Social Action
SCO Food Collection on March 20
Support South County Outreach by helping collect food donations in front of a nearby grocery store from 10 - 12:30 pm or 12:30 - 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 20. You will be handing out a list of needed food and a small bag to incoming store patrons and requesting that they buy a product off the list to donate to SCO. It's easy and you would be surprised at the positive response from patrons!
Email Marilyn Schroeder at . There will be plenty of time to go to the auction for those who volunteer for the afternoon shift!
Haiti Relief
Yea! Thank you, Tapestry, for raising $810 on January 17 for Haiti relief. Then at the Bands & Bellies concert on February 21 we raised an additional $1234, half of which will go to UUSC's Haiti Relief Fund and the other half to Doctors without Borders. 92.8% of the money we gave to the UU Service Committee goes directly to the people in need. Thank you again, Tapestry!
Guest at Your Table Fundraiser
Guest at Your Table netted $756.88 this year. It's been sent to the UUSC for their good works around the world. Thank you to all! $107.88 of the amount was collected in loose coins. Thank you especially to the youth who made sure their guest box was in a conspicuous spot.
Proposition 15: The Fair Elections Initiative
A pilot program put on this June's ballot by the Governor and Legislature, Prop 15 lets a candidate for Secretary of State qualify and opt for a campaign financed publicly from lobbyists' registration fees only, no taxes — and use no private funds at all.
Already successful in both Maine and Arizona, public financing takes politicians out of the game of fundraising and lets them focus on our priorities. If you want to get involved to help this get passed, please contact Jan Meslin at .
Sustainable Living
On Mar. 21st our committee will be actively involved in helping the youth and children learn about sustainability. The preschool/Kindergarten children will learn the difference between trash and what can be recycled. The 1st-3rd grade children will learn about dividing the recycling into appropriate containers. We will also learn about reusing materials instead of just throwing them away. The 4th-6th grade children will focus on saving water and the teens will learn about saving energy.
The children will share what they have learned with the congregation on March 7th at the First Sunday Sustainable Living table. Look for the children's projects and a display of curriculum and children's books that are available to the teachers and children of Tapestry.
I recently returned several ink cartridges that I found in the downstairs office. Office Max gave me a credit for the returned cartridges.
Tapestry got $180.00 in credit. We bought RE and office supplies. Please bring us your old ink cartridges. We will recycle them for you to benefit Tapestry.
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.
Tapestry wins Grant
Congratulations to Tapestry. We have been awarded, along with 9 other UU congregations throughout the United States, a matching grant for membership in a faith-based community organizing group. The Unitarian Universalist Funding Program will match up to $2500 of what we can raise throughout the next year. All proceeds will go directly towards membership in OCCCO (Orange County Congregation Community Organization) and their national parent PICO (People Improving Communities through Organizing).
OCCCO works to strengthen families and improve communities through grass roots organizing. As you know, Tapestry members are involved in several areas. Now for the $$. We must get creative because we do not want to hurt Tapestry’s operating budget. We’ve already got some ideas but please contact Jan if you want to get involved. Thank you.
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.
