Service Projects

You can make a difference. To join like-minded people or share an idea you don’t see here, email the Social Action Council – socialaction@fusn.org – and let’s try to make it happen!

Give to Newton Food Pantry

Bring a box or can for hungry Newtonians on Community Breakfast Sundays. http://www.newtonfoodpantry.org Contact: Jackie Colby.

Volunteer at Greater Boston Food Bank

Sign up one Saturday (out of 10 per year) to sort food donations at a beautiful, modern facility in Boston which supplies New England soup kitchens and food banks. See http://www.gbfb.org  Contact: Eric Haas.

Serve Lunch at Women’s Lunch Place

Join a group of FUUSNites to cook and serve homeless women at Newbury Street church once a month. http://womenslunchplace.org. Contact: Eileen Kurkoski.

Project Zambia 

Make a donation to support food and education for AIDS orphans in a community in Zambia. Find out about FUUSN’s annual  summer trip to Zambia (16 and older). Help with the March Youth Coffeehouse, which supplies funds. http://www.communitieswithoutborders.org. Contact: Peter Smith.

(November – December)

Healthy Baby Gifts: For at-risk Boston Children

Donate gifts for low-income kids at Christmas. Contact: Amanda Gaff, Director of Religious Education.

Alternative Gift Fair: For FUUSN Social Action

Instead of a tie or a box of candy, give your loved ones a card marking your donation in their honor to a FUSN-endorsed charity. At coffee hour one Sunday in December. Contact: Peter Smith.

Buy UUSC Holiday Cards

Beautiful cards for sale in December, funds international justice work by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committe. http://www.uusc.org/ Contact: Karen Lein.

UUSC Holiday Guest at Our Table

Support UU justice efforts around the world. http://www.uusc.org/ Contact: Karen Lein.

Holiday Prison Gift Project

Purchase and donate Christmas items from a list of toiletries, etc., to be given to one of the 1,700 inmates in Concord prisons, many of whom receive no other gifts.  http://www.concordprisonoutreach.org/programs/holiday-gift-bag-program/.  Contact: Connie Stubbs.

On Tuesday, May 13th, join other UUs from FUUSN and across Massachusetts at the State House to celebrate 10 Years of Marriage for All, and to promote this year’s issues: raising the minimum wage, and reforming criminal justice and immigration laws. Find out more at http://www.uumassaction.org/  Contact: Lynn Holbein.

Join the NAMI Mass Advocacy Army

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) supports people with mental illness and their families. http://www.namimass.org/.  Contact: Nancy Stanton.

20/20 Action: 20 Minute Action each Month

Make a difference for peace and the environment, You will receive a postcard or email each month explaining what you can do in 20 minutes or less, usually a call or quick note to a legislator. http://www.2020action.org/.  Contact: Peter Smith.

Green Sanctuary: Reduce Climate Change

Learn about lots of ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Contact: Carrie van der Laan.

UU United Nations Office: New York Spring Conference

Learn how you can support the UN’s work for peace, human rights, environment & diplomacy.  http://www.uua.org/international/un/  Contact: Sandy Jones.

Partakers College Behind Bars: College Inmates

Join of a FUUSN team who visits monthly with an inmate who is taking classes to obtain a college degree while in prison. http://partakers.org/site/  Contact: Ann Woodbury.

Project Zambia: Summer Trip to Teach Kids in Africa

Find out about FUUSN’s annual  summer trip to Zambia (16 and older), and help raise funding for education for AIDS orphans. http://www.communitieswithoutborders.org  Contact: Peter Smith.

Project Zambia: Travel, Teach, Raise Contributions

Summer service trip of FUUSNites (age 16 and up) who travel to Zambia to teach children and make friends. http://www.communitieswithoutborders.org/ Contact: Peter Smith.

Prison Art Program: Substitute Art Teacher

Occasional substitutes needed to join other FUUSNites to carpool and lead this ongoing prison art class. We leave Newton at 5, and the class is Thursday nights from 6-8. Art skills are not necessary; come learn with “the guys.”  Contact: Lynn Holbein.

Alternatives to Violence: Prisoner Weekend Program

Award-winning curriculum for a weekend of exploring and sharing with people behind bars. Learn more at http://www.avpusa.org/ Contact: Jim Emerson.

Join an Eco-Team: Learn about Energy Conservation

Learn strategies for decreasing your carbon footprint. FUUSN contact: Eric Olson.

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute: Mother’s Day Walk

On Mother’s Day, join the FUUSN team on the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace. This walk supports the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, which helps families who have lost children and teens to gun violence. http://ldbpeaceinstitute.org/ Contact: socialaction@fusn.org.

Walk for Hunger

Walk or sponsor a walker on the FUUSN team on May 4th to raise funds for 400 soup kitchens and food pantries in Massachusetts. http://support.projectbread.org/site/TR/Walk/General?team_id=74406&pg=team&fr_id=1230   Contact: socialaction@fusn.org.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Walk 

Walk or sponsor a walker to support persons with mental illness and their families.  NAMI Newton Wellesley WALKS! Contact: Nancy Stanton.

Green Sanctuary: Nature Walks for Families

Spring walks to appreciate our natural environment. Contact: Carrie van der Laan.

Boston Pride Parade: Walk with FUUSN 

Walk with the FUUSN group to support equal rights. http://www.bostonpride.org/parade/ Contact: FUUSN Office.

Second Step: Used Items/Furniture

Donate items to help re-house victims of domestic violence. http://www.thesecondstep.org/. FUUSN contact: Mary-Ann Greene.

Choose Fair Trade Coffee 

Buying Fair Trade coffee and chocolate when you shop supports living wages for farmers around the world. http://fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/coffee. FUUSN contact: Mike Arnott.

Coming of Age: Ecclesia with Boston Homeless

Mentors and mentees spend a weekend in Boston getting to know and helping homeless men and women.  http://www.ecclesia-ministries.org/. FUUSN contact: Amanda Gaff, Religious Education.

Project Zambia: March Coffeehouse

Youth bands, fun acts, what’s not to like? And the money raised will educate AIDS orphans in Zambia. http://www.communitieswithoutborders.org/.  FUUSN contact: Meg Holland.

Earth Day Events for Families

Help with a wide variety of fun intergenerational activities to educate the public about protecting our earth. FUUSN contact: Carrie van der Laan.

Go on a Community-Supported Agriculture Field Trip

Tour a farm in which you can buy a share of locally grown organic produce. FUUSN contact: Mark Leicester

Buy at Local Farmers Markets

Support your local farmers, get fresh food from its source. There are two weekly Farmers’ Markets in Newton from early July until the end of October.