As a member of UUSJ’s Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps I’ve seen first-hand the power of personal stories to make a difference when we reach out to policy-makers in our quest for social justice based on UU values. That’s why I’m asking for your financial support to add to our ability to “change the world through acts of love and justice.”
Earlier this year, UUs across the country answered UUSJ’s call to write Congress about the importance of keeping the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — food stamps — in the Farm Bill without adding onerous work requirements and other provisions that would make it harder for low-income people to put food on the table. Here’s what some of you told your members of Congress through UUSJ’s Write Here! Write Now! letter-writing campaign and Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps:
- Receiving food stamps back when my son was young allowed me to work, go to college, and improve my life. Hungry Americans need to know we care and will help them.
- My own family needs the program…There were many days adults wouldn’t eat so children could. Now we eat every meal together.
- I personally know a family whose mother and father are both on disability…Every month is a struggle to provide their four children with the food they need.
These personal heart-felt stories put a human face to the statistics, and help UUSJ convey UU values by sharing compelling voices with federal policy-makers.
Now, thanks to relentless advocacy by faith and social justice groups, including dozens of Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps meetings with House and Senate staff at critical stages, this part of the social safety net will be there next year for those in need. Congress has passed the Farm Bill, and the President is expected to sign it soon.
Keeping people in need from going hungry was just one of many social justice issues that UUSJ advocated for in 2018. We put our UU values into action by advocating for immigrant rights, climate justice and the environment, and reducing economic inequality. All while espousing the view that the federal budget is a moral document.
As envisioned by UUSJ founders 20 years ago, UUSJ has raised a “loud unified UU voice on public policy issues.” Since February 14, 2017 we have delivered nearly 4,300 personal letters of witness written by you and other UUs across the country. This year alone, we made more than 1,000 visits to Congressional offices, conducted 106 meetings with Congressional staff or Members of Congress, and mobilized UUs to take to the streets in witness events.
Will you help us continue and expand this work by making an end-of-the-year donation to UUSJ to help make our voice stronger in 2019?
With your support, we can sustain and strengthen our Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps, reach more congregations with advocacy training, expand our Write Here! Write Now! letter-writing campaign to new UU communities, and mobilize more UUs for witness events.
I have faith that, with your support, we can expand our social justice work. We will advance our UU values and principles during the new 116th Congress by bringing our liberal religious voice to our federal policy-makers.
Please join us and support UUSJ with an end-of-the-year donation.
Thank you for all that you do to make a difference!
Bob Denniston
Board Chair
UUSJ
P.S. Click here to donate online or call Pablo at 202-600-9132. Please consider becoming a sustaining monthly donor. To learn more about UUSJ visit our website at www.uusj.org.
P.P.S. If you would you like to donate stock or marketable securities or make an IRA qualified charitable distribution or a tax-exempt required minimum distribution (RDM) please email Pablo at info@uusj.org or call at 202-600-9132.