Ridwell is coming to UUCM!! Next Friday, February 16 is our first pick up. Please bring your clean and dry items and drop them off in the marked bins next to the little library anytime before noon on Thursday, February 15. Every other Friday, Ridwell will pick up: styrofoam, fabric and shoes, crinkly plastic (any bags that make noise when you squish), plastic film (you can punch your thumb through) and lightbulbs. There is one special item in each pick up. The special item for this pick up is working plastic or wooden hangers. The hangers will be donated to Bridging. Their mission is “to empower people to thrive in their homes by providing quality furniture and household goods as they pursue housing stability.” This is such an exciting new venture for UUCM! Please contact Kathy Stuebner (612-590-9606) or Sue Asinger (612-703-2297) with any questions or read more about Ridwell here.
Ridwell is coming to UUCM! Climate Justice’s new initiative will allow UUCM to collect items that can be hard to recycle. Start saving these items now: multi-layer plastic (crinkly heavier plastic bags), plastic film (grocery store type bags), rigid white Styrofoam, light bulbs, wine corks, bread tags, bottle caps, clothes, shoes, textiles. We’ll have examples on display at church starting February 11. Check out Ridwell.com for more information.
Please join us this Sunday after worship in the community room to write letters to our lawmakers! Matt Kinney from ISAIAH will be there to lay the stage for the 2024 legislature. More information on upcoming events and opportunities are available below.
Some of the local issues we’ll be addressing include: End of Life, Supportive Housing, the North Star Act , Prove It First , Single Payer Healthcare and the Housing Amendment. At a national level, we’ll be contacting our Senators and Representatives by calling for a cease fire in Gaza. Please feel free to bring an issue you’re passionate about too! If you don’t know who your elected representatives are, we can help you find out. We’re looking forward to you joining us, we’ll have snacks, beverages and stacks of postcards waiting for your signatures!
Updates on Upcoming Events at the Capitolfrom Matt Kinney:
There are three upcoming Lobby Days at the Capitol. This year’s legislative session is not a budget year but that doesn’t mean we can’t make progress. Our legislators need to hear from us. Please use the registration links if you are able to attend as the organizers will set up visits with legislators whenever there is a group of 3 or more constituents in attendance. Contact me if you have any questions. I will be at the letter-writing session on Sunday or you can reach me at mkinneymn@gmail.com
February 20: Healthcare Lobby Day
Join us for the MNCare Public Option Lobby Day on Tuesday, February 20th from 1-4 p.m. We will gather at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, 105 University Ave. W., St. Paul. We’ll be trained for lobby visits on the MNCare Public Option and then we will go out in teams to have conversations with our elected leaders! Please register here.
February 22: Housing & Climate Lobby Day
Join us February 22 from 1:30-4:30 as we head to the Capitol to make sure our legislators know their constituents need them to focus on affordable healthy homes for all and climate. Note: the registration link only mentions housing but the lobby effort will cover both housing and climate. Please register here.
February 29: We Choose Us- Democracy Lobby Day
Join us at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, 105 University Ave. W., St. Paul on February 29 at from 9-12. Last year, lawmakers passed the biggest set of pro-democracy reforms our state has seen in the last 50 years! But we know there’s more we need to do to protect and expand our democracy. Join us as we build on our momentum from these shared democracy wins and continue advocating for an inclusive, multiracial democracy that puts Minnesotans first. Please register here.
Join Team Unitarians next month for a 3-county Plastics Free Challenge! This is the perfect chance to have some competitive fun and learn more about recycling plastics. You choose some goals that you would like to try to cut down on your plastics use and the team earns points for your joining and your successes. Invite your friends too! Please contact Jackie Smolen with any questions.
UUCM Happenings 