Mission and Justice

Local Mission and Justice Matters

Youth Villages Birthday Bags

We provide a monthly birthday party in a bag for about 20 teen girls.  Each bag contains:

  • four boxes of cake mix – four tubs of frosting
  • disposable cake pans – sprinkles to decorate
  • candles – birthday cards
  • hats for the girls celebrating that month (1-2)
  • decorations (birthday banners or signs, streamers)
  • paper plates, forks and napkins for 20
  • something fun like stickers, mini glow sticks, individual bubbles, mardi gras bead necklaces, or anything that seems like it would help make a birthday party fun for 20 girls.

The girls really look forward to this every month. Birthdays can be very hard because they can remind the girls that they aren’t celebrating their special day with family and friends.  Thank you to all who have donated birthday supplies for the Youth Villages birthday bags!

Arlington Food Pantry (AFP)

We will be collecting non-perishable food items
and household goods for the AFP on Sunday, June 5. For a list of recommended items and for “How to Register to Receive Food from the Arlington Food Pantry” visit www.facebook.com/foodpantryarlington or arlingtonfoodpantry.org.  We are also looking for regular or occasional volunteers to deliver to the AFP.
Talk to Kate Lindheim, Lauren Evans or Mike Rich.

Regional Gun Buy Back

Help make Arlington even safer. Saturday, June 11 from 10-3 at the DPW yard at 51 Grove St.  Arlington police will collect unwanted guns and in return distribute gift cards from food businesses ($50-$200 depending on the type of weapon). Any leftover gift cards will be given to the Arlington Food Pantry.

Community sponsors, including PACC, raise funds to purchase the gift cards.  If you’d like to contribute to the PACC donation talk to Kate or Lauren.  Thank you!

 Thank You!  Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Network

In recognition of our ONA anniversary, we raised $250 to provide snacks for 10 weeks for the Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Network’s Friday night youth meetings.  Mystic provides a safe and supportive place for LGBTQ youth in Arlington and surrounding towns.

Join Us at Boston Pride, Saturday June 11

We usually attend the service at Old South Church first at 11 am, which is a lively interfaith service celebrating the LGBTQ community.  Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Pastor Judy Hanlon, co-founder of the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force will both be honored during the service. If you would like to join other PACC walkers, talk to Jill Lewis to arrange car/MBTA-pooling.

At noon we walk under the UCC banner with other congregations. The parade route starts near the Boston Public Library, goes through the South End past the State House, and ends at City Hall Plaza.  It’s a moving and powerful experience to make a statement that our churches are open and affirming! Join us!

See www.bostonpride.org/parade for more details, including Handicap viewing area, Handicap-accessible trolley, thanks to Super Duck Boats and other information for those who are physically unable to walk the full route!

There are a ton of activities in and around Boston for Pride Month – June 1 to 30, 2016, which can be viewed at http://www.bostonpride.org/calendar/.

Author: Mark Tuttle

Husband, father, web master