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Social Action
Social Action at First Parish Needham involves all generations of the congregation through the Religious Education program, the High School Youth group, and the myriad projects that occur throughout the year by various committees and members of the congregation.
Our mission is to coordinate outreach and service activities that promote positive social change, respect for the environment, and an active approach to solving local, national, and international issues.
Habitat for Humanity
Needham Interfaith Habitat (NIH) and Greater Boston Chapter of Habitat for Humanity are building a Habitat home in Needham. NIH was formed several years ago by the Needham Clergy Association, representing all houses of worship in the Needham community. Members of this committee (including John Buehrens and Leslie Nelken) worked hard over the several years with the Needham Board of Selectman to find a suitable piece of land in Needham. The Town awarded us a vacant lot at the corner of Bancroft Street and Brookline Street.
Construction has begun -- check out the photos of our first "build day"! To volunteer to be part of First Parish's "build dates" contact Cindy Kumin.
Future Build Dates for First Parish:
- April 22, 2010 (Thursday)
- May 27, 2010 (Thursday)
You can check NIH at: www.needhamhabitat.org
On-Going Projects
The Social Action Committee is involved with the following organizations:
Partakers Prisoner Behind Bars Program:
Partakers helps a prisoner prepare for and complete the Boston Univeristy Prisoner Education program in liberal arts. Members of our congregation provide emotional, intellectual, and spiritual support to a person behind bars. Statistics prove that providing a prisoner with an education has numerous payoffs, including the increased probability of a sucessful, honest life on the outside. Contact John Buehrens for more information.
The One Family Campaign:
The One Family Campaign is devoted to ending family homelessness in Massachusetts. Our congregation, through One Family, has an ongoing relationship with the Pathways Family Shelter, where we donate clothing, bedding, and have parties with the children. One member is a mentor to a One Family scholar. Beyond that, we phone, mail, and email our representatives at the State House, advocating for funding and legislation that helps keep families from becoming homeless.
Needham Interfaith Habitat
NIH, with members from all houses of worship in Needham, is committed to building a home for a deserving, low-income family in Needham. The committee hopes to acquire a parcel of land in the near future - engaging the community of Needham in a unified effort to provide housing to a needy family.
Make a Case for Children:
The Make A Case for Children Committee (MCCC) was organized to raise the issues connected to the state of children in Massachusetts to our congregation. We provide assistance to the Grow Clinic at Boston Medical Center in the form of food and clothing drives, volunteerism and, when possible, children advocacy.
UUA Initiative on Global Warming:
Environmentally, the UUA Initiative on Global Warming spurred a group of our members to educate and raise people's consciousness about the issue and to address it in very local, personal ways. Through speakers, movies, and education materials, the Environmental Group is helping people change their wasteful energy habits.
Other Service Opportunities:
Plus, through organizations started independently by members of our congregation, such as Generic Ministries which serves the homeless in Boston and African Baobab, which is helping feed and educate orphans of AIDS in three villages in Uganda, Social Action at First Parish provides many opportunities to make a positive difference.
For more information please contact the Church Office at 781-444-0823 or office@uuneedham.org