UU Serves

UU Serves is a flexible and fun volunteer program which gives First Church members a way to work together to serve people in need in our Houston community. It's a collection of teams of volunteers who work together at various times during the week cooking, building, or doing other jobs to help make our community a better place.

If you've ever wanted to give real hands-on help to less fortunate neighbors but have felt too busy to be locked into a long-term commitment, then UU Serves is for you. Look over the service opportunities listed below, choose the one which meets your needs, and contact the coordinator.

UU Serves Volunteer Opportunities

Bering-Omega House:  A small hospice for indigent AIDS patients. A team of two will work there from 10-12 on the second Saturday of the month to make a home-cooked lunch and dinner. Email coordinator Frances Burford. 713-658-0633.

Carol Schwarten, KC, and Frances Burford folding laundry for the homeless at The Beacon

The Beacon:  A day center for the homeless. Teams of 2 - 8 people work from about 9 - 12 on the third Saturday of each month performing various services such as welcoming guests, doing laundry, and cooking and serving food. Email coordinator Carol Schwarten. 713-960-5026

Rebuilding Together-Houston:  A nonprofit organization which provides home repair services for low income, elder and/or disabled Houston area homeowners. We send crews of 8 to 10 people who work most of the day to do exterior painting and repair work. Four days a year: Coming up soon: October 18 and October 25. Email coordinator Mary Koch.

Emergency Aid Coalition:  A large organization which helps families in poverty. We need teams of four to work Friday mornings making sandwiches and helping clients with clothing selection. Email coordinator Lois Hardt. 713-667-7946.

Letter writing  A group of First Church volunteers will gather at the church once a month to write letters on social justice issues. Day and time to be decided. Email coordinator Lynn Furay.

The goal of UU Serves is to contribute in work-hours the annual salary of one non-profit professional. We can meet this goal if every First Church member volunteers just four hours a year!

"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul" [Edward Abbey]