At First Congregational Church our vision is a just, compassionate, and peaceful world that honors all of God’s creation.  Check out the list of FCC activities for 2022. These activities were initiated by the Social Justice and Witness committee as well as through wider church efforts.  If you have questions or want to get involved in the committee, email socialjustice@fcceugene.org

  • Conducted a sock and warm hat drive that brought in two large barrels of hats and socks  for CAHOOTS and Bent Spoke,  programs serving those on the street.
  • Supported families and individuals in need with more than $10,000 in small gifts through our Good Samaritan Fund (donations are approved by minister).  These funds typically paid overnight emergency housing, for gas, a portion of rent, car repairs so parents could get to work, etc. 
  • Supported a holiday gift drive for 83 low income children and adults served by CentroLatino , Nightingale shelter, the Mission, and Sheltercare.
  • Provided $400 to CORE, a non-profit serving those under 29 who are experiencing poverty, lack of housing. Funds were to be used for clothing vouchers and gift certificates for needed items.
  • Provided $1600 to St Vincent de Paul Girl’s Youth House to purchase weekly groceries.
  • Provided $2000 to Transponder to provide a nine-month class for trans youth in the Bethel area.
  • Church members donated $18,000 to support scholarships for 22 students from the isle de Tasajera, El Salvador so they could continue their high school, technical or college education.  
  • Provided backyard landscaping and maintenance for the Looking Glass Station Seven House for unhoused youth and youth in crisis, to assure a place of respite and calm
  • Provided $500 to the 4J school district’s NATIVES program to provide a drum teacher for native youth.
  • Provided $500 to Looking Glass to buy large carpentry tools so that youth can build tiny houses for those who are unhoused.
  • Conducted a tool drive for Looking Glass that brought in hundreds of dollars in woodworking tools for youth to use in building tiny houses
  • Provided $400 to HOOTS, a program serving at risk youth in Lane County so they could provide Sweetie Bags for youth experiencing mental health needs.  Bags have community resources, snacks, fidget toys and HOOTS special stickers inside.
  • Provided $500 to CASA of Lane County to provide scholarships to camps for children in foster care, used bicycles, weighted blankets and other items that are not provided by the foster care system.
  • Provided $1200 to Bags of Love, a non-profit program that provides bags of needed items to children placed into foster care or who have experienced trauma.  Bags include a complete set of clothes, school supplies, a blanket, appropriate outer wear and more.
  • Provided $100 to School Garden Project to buy seed for children and youth to learn to garden.
  • Provided $350 to the Refugee Resettlement Coalition
  • Donated $1000 for relief for Ukrainian refugees
  • Donated $1000 to the Isla Tasajera in El Salvador for flood relief
  • Created a First Congregational Green Team with active, engaged members
  • Created a Green Team logo for First Congregational Church
  • Created a Creation Justice Action Plan that was adopted by the church board.
  • Conducted two plastic recycling events that saved large amounts of plastic from the landfill
  • Worked with church staff to create two “Creation Justice” worship services
  • Applied and received re-certification as a “sustainable business” through BRING.
  • Met with Endowment Committee and church investments were reviewed and determined to be invested responsibly
  • Provided monthly articles in the church newsletter, Shalom, about living more sustainably
  • Participated in Beach clean-up activities as well as Willamette River Clean up.
  • Worked with church staff to ensure that all paper products and cleaning products used in the church meet a “green” status
  • Worked with Facilities to ensure that FCC uses minimal pesticides and fertilizer.
  • Provided representation of  the church on the Interfaith Earthkeepers
  • Became a supporting church in the Earth Care Interfaith Fund
  • Created a Green Team page on our website
  • Joined Interfaith Earthkeepers in adopting a section at Glassbar Island for removal of invasive species, planting of native plants, and trash removal.
  • Ohana Youth have participated in 5 environmental service projects this past year through SOLVE Oregon.
  • Ohana Youth also participated in the recent “Climate Hope Cards” project through the UCC National Setting
  • Ohana Youth participated in Sierra Service Projects to remove invasive species like ivy and invasive beach grass. 
  • Sponsored and staffed a booth at the Eugene-Springfield Pride festival
  • Provided four educational sessions on how to be an ally for our LGBTQ siblings
  • Conducted a phone, tablet drive that brought in many good electronic devices for youth involved with the Eugene-Springfield  NAACP
  • Collected signatures to place a measure on the fall Oregon ballot to limit large capacity magazines and strengthen criminal background checks since gun violence disproportionally affects communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.
  • Maintained and supplied a “Little Food Pantry” that provides food for anyone in need.
  • Supported the Interfaith Food Hub with an annual donation of $2400. Food Hub provides 5500 meals for unhoused individuals each month.
  • Collected and donated 683 pounds of food to Food for Lane County.
  • Provided food to unhoused families each month at the St Vincent de Paul Annex.
  • Provided $500 to Catholic Worker to provide food for lunches to those who are unhoused..
  • Provide a listing of Social Justice opportunities (educational and volunteer) through a weekly all-church email.
  • Offer to FCC members and the community a one-year-long Our Whole Lives (OWL) program on life span sexuality.
  • Award one-year scholarships through the FCC Endowment to youth who plan to attend post-secondary training. In addition, this year FCC awarded four scholarships to seminary students.
  • Sponsor the Congregational Preschool, a high-quality developmental preschool that is non-sectarian since 1959.
  • Annually sell Christmas wreaths to benefit PCUN, a farmworkers coop.
  • Offer meeting space at no or low-cost to two 12 Step Groups, a children’s theater, a family scouting group.