Community Partnerships..........

Christ Church Unity offers Support
in the 2012 Interfaith Shelter Network

Since we did not get the dates we requested for 2012, CCU will act as a support church in this next shelter season - we will fill in as needed if other church organizers call us for assistance.  Smaller congregations often need our help.  So far the following persons have provided help in time, talent or treasure:  Mike and Sharla Barry, Audrey and Bill Pitts,  Rob and Jacquie Hardesty, Pat Stadtmiller, Butch Davis, Rebecca  and Chris Humble, Jerry Smith and Aline King.  Thank you very much for your dedicated service!!  There are many ways to help!  Call Aline at 619-280-2501, ext. 133, for more information.

Western Service Workers Association
Thanks Christ Church Unity!!

The November 2011 food drive for WSWA was very successful with contributions toward 27 turkeys, 50 pounds of beans, many canned goods, peanut butter and rice.  10 blankets were also contributed. The families and volunteers are very thankful for your support.

2012 Food Drives and School Supply Drives Continue for the 4th year

Please mark your calendars for WSWA food drives in February, May, August and November.  The August drive will include backpacks and school supplies.  The November drive will include turkeys and blankets.

WSWA (Western Service Workers Association) is an all volunteer organization in effect since 1977 to assist low wage restaurant and hotel workers and other service positions to support emergency needs in an 11 point service program. This can include emergency food, blankets and clothing. The service center also needs support for monthly medical and legal workshops.  Call Aline King, at 619-280-2501, ext. 133 with ???s.

Colina del Sol Park Thanks CCU Volunteers

Once again six volunteers from CCU assisted Colina del Sol Park on 54th Street at their annual Halloween Carnival.  Over 100 children participated in games and a costume contest.  Our volunteers had a grand time assisting and enjoying the fun.  Check with Aline King at 619-280-2501, ext. 133, if you would like to join us in the spring for the egg hunt and other activities.  Fingerprinting with the City of San Diego and a liking for fun with kids are the only requirements!

Scrip News

The holidays will be here soon.  This is the best time to buy scrip at CCU.  We have Honeybaked Ham and grocery scrip for the holiday meals.  For your Christmas gifts there is an extensive list for the whole family.  Be sure to order early to avoid a rush close to Christmas.  Lots of new scrip is available – Costco in $50 and $100, Whole Foods in $25, and Ralphs/Food 4Less $25.  Scrip is just like cash that you use for everyday shopping or gas.  Stop by the scrip table today for a complete list.  You may order it in advance by contacting Meredith at 619-280-2501, ext. 109, or email at meredith@unitymeredith@unitysandiego.org.

Entertainment Books 2012

The new books are ready for purchase. They contain discounts for restaurants, entertainment (movies), services and travel.  The price remains at $40!  Stop by the table in Wrigley Hall to preview this year’s edition.  Ask your family & friends to purchase from you and raise extra funds for Christ Church Unity.

Stuffed Animals - Give the gift of snuggly love!

We continue to gather stuffed toys to be blessed and given away at Christmas-time.  Please bring new stuffed toys to the sanctuary so they can soak up blessings and love until we gift them in December. Bring your donations of  stuffed animals to our sanctuary and each Sunday hug a toy to bless it.   We will dedicate the toys and give them away in December.

Christmas Stuffed Animal Drive

Beginning on the Sunday July 18th, where we celebrate “Christmas in July” we begin collecting stuffed animals to give to less fortunate children both in San Diego and Tijuana. As these are gathered from July to mid December, we ask church goers to pick one up and hold it through the services to love it, so that each animal going to a child goes with love, too. During a service in mid December, Reverend Blair blesses these animals during services, then they are sent to where they are needed. In the past several years we have taken some of these animals and sent them to other places as they were needed. In 2005, we sent 40 square feet of animals via Fed Ex to Katrina victims in Mississippi that was distributed by another church group. In 2007, many of the stuffed animals that were around in October were taken to Qualcomm Stadium for the fire victims who were children. Even though we gave away many of the animals both times, by Christmas we had more animals than ever before!

Head Start Book Drive

Every year we gather children’s books to give to the children at the Head Start Preschool located on our campus. This is done a Christmas time and other times as the need arises. Call Lynne Adams for more information at 619-579-6991.

Circulation Day

The first Saturday in June is an event where everyone in the church has an opportunity to clean their closets and cupboards of items they no longer need or use. These items are organized by type and placed in Wrigley Hall. In addition to the church members, members of the community are encouraged to come and “adopt” any of these items they may want or need. The idea is to circulate those items no longer used to be used by someone else. The old adage “somebody’s trash is somebody else’s treasure” is certainly true here. There is no money exchanged- just a fun day to circulate our good!

Farmer's Market

Every summer we share the fruits of the labor of David, our landscaper who so generously donates his time and talent to grow vegetables, with others contributing. He sets up a table on Sundays and attendees are free to purchase the food on a love offering basis. The monies collected go to our Youth Ed Department.

Community Halloween Carnival

Every Halloween, a number of our volunteers go to the local park, Colinas Park, where the City of San Diego recreation center holds a carnival for the children of this area. They were unable to hold it for several years, but due to our volunteering, the event is back on the calendar. It is hard to say who has more fun- the local children and their families, or the volunteers!

Food Drive for Western Service Workers

We collect donations for the Western Service Worker’s Association on a quarterlhy basis. This group needs your donations dried rice and beans, peanut butter and canned meats during these drives. Please bring items to Wrigley Hall. This all-volunteer association is comprised of families who may have two or three jobs in restaurants and hotels in order to meet their needs. In winter, increased utility bills can cause a decrease in food budgets. Often heat is not used in their homes because of the expense. Our donations can help many. Thank you for your donations in past months. For more information, please contact Aline King at 619-280-2501, ex 133.

Recycling Program

Donate your used cell phones, ink jets, toner cartridges, DVDs, laptops, MP3 players, video game consoles, digital cameras, GPS devices, digital picture frames and portable DVD players to Christ Church Unity. One company is now taking all cell phones and batteries and making sure they are safely disposed of without cost. CCU will receive from $1.60 to $100.00 for eligible items. It costs CCU nothing to participate. Look for the recycle bins on the stage and in the tower hallway. Your contribution helps save the earth's natural resources. These items will be reconditioned and used again instead of ending up in landfills. For more information speak to Meredith Tabor.

Maximize Your Shopping Dollars by GoodShopping through GoodSearch!

Shop online and help your church at the same time with GoodShopping! We are ending the second year of our GoodSearch program having earned more than $200. GoodSearch is a search engine which pays us a penny for each search done through their website. In 2007, GoodSearch expanded to include GoodShop, an online shopping mall of world-class merchants also dedicated to helping fund worthy causes across the country. Each purchase made via the GoodShop mall results in a donation to our church. Follow the directions from the GoodSearch home page at www.GoodSearch.com, making sure our church name is shown in the field for charity. Click on the GoodShop box to the right on the page, and look at all the merchants available. If you have questions, please contact Nancy Sogliuzzo at (619) 275-3888 or at NJHernley@aol.com or speak with Meredith at the scrip table.