Share the Plate for September and October: Holiday Giving

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Our Share the Plate collections in September and October will be for our Holiday Giving projects. For many years now, Unitarian Coastal Fellowship has given generously at holiday time to those in our community who are often left out at this season. Any money in the collection plate that is not designated for pledges will be equally divided between UCF and Holiday Gift Giving. There are three holiday traditions that we have established:

Miriam Green with Gift Bags for Hope Mission and Beach House


We put together Holiday Gift Bags containing gift cards ($20 or $25) and items hand-made by the Twisted Sisters needlecraft group and give them to those at Hope Mission’s Homeless Shelter and Recovery Homes and to clients of Beach House, a program for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Last year we also put toothpaste and toothbrushes in the bags.

Beach House Christmas Party with Gift Bags

We also adopt children from the Angel Tree through Project Christmas Cheer. These are children whose parents can’t afford to give them much for the holidays. Those selected are vetted by Carteret County Social Services. Our children and youth shop for these Angel children, wrap the presents, and have a pizza party.

Wrapping presents for Project Christmas Cheer


And, we bring gift bags with handmade hats, scarves, etc. to the clients of Empower (formerly Station Club) – our neighbors on Church Street. Empower is a program that provides vocational training for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Now that Covid is not as much of a threat, we have resumed holding an annual Caroling Party for Empower.

Karen Baggott with goodies at Empower Holiday Caroling Party


Please give generously during the months of September and October to help us fund our holiday giving. You can write a check to UCF and put Share the Plate in the memo line. You can either put that check in the collection plate or mail it to Joan Burton, Treasurer, UCF, PO Box 425, Morehead City 28557. You can also donate through this website. Again, be sure to select Share the Plate if you give online. Each Sunday in September and October all cash donations in the collection plate that are not marked as a pledge, will also go to the Share the Plate collection for Holiday Giving.