Social Justice Committee

The path of Social Justice at UUFHC is determined each year based on the need and interest of our membership. Funds for the committee's work are supplied via special monthly collections, October through May. This year our committee is concentrating on three topics and exploring one other:

• The Domestic Violence Task Force has two major thrusts each year. In October they prepare and display our Silent Witness figures in front of the church, lifting up community awareness of those in Harford County who were killed by a family member. In December our committee participates in the Adopt-A-Family program through SARC (Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center). The committee purchases gifts for a SARC family on behalf of our congregation.
• The Homeless Concerns Task Force prepares three meals at the homeless shelter one day a month as well as provides support personnel at the facility on that day.
  
  We also participate in the Sharing Table four times a year, which supplies a Saturday lunch for all who attend. It is located at the Prince of Peace Church in Edgewood, Maryland.
• The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Task Force keeps the membership aware of current topics concerning this subject through e-mail communications and a few services each church year. This Task Force sent a Friend of the Court brief to the state declaring our support of civil marriage and a "Civil Marriage is a Civil Right" banner proudly hangs over our entrance door! We have also been able to support initiatives by Equality Maryland, a lobbying body for LGBT rights at the state house, and the Trevor Project, a national organization that reaches out to assist LGBT youth. Our church also hosts the Rainbow Youth Alliance twice a month under the auspices of PFLAG.
• The Social Justice Committee plans to study the Issue of Immigration from a wide variety of perspectives this year with the idea that it may become a task force next year.

Our special collection in May is designated for UU Justice Advocacy in Maryland and the JPD District, with contributions sent to the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland and Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice.