By Cathy George, UUSS Board Stewardship Liaison, January 2015 –

I hate tuna casserole. Yet I make it and serve it once a month at St. John’s Program for Real Change. St. John’s is a local shelter for women and children and is one of our community partners for the Sunday Shared Offering.

A team, of 8 to 10 of our church members, gathers together every fourth Wednesday to prepare and serve dinner for the 80 or more women and children housed at the shelter.  We provide ingredients for the casseroles, salad, rolls, corn, fruit and cookies. We also cook and serve.

I enjoy being part of the team. What happened to the can opener? Do we have enough fruit? Why aren’t the steam trays filling with water?  We share the challenges and the joys together.

There are many ways that members of UUSS generously give of themselves to help others.  Check out one of the following groups if you’d like to get more involved: Family Promise hosting, Loaves and Fishes meal preparation or serving, American River Parkway monthly cleanup, Faithful Friends visiting of immigrant detainees and St. John’s Shelter meals, and Kids Freedom Club raising awareness and funds to stop modern slavery.

“Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson