Social Concerns
 

The GREEN SANCTUARY Committee posts information on green activities in WNY on the Green Sanctuary bulletin board in the lobby. Activities include conferences, opportunities to volunteer, and wonderful recreational activities for adults and children. Check it out!
For more information on our church's activity to become a Green Sanctuary, please go to our Faith in Action page.

GREEN TIPS
* Cancel Mail Order Catalogs - email www.catalogchoice.org
* Improve gas mileage by reducing wind resistence Remove roof racks & other accessories. A fully loaded roof rack increases gas consumption by 30%
* Wash your car on the grass. Use a bucket & only run hose water when needed. Soapy water won't harm your yard & will reduce run off into the storm drain.
* Change mowing practices. Mow as infrequently as possible & mow higher than normal. Leave mulched clippings on the lawn.
 

6th Annual WNY Environmental Summit
“This Land is Your Land: Reclaiming Your Home, Your Neighborhood, Your Community" is the theme for the 6th Annual Western New York Environmental Summit. The event is hosted by Daemen College on Saturday, September 25 from 8:30am-12:30pm and is free and open to the public. This year’s summit will feature speakers, workshops and panel discussions on issues related to improving our communities from housing to green space.

Opening remarks on “Extreme Home Makeover: The Aftermath” will be presented by Aaron Bartley, Executive Director, PUSH Buffalo.

A special workshop session "Greening your Congregation" is planned with representatives invited from eight churches (including UU of Amherst) to showcase their green successes and learn from others. Registration for the free event is available online at http://my.daemen.edu/academics/environmental_summit/. For more information, please contact Brenda Young at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You are Invited to the WNY Peace Center’s September Meeting
When: Saturday, September 25, 1 pm
Where: Room 100, Allen Hall, South Campus University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14215

The WNY Peace Center's Board of Directors has called the September meeting. All members are strongly encouraged to attend. Please help to spread the word. Thank you. For more information, contact Nanette Cosbey, 759-0982.

PAPER RECYCLING! The Junior Youth Group would like to thank the congregation for its support, and we remind you to keep bringing in your paper for recycling . . . every little bit helps! The Senior High Youth Group will be responsible for collecting the inside recycling baskets and putting them in the bin. Any money earned from the paper collection supports youth activities.

Social Concerns / Economic Justice Task Force

UUs have long been an important part of community dialog and social action. For example, UUs helped refugees reach safety after the Nazis invaded Prague, supported the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, and worked to improve our environment. The UU Church of Amherst has always been part of the movement (e.g., operating an integrated day care program in the 1960s, becoming a Green Sanctuary church today, along with many other examples).

VOICE-Buffalo affirms that the pursuit of the common good is the fundamental organizing principle of a good society. All citizens of our neighborhoods, city and region deserve the opportunities and resources to live in healthy communities.

       Any church member can attend a VOICE meeting. Each month there is an interesting speaker. For more information, contact Pat Burke, Margot Shoemaker, or Warren Marcus.

Fair Trade Coffee for Sale
Our coffee sales resumes on the first Sunday in September - that’s Sept 5. Order your coffee and buy tea or chocolate bars. Your coffee will be available for pick up on the following Sunday.

Cell phone collection
We are collecting used cell phones that have been donated to Haven House. Moneys donated to this organization are used to buy useful goods and a book called Getting Free that are given to women who come to this shelter. You may leave them in the first coat room in the church lobby.

BoxTops/Labels for Education
This is a continuing collection for Gateway-Longview. A large amount of labels was taken "next-door" recently for the programs of the youth facility. Look for the labels on familiar products which you use in your household. Campbell's soups and many cereals have the symbols. Some may be found printed on the plastic wrapping on products. All are acceptable. Place in the basket in the front coat room near the door and they will be taken to Gateway. – Ellen Doyno

Used Eyewear Recycling Project -- Are there eye glasses in your house which are no longer of use to their owners? Your used eyewear can now be donated to One-Sight, a consortium of Pearle Vision, Lenscrafters, Target, Sears and some independent eyecare providers.

The Women's Group has placed a box in the first coat room with brochures for you to read more about the work of OneSight, begun by Dr. Stanley Pearle.

These types of glasses can be accepted: adult and children's eyewear of all prescriptions and non-prescription sunglasses. Do not bring the cases - just the eyewear itself.
Fourteen times a year the glasses are taken to clinics around the world where they are cleaned, analyzed and matched to a needy person. This past June, an employee from the Eastern Hills Mall Lenscrafters store went to Paraguay for two weeks to work at one of these clinics. His trip was subsidized by the organization.

Thanks to all of you who have contributed used eyeglasses. So far, we have been able to collect 50+ pairs of glasses. How wonderful! Please tell your friends and co-workers about this program and encourage them to give you their glasses. Thanks. The Women's Group

Food Donations - Thanks to everyone who has contributed food for the food pantry. The food is distributed at the pantry at University Presbyterian Church to hungry families from northeast Buffalo, Amherst and Tonawanda. With the declining economy, the number of families being served is increasing and the food selection is diminishing. More food donations would be welcome.
Please bring non-perishable foods and leave them in the large wicker basket next to the Welcome Desk in the entrance area. Especially needed are:
                   + Canned soups, fruits and vegetables.
                   + Packages of dried foods such as pasta, cereal, etc.
We can also use packaged flour, sugar, coffee, cookies or cake mixes and the like, or toilet items (soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, etc.). The food pantry cannot distribute foods in opened packages, homemade foods like jelly or canned fruit, or foods that have exceeded their expiration date.

The Food Pantry at University Presbyterian Church needs volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30-4:00.Work with 3 or 4 other volunteers filling grocery bags, checking out clients, or stocking shelves. You can work with a friend.  - Jack Howell

Book Recycling
From the book recycling corner: We have received some very nice books lately, many from Grace Little. Many thanks. We also have a huge stack of mostly old National Geographics. They are free for anyone to take and will be disposed of shortly. Please keep magazine donations current as posted. Thanks, Ellen Doyno

You can see UUCA activities listed in
our monthly events calendar.