Make A Difference

The Box Project

The Box Project provides basic necessities such as food, household supplies, clothing and furniture to needy families on the South Shore. The program is one of the most popular social service opportunities at First Parish Church.

Each family served by the program is matched with four First Parish families. The client family fills out a monthly request form, listing their food, household, clothing and furniture needs. First Parish families purchase the items and drop them off at a church member’s home in boxes or bags labeled with a number assigned to the client family. If the requests are large or contain costly items, additional funds are provided by the Social Justice Committee. The items are then delivered by First Parish volunteers. In December, a special church-wide effort results in providing Christmas presents for the dozens of families served by the program. Each month, a list of clothing needs is distributed.

For information on how to help, contact Carrie Meier through the church office (781-934-6532 or

Guest at Your Table

First Parish Church has a long tradition of supporting the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). The UUSC has been a powerful voice for human rights and social justice around the world for more than six decades. First Parish Church donates one dollar per member annually out of its operating budget to the UUSC. In addition, many people at First Parish contribute at a membership level or greater to the UUSC, and many others participate in the annual Guest at Your Table (GAYT) fund-raising campaign to benefit the UUSC.

Guest at Your Table is a major annual event embraced by many UU congregations as a way for adults and children to learn about and support social justice programs worldwide. Funds collected through GAYT help the UUSC operate its many social and economic justice programs world-wide. Caring cartons, about the size of a school milk carton, are available in the parlor of the Parish House on Sundays through the year-end holiday season. Families take them home and make a contribution at every meal to help someone less fortunate than they.

Community Table

The Table at Father Bill’s and Mainspring of Brockton, MA, is a community lunch program that provides free healthy meals to men, women and children, six days a week.

The Table operates out of our MainSpring House emergency shelter in downtown Brockton, with support from dedicated donors and volunteers, and in partnership with Stonehill College’s The Farm, for fresh locally grown produce.

Volunteers, staff and guests get to know one another over a hot meal — served with dignity. When available, The Table also provides sandwiches and/or other take-out items.

The Table relies on volunteers to prepare and serve lunch.

Green Sanctuary

Green Sanctuary is a Unitarian Universalist program that partners with congregations to address climate change and environmental justice.

Congregations that complete the program are accredited as Green Sanctuaries in recognition of their service and dedication to the Earth.

Our Green Sanctuary Task Force has followed the guidelines set by the UUA, to make our buildings and practices more energy-efficient, support environmentally progressive activities within our community, create events and initiatives to educate the congregation and general public about ways to live in a more environmentally responsible manner.

The Green Sanctuary Program provides a path for congregational study, reflection, and action in response to environmental challenges. The Green Sanctuary Program, now in its sixth edition, partners with congregations to address climate change and environmental justice. Congregations that complete the program are accredited as Green Sanctuaries in recognition of their service and dedication to the Earth.