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 email carriemeier@comcast.net
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 program help the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) operate its many social and economic justice programs world-wide.
First Parish Church has a long tradition of supporting the UUSC, 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 participate in the annual Guest at Your Table (GAYT) fund-raising campaign to benefit the UUSC.
The Social Justice Committee helps feed people in need in Plymouth by providing bag lunches every Tuesday. Each week, volunteers prepare sandwiches and desserts and deliver them to the shed by 10:00 on Tuesday morning. At the shed, the volunteers assemble the bag lunches which also include include fruit, juice boxes, and chips. Church member Bob Hughes takes the bag lunches to Plymouth each week and distributes them.
Click to view church member Liz Connors describe why she volunteers for this program
If you would like to join our team of volunteers, please contact Donna Savicki (dsavicki@comcast.net) or 781-585-8041). Thank you, Donna.
Instructions for Volunteers HERE
FPC’s Environmental Working Group (EWG) encourages church members and friends to serve meatless meals. Follow the links below to some of our favorite recipes. If you’d like to join the EWG or if you have a recipe that you’d like to share, please contact Donna Savicki (dsavicki@comcast.net)
Click here for Delicious Meatless Recipes!
EatingWell.com is a reliable source for healthy recipes. Copy this link into your browser for “28 Vegetable Side Dishes That Are Perfect For Summer.”
JOIN THE GREEN TEAM – ADD GREEN POWER TO THE EVERSOURCE GRID
If you currently purchase your electricity from Eversource and are not planning to install solar panels anytime soon, the Social Justice Committee recommends that you visit http://www.energyswitchma.gov to see how you can increase the amount of renewable energy in the Eversource grid. You have many choices with regard to suppliers. Your options include the type (e.g., wind or solar) and amount of renewable energy they use, the length of your contract (if any) and the per kilowatt hour price you pay.