Social Action at First Parish
 Social
Action
The Social
Action consists of five working groups: Fair Trade Coffee,
Guatemala, the
MetroWest Free Medical Program, Metrowest Interfaith
Hospitality
Network, and the MetroWest Outreach Connection.
Information about
each working group is listed below. If
you would like more information about social action at First Parish in
Framingham, please contact the Parish Office, 508-872-3111.
Green Sanctuary Committee
The Unitarian Universalist Association 7th Principle is “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part”. In keeping with this Principle, the Green Sanctuary Committee was formed in 2005 to look at the environmental footprint of First Parish, envisioning a commitment to harmony with the Earth in all our endeavors. We are guided by the Green Sanctuary Program provided by the
Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth (UUMFE).
A
comprehensive audit was completed in December 2006 summarizing the environmental and energy use impact of First Parish. From this audit, a twelve step
action plan was developed and approved by the UUMFE in early 2007 to officially begin our application to become certified as a Green Sanctuary Congregation. The committee spent the next three years carrying out this action plan. These actions were summarized in a
final report submitted to the UUMFE in March 2010. The UUMFE
approved this report
and sent First Parish an
official certificate designating us as a Green Sanctuary Congregation in May of 2010.
The Green Sanctuary Committee is active today continuing to reduce the environmental and energy footprint of First Parish and educating and involving members to do the same with their individual homes. It is also working with the wider community on local and national environmental issues. We welcome all new members.
First Parish
is one of thirteen churches in the MIHN
that provides shelter and meals for homeless families; each church does
this four times a year. We started in the summer of
2008 and have received much assistance from our support congregation,
St. Andrews in Framingham.
The guests
arrive about 5:15 p.m. and share a family-style meal with the
volunteers who have prepared it. The guests clean
up and we socialize until bedtime, which is early because the MIHN van
picks up our guests at 6:45 a.m. on weekdays. Two
volunteers spend the night at the church and put out a very simple
breakfast in the morning. The guests spend the day at the Day
Center, which is housed at the First Baptist Church in
Natick. There the director and associate director help them
with their weekly goals, which are focused on finding housing, work,
and/or childcare.
Volunteers
are needed for preparing meals, evening companionship, staying
overnight, grocery shopping, doing laundry, and for setup before the
week and cleanup after the guests move on to another church.
To volunteer, contact Crystal Chenoweth crystalj@cyberbears.net,
508-651-1782
With
Seasonal Flu season upon us
and the likelihood of
H1N1Flu spreading, the Metrowest Free Medical Program has developed
protocols
for educating and treating our patients, and protecting volunteers and
congregants from contagion and the spread of illness. Here is our plan:
- Provide educational pamphlets
for all patients describing the symptoms of flu, at- home treatment,
and protection. We
have already begun to do this. We will also be publishing this
information in the English, Portuguese and Spanish newspapers, which
carry our weekly announcements. We
hope to add to the efforts of the CDC and Dept. of Public Health in
educating the public about protection of themselves and others from the
spread of flu (such as with good hand washing techniques). We also want people to
know who can safely be cared for at home and when and where to seek
medical attention.
- Anyone with a cough and fever,
body aches or other Flu–like symptoms will not be seen at the Free
Medical Program. Patients
will be told when appointments are confirmed that if they experience a
cough and fever, body aches, or other Flu-like symptoms that they
should reschedule their appointment.
Those who do come to the program will be
instructed to go to the ER or given home care instructions, depending
on the clinical judgment of our practitioners.
- We will be offering Seasonal Flu
shots at the Free Medical Program and holding clinics in conjunction
with the Sudbury Board of Health.
We will do this for both
seasonal flu and H1N1 as vaccine becomes available.
We of course urge EVERYONE in our
Congregation to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
It will be mandatory for all Medical
Program volunteers to be vaccinated.
- Our Medical staff will work
closely with the Dept. of Public Health and the CDC to make decisions
about closing the Medical Program as the Flu season progresses.
Food Pantry
We collect
the following items and donate them to
area food pantries: non-perishable food such as peanut butter, cold
cereal, hearty soups; canned hams, tuna, and chicken; juice and juice
boxes; Parmalat (boxed milk); beans; macaroni and cheese that can be
microwaved.
Metrowest Outreach Connection Inc.
Metrowest
Outreach Connection, Inc., an all-volunteer, non-profit organization
that has 2 programs. The Homeless Prevention Program provides
financial assistance to eligible families and individuals who are in
danger of eviction, foreclosure or are currently homeless.
This assistance helps clients to remain in their homes and for
those that are homeless, acquire permanent
housing. Preventing homelessness is the most
cost-effective alternative to housing families in motels or
shelters. The other program, Health Through Housing, is a
program to help victims of domestic violence and avert homelessness.
The connection between domestic violence, homelessness and poor health
is well documented. Funding for
these programs comes from grants, donations, and fundraising
activities. Contact people: Myrna Howe
781-235-4226 Valerie Waldman
508-877-7769
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