Offering Outreach

Do you volunteer for a charitable organization? Is there an organization that has helped you in the past? Have you recently stumbled upon a new and noteworthy nonprofit? We welcome any and all MLUC members to submit nominations!
The Offering Outreach Committee will review the forms and select nominations based on the following criteria:

• The organization’s mission must be consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles.
• It must be registered as a 501(c)(3) corporation.
• The organization must demonstrate good stewardship of its finances.
• The size and budget of organizations are important, because we would like our donation to be meaningful and make a difference. We feel that we can have the greatest impact by supporting smaller organizations; however, a specific program within a larger organization can be considered.
• We welcome international nominations, as long as they have a Unitarian Universalist connection.
• To avoid a possible conflict of interest, we ask that church members refrain from nominating an organization where they are currently employed as a paid staff member.
• Sometimes the committee can also make a decision based on immediate needs, such as relief from natural disasters.

Qualified nominations are coordinated with sermons, related educational programming, or active service opportunities whenever possible. In order to support a wide variety of organizations, themes or categories of nominations are usually rotated from month to month. Examples of such themes are children and families, hunger, disabilities, prison, violence prevention, immigration, physical and mental health, and LGBTQ issues. Nominees not immediately selected will remain on file for future consideration.

In alignment with our UU values of love, justice, equity and interdependence, Pottstown Beacon of Hope creates an atmosphere that builds trusting relationships with their guests while coordinating and facilitating the necessary resources to aid them in achieving personal growth, independent living, and permanent housing. Some of their other support services include assistance with housing searches, job applications, and obtaining identification. Community volunteers contribute to meal service, transportation, and encampment cleanups.

Pottstown Beacon of Hope offers some opportunities to get involved through their Code Blue Shelter. Spend a morning serving coffee and connecting with guests as they get ready for their day and assist with cleaning up and organizing the space for that evening. Individuals and Groups are invited to sign up to prepare an evening meal and deliver it to their Warming Center Location between 6:15 pm and 6:30 pm; or be a Connect and Serve PM Volunteers to serve the meal to guests.

In addition, we can also help with fundraising donations for the organization’s current project to open a year-round center that will be a home of hope and humanity with 45 individual rooms for adults meeting all intake requirements.