Service and Justice

Service and Justice Opportunities

At First Unitarian Church, we are committed to justice and service and to offering our community opportunities to volunteer in the service of justice and equity.

Each year we have volunteer opportunities. These opportunities may change as congregation members have the interest and energy for different projects. These are the opportunities we offer now.

To get in touch with the leaders of any of these projects, please email and tell us about your interest. We’ll get back to you soon!

Family Support Circle

The Family Support Circle assists two single-parent refugee families from the Central African Republic in their resettlement journey in Worcester. The program provides crucial support to these families who are now U.S. Permanent Residents or citizens, with mothers in steady employment and children thriving in school.

Volunteers are needed for transportation assistance helping children get home from school when their mothers are at work. This commitment can be as little as one hour per week or on an as-needed basis. The program also offers guidance on navigating the immigration process and American cultural norms. Training and a CORI check are required.

College Behind Bars Mentoring

The College Behind Bars mentoring team works under the umbrella of the Partakers Project. First Unitarian Church supports incarcerated men at MCI Shirley and MCI Norfolk who are enrolled in Boston College and Emerson College programs. Volunteers form teams of 2-4 mentors, providing support through monthly emails and bi-monthly visits to their assigned student. This program aims to reduce recidivism by supporting higher education for incarcerated individuals, with studies showing the significant value of education in this context.

Volunteers commit to mentoring for the duration of the student's college experience or until the end of their sentence.
New teams will be formed and trained as volunteers become available.

Sister to Sister Cycle Connection

Sister to Sister Cycle Connection provides monthly supplies of feminine sanitary pads to refugee women and girls currently residing in Worcester. The project uses a monthly subscription service through Amazon for bulk purchases of supplies. The project is now benefiting approximately 250 families per month. This initiative aligns with existing family refugee support efforts.

Volunteers are needed once a month on a Wednesday morning to deliver products and financial contributions are always welcome.

Donations can be made by donating to the church to support this ministry.

In The Hour of Need family shelter

In the Hour of Need (IHN) Family Shelter provides temporary housing for up to six families experiencing homelessness in Worcester. First Unitarian Church members support IHN by volunteering their time and offering monetary contributions. Above you can see our youth group after their annual clean-up of the IHN grounds.

The church also contributes through diaper donations, board membership, and annual collections, raising over $6,000 annually for the shelter. First Unitarian Church's Christmas Eve collection is donated to IHN.

Volunteers from First Unitarian cover shifts for three weeks each year, with evening shifts from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM and overnight shifts from 8:30 PM to 6:30 AM on weekdays (8:30 AM on weekends). Teens can also volunteer by playing with the children, doing yard work, and helping with cleaning and maintenance. Learn more by reading our FAQ.

Haitian refugee ministry

The Haitian Refugee Ministry supports Haitian families living throughout Worcester, and provides comprehensive support including ESL classes, donations, feminine pad distribution, and general family assistance.

The ministry currently serves over 250 families. By volunteering, you'll directly support Haitian families in their resettlement journey and embody the church's mission of supporting immigrants and refugees.

Multiple volunteer opportunities are available:

• ESL Support: Host self-led, online English classes on weekday mornings
• Family Support: Volunteer with occasional workshops, family fun activities, and events
• Sister to Sister Cycle Connection: Support the UU Sisterhood's monthly pad supply program

Holiday giving projects

During the holiday months there are opportunities to provide gifts to the community. We partner with the Department of Children and Families, which provides profiles of children who need gifts. Our youth groups choose an organization to support with shoeboxes full of items for youth living in Worcester.

To volunteer, look for announcements in November and December.

LGBTQ+ Justice

First Unitarian Church is a Welcoming Congregation. We support the LGBTQ Asylum Task Force through meals and fundraisers. We host a table at Pride Worcester's annual Pride Festival.

Volunteer opportunities include providing food, attending dinner with Task Force individuals, and sitting at the information table during the Pride Festival.