Unitarian Universalist Church of Cambria

Social and Environmental Justice Highlights From 2024
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We welcome you to join us in our pursuit of social and
environmental justice in our community and beyond.
 
Here is a summary of our activities for 2024:
 
The Social and Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC)
not only supports projects initiated and operated by
committee members, but also works with other
organizations. We assist on local environmental justice
projects such as Greenspace’s tree planting crews,
ECOSLO’s Creeks to Coast Cleanup, and Squibbing Day
organized by Beautify Cambria and the Cambria
Historical Society.

This year we once again gave $150 to ‘Stuff the Bus” a
yearly collection organized by The United Way of SLO
County that provides school supplies to children in the
county.

Another program our committee supports is the Living
Waters Homeless Outreach. This program’s services
include counseling, hot meals provided weekly, and
supplying warm clothing and other outdoor essentials to
the local unhoused population in Cambria. In 2024, we
donated $700.00 to help purchase food supplies and dry
goods.

The Women's Auxiliary at the American Legion also
offers us volunteer opportunities during the holidays. The
SEJC and members of our congregation help fill goody
bags in December for veterans and housebound people in

the local community. And we assist with the annual Toys
for Tots program.

The SEJC has adopted two stretches of highway and
taken responsibility for keeping them free of trash.
Sue and Mike lead the cleanup teams
working along our section of Highway 46 and the Highway 1 section.
 
Another ongoing effort by the SEJC involves providing
winter clothing and outdoor supplies to the homeless
community in Cambria. Catherine Lekich leads the effort
to collect warm coats, socks, outer wear, and cold weather
supplies for distribution to the local unhoused. The
committee spent just over $500.00 to help cover the cost
of purchasing these essential supplies.
 
Members of the SEJC, along with members of the
congregation and the larger community, continue to help
Janet Cooper with the monthly SLO Food Bank
distribution held once a month in San Simeon. In
conjunction with Cambria’s Anonymous Neighbors and
with a generous grant from the CCC, we can purchase
staples that augment the Food Bank supplies such as
eggs, tortillas, tomatoes, peppers and milk and cheese.
Our committee also purchases special holiday pies that
are handed out at the December distribution.
In November, the SEJC and members of our church
coordinate with the Link Family Resource Center to fill
40 Thanksgiving baskets with a variety of holiday food,
fresh fruit and vegetables for local low-income families.
The project has been operating successfully for ten years.

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The Scholarship Committee, headed up by Jan Musarra
and Maria Rowe and founded by Bobra Tahan, has been
in operation for 12 years. Over this period, tens of
thousands of dollars from donations have been awarded
to deserving students graduating from Coast Union High
School. In 2024, eight students were chosen to receive
scholarships. Successful applicants exhibited UU qualities
in their essays and extra-curricular activities which
include: compassion, environmental concern, and the
desire to become leaders in social justice work.

Finally, Nancy Tholen leads a study group dedicated to a
better understanding of racial justice. The group
discusses books and movies that help expand our
understanding of systemic injustices that work to
marginalize different racial and ethnic groups and what
we can do to help initiate positive change.

Our committee would like to thank the members of the
local Independent Order of Odd Fellows who provided us
with a generous grant in 2024 to promote and expand our
outreach programs.
 
We are open to new suggestions for ways to improve or
expand our existing programs and are always available to
advise and/or assist anyone who wants to initiate a Social
or Environmental project.