Unitarian Universalist Church of Cambria

Social and Environmental Justice Highlights From 2025

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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 2025:

 

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 donated $200.00 to the ‘Stuff the Bus” campaign, a yearly collection organized by The United Way of SLO County that provides school supplies to children in the county.  Our donation went directly to Cambria public school students.

 

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 2025 we supported the program by providing camaraderie, socks and toiletries, and assistance with the Christmas bag giveaway.

 

The Women's Auxiliary at the American Legion also offers us volunteer opportunities during the holidays. One of our committee members helped fill goody bags in December for veterans and housebound people in the local community and assisted with the Toys for Tots program.

 

The SEJC has adopted two stretches of highway and taken responsibility for keeping them free of trash.  Rebecca Hendricks and Ted Key lead the cleanup teams working along our section of Highway 46 and Sue Davis is the lead for 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. In addition to clothing, no-cook food bags are offered. The committee dedicated just over $700.00 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 Cambria Community Council, we are able 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.  The number of households attending the food distribution has increased to 55-60 each month that includes around 200 individuals.

 

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 eleven years.

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The Scholarship Committee, chaired by Maria Rowe and founded by Bobra Tahan, has been in operation for fourteen years.  Over this period, tens of thousands of dollars from donations have been awarded to deserving students graduating from Coast Union High School.  In 2025, twelve students were chosen to receive scholarships. Successful applicants exhibited UU qualities in their essays and extra-curricular activities which include: compassion in human relations, environmental degradation concerns, and the desire to become leaders in social justice work.

 

The Social and Environmental Justice Committee was also able to provide grants to three local non-profits whose work is focused on improving the lives of local residents:

 

Meals That Connect was granted $2,500.00 to help reopen the in-person meal service for seniors in Cambria. 

 

Greenspace was granted $1,000.00 to expand their Environmental Education Program to adults, seniors, and home-schooled children.

 

Echo was granted $750.00 to help fund their outreach work in Atascadero.  Several homeless individuals from Cambria have been transported to the Echo facility which offers shelter, meals and supportive services.

 

The committee also provides smaller donations to help local individuals in need such as purchasing new shoes for a homeless woman, providing a scholarship for a Greenspace class and another for soccer camp to students who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to participate.  Small acts that hopefully make a big difference.     

 

Our committee would like to thank the members of the local Independent Order of Odd Fellows who provided us with a generous grant in 2025 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.