Volunteer Efforts
UUVC-C4K
The UU Village Church assumed responsibility for the UU-C4K program in 2009. The program was started by a UU church member who was serving on the Fountain Lake School Board at the time he started the program. Originally, the program served only the FL school district students but when UUVC became responsible, it was expanded to serve several other local school districts and several local non-profit organizations who have need for very low-cost computers. The major components of the program are: (1) refurbishing computer which have been donated by residents, businesses, and the FL school district. (2) Refurbishing involves wiping the hard drive of each computer to remove all personal files and programs, then installing Microsoft Windows 10, Office 2010, and several application programs that users typically need. (3) distributing the refurbished computers to area families who have children in one of the local schools who do not have a home computer or to local non-profits organizations who distribute the computers to their clients. Examples are the Cedar Mountain Boys and Girls Club and Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic. Since the beginning of the program, over 600 computer systems have been refurbished and provided to the families of local students or adults. UUVC has dedicated space in our church facility for the storage and refurbishing of the computers. Anyone wishing to donate a computer to the program is encouraged to do so (uuvc.org/c4k) and anyone interested in assisting with the refurbishing, placement or transport of the computers can volunteer by emailing c4k@uuvc.org or calling C4K at (501)781-0598
Jackson House
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Eleanor Klugh Jackson House for Crisis Intervention Services, Inc., commonly known as “Jackson House," is an interfaith non-profit community crisis center which provides short-term emergency assistance for basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter, and medicine without regard to race, creed, sex or nationality - and without imposing values or beliefs upon those served. Five church volunteers work in the Soup Kitchen every third Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and two people volunteer in the Thrift Shop every first Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We also collect and deliver non-perishable food items to the Jackson House food pantry weekly, and make occasional clothing donations.
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Langston School
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A group of ours volunteers in a reading program at Langston Aerospace Magnet School in Hot Springs, an elementary school with a diverse student body, every other month
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Recycling
The Social Action Committee created a “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” brochure, to encourage and assist community residents to become more environmentally responsible. A few items can be recycled at UUVC: aluminum cans, ink cartridges, batteries, and plastic bags. The Sleeping Mat Group uses the bags in their activity.
Other Commitments
Fair Trade
The UUVC supports Fair Trade by offering Equal Exchange products for sale, such as coffee, chocolate, olive oil and nuts, two Sundays a month. Fair Trade is a partnership that contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions for--and securing the rights of--marginalized producers and workers.
UUSC
The Social Action Committee promotes individual membership in the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, (www.uusc.org) an organization which is the UU equivalent of “missions”. UUSC supports local groups in many countries and in the US to advance human rights, especially for the most marginalized. The Social Action Committee informs the congregation about UUSC through the Justice Sunday program and Guest at Your Table.
Interfaith Council
UUVC participates in the Hot Springs Village Interfaith Council, and takes its turn hosting community wide worship services to commemorate special days, such as Thanksgiving and Earth Day. We donate to the annual shoe fund and prepare gift baskets for families at Christmas.