Beginning in October, we will, once a month, share the non-designated portion of the Sunday morning offering, as a means of strengthening our connections with the wider community and living our principles. To qualify, recipients must be non-political, local, registered non-profit organizations whose principles are congruent with Unitarian Universalism, and for whom our donations would make a significant difference.

After the service on September 12, the congregation will select the first three recipients, from the list below. Come and be part of this important initiative!

1. Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan Provides help to educate women in Afghanistan
2. Hands of Hope Provides furniture and household goods to people in need
3. Immigrant Refugee Community of Manitoba Integrates newcomer families into the wider community
4. Rossbrook House A neighbourhood centre for children and youth in Winnipeg's inner-city
5. Andrew Street Family Centre A multi-service family and neighbourhood support centre
6. GOAL (a program of Elmwood Resource Community Centre) An adult literacy program
7. Boys and Girls Club Provides a safe, supportive place for children and youth
8. Friends of the Winnipeg Library Raises money to benefit the library
9. The West Central Women’s Resource Centre Empowers women to help themselves, their families and their community

To Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative,

We at USC Canada are very interested in what the Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative is achieving. We understand so well the complexities of starting at the grass roots level and providing a totally different model of food production and healthy ecosystem management. We support your enthusiasm for sustainable agriculture wholeheartedly. USC Canada has been part of sustainable agriculture worldwide for decades, through the Seeds of Survival program, which operates in the most marginal communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. These farming men and women, though far from Manitoba, have so much in common with what I have learned about Harvest Moon. USC Canada has also been fighting the uphill battle of cheap, mass produced and often unhealthy and unsustainable food systems, and supporting successful community ventures in local seed banks, organic/sustainable agriculture and small farmer cooperatives.

Winnipeg Arts Council Grant Awarded to UU Winnipeg Harvest Team

As part of Winnipeg’s Cultural Capital of Canada initiatives, the Unitarian Winnipeg Harvest Team has been awarded funds for a collaborative arts project under the “With Art” program. The funding is designed to link community groups with local artists who then collaborate to define what the art project will be.

Message from Ruth Pearce, Chair, Global Outreach Committee

January 2010

We are all well aware of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, and wondering how we can help. Steve Lennon described that devastation Sunday morning in church. As chair of the Global Outreach Committee, Ruth Pearce then briefly provided information and cautions regarding donations. The following expands on that information.

1. Be aware that tax credits for charitable donations can be claimed only for donations given in Canada through Canadian sources. For example, donations given to UU UNO on United Nations Sunday had to be clearly addressed to CUC in Canada. CUC provided the receipts for our Canadian donations, and then forward the appropriate donation to our New York office.