Clothing donation box at IPM
Inter Parish Ministry (IPM) has a new partnership with St. Vincent de Paul. When anyone drops off clothing at IPM’s Newtown Pantry, IPM will get clothing vouchers for its clients.
Clothing maybe dropped off at the Newtown Pantry only:
IPM Newtown Location
3509 Debolt Road
Newtown, Ohio 45244
Phone: (513)561-3932
To learn more or ask questions about how Heritage UU Church and its people support IPM, send an email to:
4/7/2021.
Heritage’s Racial Justice Action group is focusing on an important moment for Ohio and we invite you to join us. Ohio is poised to consider abolishing the death penalty. Identical bills have been introduced in the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives by bipartisan sponsors and with strong bipartisan support; SB 103 and HB 183.
Many people, including many UUs, believe that capital punishment is inherently immoral. Studies show it does not deter crime, is disproportionately applied to Black and poor people, and is applied unevenly across cities and counties. What may be surprising is that it is more expensive than sentences of life without parole.
A majority of Ohioans of both parties oppose the death penalty when a sentence of life in prison without parole is an option. Governor DeWine has placed an unofficial moratorium on executions in Ohio because the state has been unable to find the drugs to carry them out without violating the 8th Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. In addition, the Columbus Dispatch reports that, “For every six executions in Ohio, one person has been exonerated.”
Ohio could join the 23 other states that have already abolished the death penalty. Please consider adding your voice to support these bills. What can you do? You can write or call your representative and senator to support abolishing the death penalty in our state. You can also participate in our meetings which are the second Monday evening of each month (next one is April 12) to help plan collective action. The Zoom link will be on the Heritage Church homepage before the meeting.
If you have questions, please contact Louise Lawarre and others on the HUUC Racial Justice team at:
3/24/2021.
Did you know that Heritage Church has an account with Kiva.org? Kiva is an organization that uses crowdfunding to make loans to remove barriers to financial access around the world. They currently work in 77 countries and provide loans that support a variety of needs including small businesses, education, home improvement, healthcare, the arts, and agriculture.
Utilizing an outreach offering in May of 2017, Heritage opened a Kiva account with $604 and made four loans. Loan recipients were chosen with the help of Heritage youth. As those loans were paid back, new ones were made. Since 2017 Heritage Church has made 23 loans to 16 countries totaling $1575.
Loans must be at least $25 and we will soon have enough money in our account to make a new loan. If you have a young person in your home who would like to help choose the next recipient, send a message to
Heritage Church members support the Inter Parish Ministry food pantries with outreach offerings, food donations, and volunteer help. The following comes from an article in Inter Parish Ministry’s May newsletter:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as businesses have closed in response to the Stay-At- Home order in Ohio, IPM has seen a dramatic increase in the needs of our local community.
In fact, the number of families IPM Food Pantry is serving each week for food is nearly double the number this time last year.
To support public health and safety, IPM set up a drive -through pantry where families receive a box of food prepared by the Army National Guard, as well as other pantry staples, meat, milk and produce when available
In addition, IPM is serving as a food resource hub for many local schools and nonprofit agencies, providing over 200 emergency meal kits to families in need.
IPM has also supplied more than 3500 Power Packs to students throughout IPM’s service area with the help of community partnerships.
For more on IPM, visit the IPM website.
If you have questions on Heritage Church’s involvement in IPM, talk with Bob Drake, Kay Inskeep, or Mike Roberts, or send an email to them at:
May 5, 2020.
Covid-19 has changed lots of things, including how Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) feeds, shelters, and shows love to homeless families. Here are the important things to know.
IHN programming falls under essential services as outlined in section 8 of Governor Mike DeWine’s Stay-at-Home Order. Staff and volunteers can travel for these purposes, but such travel should be reduced and limited as much as possible, especially for volunteers.
Under current emergency Board of Health orders, it is not permitted to have the homeless receive shelter for a week in church buildings. Families in emergency shelter are now in a hotel so that they have access to their own kitchen and bathroom spaces. This also allows for social distancing from volunteers, staff, and other families. Families are still served by their case managers, often by phone and email.
IHN will still rely on persons and congregations to provide food, but this will be handled differently. More information will be provided later. What is known now is that, to limit food handling and number of drop offs, IHN will be asking for donations of pre-packaged breakfast, lunch, and snack supplies only. Possibilities include Lunchables, or packages of luncheon meats and loaves of bread that a whole family can use to make sandwiches, rather than the volunteers making the sandwiches themselves. Items that can microwaved are also especially helpful (mac and cheese cups, soup cups, etc.).
Here are some things you can do now to help:
(1) Donate Kroger gift cards to help provide for families. Luckily, there is a Kroger within walking distance of the hotel. The large ask, what we need each of you to do, is to donate some amount on a Kroger gift card for IHN. This can be ordered online to be shipped directly to IHN ( 990 Nassau Ave – 45206), to minimize contact. Increments of $10 are preferred, not to exceed $50.
(2) Make a contribution to IHN by visiting: www.ihncincinnati.org/take-action/give
(3) Donate items to make kid/adult activity packs for families. Anything that can entertain a family that is isolated would be helpful. These can include puzzles and board games. Please provide new, unopened items only.
Donations can also be mailed to:
Interfaith Hospitality Network
990 Nassau Street
Cincinnati, OH 45206.
Thanks so much for continuing to work together, even as we remain apart.
If you have questions, please email Rae Jane Araujo at:
March 25, 2020.
A recent cleaning and organization of our kitchen revealed an abundance of disposable plates, cups, cutlery, napkins, and over 2000 (yes, 2,000) plastic gloves! The greenest thing we can do is to use up the disposables that we already have in the kitchen.
As a Certified Green Congregation, we committed to using reusable plates, cups, etc. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY DISPOSABLE KITCHEN ITEMS INTO HERITAGE UU CHURCH.
That includes not bringing any plastic water bottles or, especially, Styrofoam cups.
Plastic is killing more than 1.1 million seabirds and animals every year.
The average person eats 70,000 microplastics each year.
Plastic chemicals are absorbed by the body—93 percent of Americans age six or older test positive for BPA (a plastic chemical), which is linked to fertility problems, male impotence, heart disease, and may cause cancer.
Please read the sign in the kitchen regarding recycling. The chart clearly shows what you can recycle in our area.
Also, another housekeeping item: Do NOT use sand for holding candles, etc., in carpeted areas. The sand spills and is then ground into the carpeting, causing premature wear.
Sincerely,
The Tuesday Morning Green Cleaning Team
Questions? Talk with anyone on the cleaning team, or send email to:
Editor’s Note: The chalice water bottle pictured is available at InSpirit, the UUA Book and Gift Shop.
Our 7th UU Principle reminds us to Respect the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. And our 6th Source invites us to celebrate the sacred circle of life and instructs us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. One way to do that is to continue to be mindful of what and how to recycle at Heritage and at home. Heritage uses Rumpke Recycling Service. Here are the items that they accept:
Would you like a handy flyer of this information that you can print out and put up on your refrigerator or elsewhere? Click here to get What You Can Recycle.
If you have any questions, please speak with Tracy Jo Small.
March 2019.
Remember, as you “gear up” for summer, that your outgrown or worn out shoes are welcomed by Soles4Souls, an organization that gives them to those who have none, both nationally and internationally. The collection box is in the back hallway of the church.
If you have any questions, please see Joann Meyer, or email her at:
May 2018.
Inter Parish Ministry
Most of you are aware that Heritage UU Church has an ongoing relationship with Inter Parish Ministry. But for those who are not fully knowledgeable of that relationship, perhaps it is time to review what IPM is and how we support their efforts. Inter Parish Ministry was founded in 1964 with the purpose of providing food, clothing and some social services to residents of eastern Hamilton County and all of Clermont County. It was originally started with the support of a number of churches in that geographic area. The IPM food pantry and offices have been located on Debolt Road in Newtown for many years after starting out as a storefront operation.
Recently, some significant changes have been made at IPM. Well over a year ago, a second store was opened just off Ohio Pike in Amelia. Hours of service were altered and now clients can shop at the Newtown site from 10:00 to 2:00 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The pantry in Amelia is open to serve client needs at the same hours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Additionally, the Newtown store is open from 6:00 to 8:00 on Monday evening. Another change was brought about by the retirement of Lindsay Ein, the Director of IPM for many years. She was replaced last fall by Katie Brass who came from a Northern Kentucky non-profit.
In the past, families served by IPM were allowed to shop at the store once every three months. However, at the beginning of 2018, that policy was changed to allow families to come every 30 days. It is hoped this change will allow families in dire need to obtain the food necessary to maintain a healthy diet. Last year, IPM served over 4,300 families and this number is expected to rise significantly in 2018.
As a social justice advocate and an associate of Heritage UU Church, how can you help? There are a number of ways. Several of our church members serve as regular volunteers at IPM. Volunteer activities may include assisting clients as they shop for food and clothing; stocking shelves and sorting food donations; covering the office by answering phones and greeting visitors; and helping during the many special events that are held throughout the year. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Carol Rountree at 513-561-3932. Also, once a month, our Sunday collection is donated to IPM. Your generous support of this act of giving allows the staff at IPM to better service the needs of its clients in a variety of ways. Also, our church happily accepts food and clothing donations. All donations may be placed in the grocery cart located in the Great Hall of the church. These are taken weekly to IPM for distribution to clients. A big Thank You goes to all of our Heritage UU family for the fantastic support given to IPM over the last decade.
April 2018.
Climate change is real. It’s such a big problem that one can feel helpless against the big money interests that are destroying our environment. The bad news is we also are accelerating climate change through rapidly increasing carbon emissions that are a byproduct of our modern lifestyle. The good news is we have the power to decrease carbon emissions and slow global warming by choosing “green” alternatives when making lifestyle decisions. These low-carbon alternatives are becoming more affordable, and as people continue to “vote with their dollars,” market forces will compel the big polluters to change their ways.
A good first step is for people to be aware of their personal “carbon footprint.” Two of the biggest contributors to most household carbon footprints are transportation and home energy consumption. For most of us at Heritage UU Church, transportation means our automobiles, and making a big impact in terms of carbon footprint in that area requires a big commitment. That’s why the Heritage Men’s Action Cooperative (H-MAC) has targeted home energy consumption as a way to make a big impact on our carbon footprint with a small investment of money and effort. “Green” energy is affordable and available in our area. Just four households in our group (10 people) have kept over 50 tons (per year) of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
It’s easy and affordable:
Step 1: Inform yourself; study your electric bill; understand your usage and what you are paying – especially the electricity ‘Generation Charge.’ Google your electricity supplier’s ‘Environmental Disclosure.’ Measure your energy footprint; here’s a link to the EPA’s Carbon Footprint Calculator: https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/
Step 2: Make the Switch to Green Electricity. Here are some options:
Step 3: Tell us about it. Let’s make this a group effort. Bring your electric bill to church and share your savings numbers with us. The CO2 Savings chart will be on display in the great hall, and we’ll be available to answer questions and help you with the carbon footprint calculator and the other green energy websites.
April 2017.
