Unitarian Universalist Society in Stamford,
Stamford, Connecticut

The Unitarian Universalist Society in Stamford (UUSIS) has taken the next step in fighting hunger in the city of Stamford. For the last two years, UUSIS has connected with local organizations to participate in toy collections during the holiday season and to contribute food for the Thanksgiving meal offered to those people needing a place to go and food for the holiday.  Last year, a member of the congregation, Leslie Weinberg, applied for a $500 grant from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to fight hunger and poverty in the Stamford area. To her surprise, UUSIS was given the grant.

UUSIS then decided to contact local community organizations who were addressing hunger issues and surveyed their needs.  They began to hear of ways that their $500 grant could be quite useful.  One program of St. Luke's Life Works lacked pots and pans, dishes, glasses and flatware, among other things. The Stamford Food Bank van (that collects and distributes food when needed) was in need of new all-season tires. After shopping around and explaining the need for the tires, they were able to lower the cost by $80 and get each tire for about $20. They are still pricing the kitchen implements.  

By engaging with local community service organizations, UUSIS feels a new sense of investment in the work being done. In December, 2002, the Rev. Ron Wayne Sala organized a service focused solely on the issue of hunger. Consciousness and commitment grows each step of the way.

Contact point: 

Unitarian Universalist Society in Stamford
Leslie Weinberg, Social Responsibility Committee
20 Forest Street, Stamford CT 06901
Phone: 203-348-0708
Website: www.uusis.org