),
and many UUCE families participate. That's My Farmer is a unique partnership among over two dozen faith communities and local area farms. TMF is a different approach to CSA's, because local farmers and faith communities, and the general public take the opportunity to help families who are in need to participate in CSAs and purchase fresh produce at farmer’s markets.  

February 2011 -  UUSC's Work in Haiti due to the earthquake

January 2011 -  Project Homeless Connect

Nearly 4,000 Lane County residents were homeless during a 2010 count. Project Homeless Connect is a one-day project in March that helps meet their immediate needs. At 2009's event, the most requested services were medical, dental, vision, basic needs, child and family services, employment and housing/energy assistance.
Our contributions on Sunday will help the volunteers assist this year's participants.