Social Action
Local Organizing Committee
Local Organizing Committee: Our OCCCO listening campaign continues as we get closer to selecting a specific social justice issue we can work on together which is winnable and has the backing of Tapestry members. You may be approached by someone in our group to talk about what's important to you. If you'd like to join this focus group, contact Jan at .
South County Outreach
Tapestry raised $158 recently during a generosity offering for South County Outreach. They're being generous back, have given us coupons for 40% off at their Upscale Resale store in Laguna Hills. You’ll find them attached on the social action bulletin board for you to take. Here's their letter to us:
Dear Tapestry UU Friends,
Thank you for working with us to meet the dramatic rise in hunger and homelessness! The donation from your special offering is most appreciated and will help us meet the needs of the individuals and families who come to us for help.
As many at 60,000 individuals in South Orange County will likely seek our services again this year. Most will only come for help an average of eight times. Every age and ethnicity is represented... Your partnership enables us to be there for people in need of food, rental and utility assistance, computer skills training, clothing vouchers, or transitional housing. Our goal is to provide emergency assistance and tools to HELP PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES, and your support helps to bring them closer to self-reliance. Again, our thanks for your thoughtfulness and caring. Together we can make a difference!
Thank you,
Norah Dopudia,
Director, Homeless Prevention
OC Pride August 14
Karen Nichols is heading this up for Tapestry, an official sponsor! Contact Karen at with questions. We’ll have a couple of banners and a booth with other UUs from OC. More info at the OC Pride website.
First Unitarian Church LA / Weekly Food Distribution
Each Saturday morning from 8-10 am, up to 600 bags of food are distributed by volunteers at First Unitarian Church in downtown LA to needy people in the community. Tapestry members have helped 4 times now, and we have been welcomed and kept busy. It will be the 3rd Saturday of each month; the next trip will be Saturday, August 21. We will meet at Tapestry at 7 a.m. Please contact Jan at if you'd like to help.
AIDS Team Ministry
ATM (AIDS Team Ministry) is short of drivers…Anybody willing to help? This is the project created several years ago by Orange Coast UU Church as their Welcoming Congregation project. Contact Jan at if you're interested.
UUSC Latin American Encuentro
Saturday, November 6, at Tapestry. This yearly event has never been at our congregation. We hope you mark you calendars and attend. Theme: "Standing on the Side of Love with Immigrant Families." Keynote speaker will be Gustavo Arellano, journalist, author, and well known as the editor of "Ask a Mexican" in the OC Weekly and also his weekly show on KPFK radio.
CREER
CREER, to believe, working to help children grow up in a safe, educational, and healthy environment. Tapestry has teamed up with this San Juan Capistrano community group for several projects.
Tutoring
Once again, Saturday tutoring will begin in September. Tapestry adults including Kathy Horgan, Gale Hunt, Dick Huddlestone, Jan Meslin, and David Cates are making a difference in children’s educations. Contact Jan if you're interested in volunteering. CREER especially needs people with advanced math and science skills, but all are appreciated.
Language Skills
Kicked off in May, this ever evolving program pits CREER and Tapestry adults together for meetings and also 1-1’s for language immersion and confidence building in both Spanish and English. Friendships have already bloomed. The next meeting is Tuesday, September 1st at 6:30. Contact Jan with questions or to sign up.
Food Bank & Thrift Store
Second Harvest Food Bank and Saddleback Thrift Store
Have you been bringing non-perishable food items to Tapestry and placing them in the Food Bank bin in the Social Hall? If not, don't forget that the hungry poor are growing in numbers and appreciate anything you can give. This goes for used clothing and other thrift store items which can be placed in the Saddleback Thrift Store bin. Thank you to Liz Rickett and Janet Quillian who now deliver these items. Please note that the need has grown so much that the food bank is no longer accepting new clients because the need is so great.
