SJOT News for April
Many thanks to all who gave during our Outreach Collection for Dreamers. A total of $4,147 was raised with $3,732.30 going to Dream Scholarships, and 10% ($414.70) to the SJOT Fund for small UUFH donations. At the February SJOT meeting, we approved three donations of $50 each from the SJOT Fund:
1. Babies Need Bottoms: A nonprofit diaper bank in the Greater Asheville area, which collects and distributes donated diapers for families. They plan to expand their efforts into Henderson County soon; SJOT and Family Ministry will then become more actively involved with the group.
2. Backpack Program, Flat Rock: Our donation funds the UUFH sponsorship of bread for the upcoming Empty Bowls event benefiting the Flat Rock Backpack Program. Potters and artisans of Henderson County, including some UUFH members, will present the second annual Empty Bowls event benefiting the Flat Rock Backpack Program on Sunday, April 29, from 5-7pm at the Parish House at St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church, Flat Rock.
The local Backpack program aids children with hunger needs across Henderson County by providing food for their non-school days. Note: this is separate donation from the support to be raised in our May Youth Hunger Outreach Collection.
3. Martin Luther King Day of Service Event: This amount, plus another $50 in cash donated by individual UUFH members, was used to purchase rice and beans for meals as part of this multi-congregational event honoring Dr. King through service actions. A number of UUFH members participated in the service projects (baking, packing, and delivering homemade cookies to first responders and assembling the rice and beans meals).