UUFHC Project Fair
September 22, 2024

I’m sure many of you have heard the saying: many hands make light the work. We have many opportunities for people to serve and help move the mission of our Fellowship forward.

However, joining a committee may feel like an overwhelming ask, particularly if a committee assignment feels like a never-ending commitment. In response to this concern, some organizations are finding success moving toward project work.

The difference is that a project is a clear task with a start and end date. In addition, you can get the satisfaction of seeing a project through to completion and feeling a sense of accomplishment! It also provides an opportunity to engage with and meet with members of the congregation.

To support this we are hosting our first UUFHC Project Fair on Sunday, September 22nd. Please look to the project postings and connect with the sponsor for any of the projects that you can support!

Yours in fellowship
- Mark Davis

Project Name: Adult Programs
Project Sponsor: Beth Wood-Roig

Project Description: Two initiatives at Adult Programs table:

• Collect registrations for Adult Programs offered in Fall semester
• Collect volunteers to coordinate quarterly labyrinth walks

Project Name: Blood Drive
Project Sponsor: Erin Gallagher

Project Description: At the last blood drive many people had questions about what we do at UUFHC and we were lucky to have UUFHC members around donating at the time to help answer some of those questions and provide additional information. I understand fully that the day after Christmas is not going to work for some people but it is the only day the Red Cross had available when schools will be closed so we’re going to try it. Youth are encouraged to sign up at a time when their adult can accompany them to follow UUFHC’s safety policies. If this is not possible please talk to Erin about how we can accommodate your needs.

Key Skills:

• Assit donors in signing into the blood drive
• Sit with donors after they donate willing to engage in conversation about UUFHC

Desired Timeline: Thursday, December 26

• 10:30 - 12:30
• 12:20 - 2:30
• 2:30 - 4:30
• 4:30 - 5:30

Project Name: Card Writing Team
Project Sponsor: Compassion Care Team

Project Description: Agree to be added to an email list to be notified that a member needs a greeting card for support, condolence, joy or other reason. Details will be provided. Cards are available from our collection or use your own cards.

Desired Timeline: Occasionally, once or twice a month – when it is convenient for you.

Project Name: Coffee Making on Sunday
Project Sponsor: Hospitality Team

Project Description: Agree to be added to an email list to be notified that we need coffee prepared on a Sunday. Usually Pat makes the coffee but occasionally we aren’t able to attend. Coffee making instructions are posted in the kitchen, get to church by 10 a.m. to start. You will receive training so you’ll know what to do. And clean up following the service is easy, most people drop their cups in the kitchen. You can get out of there by 12:30 on most days.

You may choose to bring a snack but that’s not required.

Desired Timeline: Occasionally, when you have time

Project Name: Counting Sunday Collection Plate
Project Sponsor: Finance Team

Project Description: Count collection basket on Sunday with someone from the finance committee.

Key Skills Needed: Ability to count 😊

Desired Timeline:

• One month per volunteer.
• Twelve volunteers needed for the church year.

Project Name: Easter Baskets for Children at Anna’s House
Project Sponsor: Kathy Kraft

Project Description: Located on Tollgate Road in Harford County, Anna’s House provides transitional living spaces for women and women with children in need. Last year, UUFHC provided Easter baskets, candy and small toys for the children that were housed there over the Easter Holiday. The donations enabled parents to make Easter baskets for their children and share in their joy on Easter morning.

Volunteers help promote the project within UUFHC and manage the donations that are brought to the Church in the month prior to Easter. Donations are then sorted, packed and delivered to Anna’s House.

Anna’s House sets aside a day a few days before Easter for mothers to make the Easter baskets for their children. All of the items are displayed so they can pick the candy and toys individually for their children. While we cannot be there for the event, they expressed how excited the mothers are to be able to do this for their children. And of course, how happy the children are on Easter morning. This project creates lots of smiles!

Skills Needed:

• Promoting the project to fellow UUFHC members
• Helping to sort and organize donations (minimal effort required)
• A passion to create joy for children on Easter morning!

Desired Timeline:

• Promotion and donations – 3/23/25 through 4/13/25
• Sorting and organizing donations – 4/14 through 4/16 (requires about 2 hours)
• Deliver to Anna’s House – 4/16/25

Project Name: EBAY Sales
Project Sponsor: Finance Team

Project Description: This project would involve listing items donated by members and others on ebay to raise money for the Fellowship. It could be a one-time project or it could be an ongoing fundraiser.

Key Skills Needed: Familiarity with selling items on ebay.

Desired Timeline: Flexible.

Project Name: First Aid Supplies Restock, Fall 2024 and Spring 2025
Project Sponsor: Jeff Matthews

Project Description: Check the first aid kits/supplies for missing/used and expired items and replenish as needed. In addition to replacing expired items, also replace any perishable items that will expire prior to the next scheduled check of first aid supplies. Ideally, first aid supplies should be checked twice a year: in October/November and in April/May. Replenishment costs should be provided by the Board, but you will need to submit a cost estimate to the Treasurer or Board.

Key Skills Needed: No specific skills needed.

Desired Timeline: Supplies should be checked in October or November of 2024 and six months thereafter (April or May of 2025).

Project Name: Set Up Greeting Cards in Lobby for Members to Sign
Project Sponsor: Hospitality Team

Project Description: Occasionally we would like someone to set up cards in the lobby for someone who is not able to attend or who is having an illness, surgery, etc, keeping them away from our community. We have donated cards available and ready to be used if someone supervises this and has members sign the cards. Details are forthcoming.

Desired Timeline: Occasionally, possibly once a month or less.

Project Name: Holiday Bazaar Arts and Crafts Group
Project Sponsor: Holiday Bazaar

Project Description Join us once a month, February-November, to create items to sell at the Holiday Bazaar. No experience necessary, we have several artists who help us and we have loads of materials, i.e., wreath and tree forms, baskets, artificial greens, ornaments, etc.

We usually meet mid-morning, mid-week, but if there is a need we can have an evening session as well.

Desired Timeline: February-November, once/month, join when you can.

Project Name: Holiday Bazaar Cashier
Project Sponsor: Finance Team

Project Description: Check out customers from our Holiday Bazaar.

Key Skills Needed: Willingness to help!

Desired Timeline:

• One volunteer needed for Friday from 9am - 6pm
• Two volunteers needed for Saturday morning, 9am - noon

Project Name: Preparing Meals for Holiday Bazaar Volunteers
Project Sponsor: Holiday Bazaar

Project Description: From Holiday Bazaar set up day Wednesday until Saturday noon take-down, many volunteers help and we provide breakfast and lunch for them. Be part of this team, for 4 days or 1, we’re flexible. Sometimes it’s homemade, sometimes it’s pizza, the meal team decides and the volunteers are hungry and grateful. (Food expenses are reimbursed.)

Desired Timeline: First week in December, Dec 4-7, 2024.

Project Name: Holiday Bazaar Pricing Donations
Project Sponsor: Holiday Bazaar

Project Description: About twice a month, January through November, a small group meets to price the donations we are constantly accepting for the Holiday Bazaar. It’s fun opening the boxes and bags. We do a little research on certain items in order to determine a fair price, but mainly we discuss it for a minute to determine a price. The sessions last about 2 hours each. We pack up the items and put them in the Bazaar shed for the big event in early December. Come join us!

Desired Timeline: All year, or whenever you are available during the day, or perhaps in the evening if enough volunteers are available.

Project Name: Holiday Bazaar Set Up
Project Sponsor: Holiday Bazaar

Project Description: Help volunteers set up tables for the Holiday Bazaar on December 4-5, 2024, all or partial days. Coffee and lunch provided. There are hundreds/thousands of items to be creatively displayed. Join our team, it’s fun and creative.

Desired Timeline: Dec 4-5, 2024, all or partial days, whatever you can manage.

Project Name: Holiday Gift Project
Project Sponsor: Community Outreach

Project Description: UUFHC will once again be supporting families in need during the holidays. We will provide gifts to vulnerable adults who are clients of the Department of Social Services, as well as a family with children from another Harford County nonprofit organization.

Skills Needed: An individual could accept any one or more of the following tasks:

• Posting Wish Lists to UUFHC members
• Posting Wish Lists with Amazon
• Providing Instructions on how to purchase gifts
• Accepting Delivery of purchased gifts
• Gift Wrapping
• Gift delivery to DSS and other nonprofit

Desired Timeline: Nov 1-Dec 15

Project Name: Hybrid Worship Service
Project Sponsor: Worship Committee & Tech Team

Project Description: Help the Tech Team to deliver a glitch-free, static-free, multi-platform experience on Sunday or special occasions.

Responsibilities: Do you like to learn new things? Is tech your thing? Minecraft your favorite way to spend a few hours on Saturday? Reflexes good? You are a probably a good fit to help the Tech team from time to time.

Skills: Knowledge of audio-visual to help troubleshoot any problems.

Desired Timeline: Sundays as desired

Project Name: Meal Team
Project Sponsor: Compassion Care Team

Project Description: Agree to be added to an email list to be notified that a member needs a meal(s) due to surgery, death in family, other incidents that interrupt routine life. Meals can be simple or even take-out, can be frozen or not. Details will be in the email request including dietary restrictions. Usually we bring meals to the church or the person’s home.

Desired Timeline: Approximately once a month or less. Do it when it’s convenient.

Project Name: Organize UUFHC Medical Response Team (MRT)
Project Sponsor: Jeff Matthews

Project Description: Organize a group of UUFHC members who have some level of first aid or other medical training and agree to assist should a medical emergency occur during Sunday services. This volunteer group can be informal and need not have regular meetings, although members should periodically be polled to ensure they are still interested. The MRT organizer should solicit interest from UUFHC members and gather a list of members agreeing to provide this service on an as-needed basis. The list of MRT volunteers should be forwarded to Jeff Matthews, who would like to see a tentative list of MRT volunteers identified prior to submitting to the Board a draft Emergency Medical Incident Policy and Procedures document.

Key Skills Needed:

• Some basic knowledge of the various types and levels of medical training.
• Some knowledge of sources of first aid training (Jeff can provide this if needed).
• Access to the current draft version of the Emergency Medical Incident Policy and Procedures document.

Desired Timeline: As soon as possible.

Project Name: Music for Worship and Social Events
Project Sponsor: Brenna Kupferman, Music Director

Project Description: Are you a musician/singer interested in sharing your gifts with the congregation? We have opportunities throughout the year for you to be part of a service or social event—no long-term commitment required! If you are interested in:

• Leading the congregation in singing hymns
• Singing/playing as part of a service
• Providing accompaniment for hymns
• Singing/playing as part of a one-time social event or retreat
• Joining other musicians/singers for a one-time musical project

We need you!

Key Skills Needed:

• Intermediate to advanced musical skills/knowledge
• Helping to sort and organize donations (minimal effort required)
• A passion to create joy for children on Easter morning!

Desired Timeline: Opportunities are available throughout the year. Time commitment varies based on activity.

Project Name: Household Goods & Hygiene Products Pantry
Project Sponsor: Community Outreach

Project Description: Our Fellowship has installed an outdoor pantry (back parking lot) to help supplement the community with household and hygiene items not covered under food stamps or the Snap Program.

Responsibilities:

• Check Kitchen Pantry for lowinventory
• Select 4 items for the month to be restocked
• Each week post in Order of Service items needed
• Each week have announced at Service items needed
• Post in NUUsbytes items needed
• Restock outdoor pantry each week

Desired Timeline: Volunteer for one month

Project Name: RE Programming Volunteer
Project Sponsor: RE Committee

Project Description: Join the team to facilitate Sunday morning programming for UUFHC children and youth. You will receive lesson plans prior to the Sunday of your choice and will be paired with another facilitator (you won’t be doing it alone). Pick from a variety of dates to suit your schedule and a variety of topics to suit your interest. Volunteer training will be held on Oct 13, 2024.

Key Skills:

• Willingness to get involved with the Program for Children and Youth
• Positive attitude
• Completed Background check

Desired Timeline:

• Commit to 1-2 Sundays a year (or more!)
• Contact us for sign up calendar and topics

Project Name: RE Sleepover Lock-In
Project Sponsor: RE Committee

Project Description: Help facilitate a meaningful night for the youth! The topic will be Ancestors & UU Identity. Deep talks and silly sleepless times will be had!

Key Skills:

• Willingness to get involved with the Program for Children and Youth
• Positive attitude
• Completed Background check

Desired Timeline:

• Lock-in to be held on Saturday, October 26
• Evening Shift: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
• Evening Shift A: 10:00pm - 3:00am
• Evening Shift B: 3:00am - 7:00am
• Morning Shift: 7:00am - 10:30am

Project Name: Ride Team
Project Sponsor: Compassion Care Team

Project Description: Agree to be added to an email list to be notified that a member needs a ride to a doctor or other appointment, church, or other requested ride. Details will be in the email with location and time required. These rides provide a nice time to visit with a member you might not know so well and it helps enormously

Desired Timeline: Occasionally, less than once a month

Project Name: Back to School Bookbag & School Supply Drive
Project Sponsor: Community Outreach

Project Description: Each year the Community Outreach Committee partners with an organization that serves children in need of school supplies.

Skills Needed: These are the tasks needed for this project – feel free to choose one!

• Ideas needed for 1-2 Harford County organizations in need of school supplies for the children they serve
• Check bin in church hallway a few times for donated supplies during the 4 week project period
• Deliver backpacks and supplies to the organization (with Laurie) and take a few pictures for our congregation

Desired Timeline:

• Bookbag drive is the month of July
• Delivery is 1st week of August

Project Name: Sunday Safety Duty, 2025
Project Sponsor: Jeff Matthews

Project Description: Volunteers are needed for Sunday morning safety duty for the winter (Dec 2024 – Feb 2025), spring (Mar 2025 – May 2025), summer (Jun 2025 – Aug 2025), and fall (Sep 2025 – Nov 2025). Volunteers should sign up for a minimum of one season of duty and for one Sunday of safety duty per month for the season(s) for which they are signed up. Volunteers should arrive at UUFHC at least 30 to 45 minutes prior to the time services start on those days for which you are signed up and should stay at least 10 to 15 minutes after the end of services on those days.

Safety duty involves monitoring the exterior of the church for any imminent safety issues and addressing any such issues as needed. At the start of your duty on days when you are signed up, volunteers will pick up a two-way radio to maintain contact with the on-duty Board member and the Faith Formation lead should an incident occur.

Please notify Jeff Matthews of the seasons and days for which you are signed up so that he can provide a list of safety duty signups to Karen, church administrator.

Key Skills Needed:

• Ability to use two-way hand-held radios.
• Willingness to intervene if an imminent safety issue arises.

Desired Timeline: List of persons interested in providing this service is desired as soon as possible along with the season(s) for which you wish to sign up. Please provide Jeff Matthews with the list of specific dates you are volunteering for at least one month prior to the start of the season for which you are volunteering.

Project Name: Security System Upgrade
Project Sponsor: Jeff Matthews

Project Description: Our current video security system does not provide video coverage on all sides of the building. The problem is that it is a wireless system, and the RF signals cannot penetrate the thick concrete walls of the Fellowship building. The current system needs to be replaced with a wired system that provides adequate coverage to meet the security needs of the Fellowship during services.

This effort will involve determining the minimal coverage needed to meet the needs of the Fellowship, investigating technological solutions and costs, requesting Board funding to upgrade the system, and working with an electrician or contractor to coordinate installation. The new system will also need to be interfaced with the Fellowship server to facilitate off-hours monitoring as needed.

Key Skills Needed:

• Will need to be familiar or become familiar with security system technology and how to interface the security system with the Fellowship server.
• Ability to work with a contractor.

Desired Timeline: Work can commence as soon as possible, but purchase of the new system will have to wait until approved by the Board.

Project Name: The Sharing Table
Project Sponsor: Community Outreach

Project Description: The Sharing Table is a non-profit coalition of churches and other community organizations organized in 1993 and is dedicated to reaching out to fellow citizens in need. We believe that by serving meals and distributing bags of groceries each week, we can make life a little easier and help extend the resources of many families. The Sharing Table places no qualifications upon those we serve but welcomes all to our table. Free lunch is served and free grocery bags distributed every Saturday from 11:30am to 1:00pm at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Edgewood.

Responsibilities: Our Fellowship volunteers two times a year and our duties are to prepare food for a take-out lunch. We ask UUFHC members to prepare 2-5 pounds of sloppy joes which we collect and bring to the Sharing Table on our designated Saturdays. We arrive at 10:00 AM and need about 7 people in the kitchen to get the food heated, make the salad and vegetables donated by the Sharing Table staff, and then prepare the take-out meals. We are finished by 1:00 PM.

Skills Needed:

• Promoting the project to fellow UUFHC members
• Work in the kitchen to prepare the meal
• Clean up the kitchen when finished

Desired Timeline:

• Promotion – October 1-31
• Work in kitchen on November 2nd from 10:00 to 1:00

Project Name: Silent Witness Breakdown
Project Sponsor: Erin Gallagher

Project Description: Just like set up but reversed. We will also attempt to take photos and make notes to assist in preparing for future years. Youth welcome!

Key Skills:

• Time and energy

Desired Timeline: We will be starting after the service on Sunday, October 27 and it will probably take about an hour.

Project Name: Silent Witness Hospitality
Project Sponsor: Erin Gallagher

Project Description: The timing of Silent Witness is tricky. We want people to stay after UUFHC’s regular service but we don’t want guests to feel obligated to attend both, so the time is 11:45. This can make for a long day for so many of us and we want to be amazing hosts so we like to provide a nice spread of snacks.

Key Skills:

• Kitchen skills
• Picking up from the grocery store
• Pick it up on your way to church

Desired Timeline: Sunday, September 29! If you need to make arrangements to drop off something on Saturday, let me know!

Project Name: Silent Witness Setup
Project Sponsor: Erin Gallagher

Project Description: Get figures set up in the Sanctuary and covered before service and the Silent Witness Ceremony. If time permits, we will also work on setting up lighting so that the figures will be illuminated in the evening. Youth welcome!

Key Skills:

• Time and energy
• Knowledge of how we set up the stands on the side of the road

Desired Timeline: We will be starting at 10 am on Saturday, September 28 and it should take 1-2 hours to get everything set up.

Project Name: Stewardship Drive
Project Sponsor: Finance Team

Project Description: We need a team of folks to help with our annual stewardship drive.

• Help with event planning
• Help with communicating with members about the drive
• Bring ideas for promoting stewardship

Key Skills Needed: Willingness to help.

Desired Timeline: February/March.

Project Name: Worship Associate
Project Sponsor: Worship Committee

Project Description: Assist the minister on Sundcay morning.

• Help Rev. Jaye with the Sunday Worship Service
• Welcome the congregation
• Light and extinguish the chalice
• We always have a script to follow
• Training and checklist provided

Desired Timeline: One Sunday per quarter, month or year. The schedule is up to you!

Project Name: Worship Service Beautification
Project Sponsor: Worship Committee & Aesthetics Committee

Project Description: Creating Beauty as a Spiritual Practice. Let’s brainstorm about beautifying the sanctuary. Working with Kimberly Roberts or Trisha Tatam, let’s fill our sanctuary with inspirational art

Responsibilities: Bring your creative mojo.

Desired Timeline: As desired

Project Name: Worship Service Flowers
Project Sponsor: Worship Committee

Project Description: Fresh flowers on Sunday morning are a beautiful gift to the community. Let’s get a calendar going so we always have fresh flowers for our services.

Responsibilities: Bring your floral bouquet to service by 10:15am.

Desired Timeline: Anytime

Project Name: Worship Service Sermon
Project Sponsor: Worship Committee

Project Description: UUFHC members, aka resident theologians, probably have at least one sermon or reflection they’d like to share during a worship service. Is that you?

Responsibilities:

• Write and deliver a sermon or reflection on an agreed upon topic
• Sermon must be written
• Duration about 15 minutes

Desired Timeline: Once per year

Project Name: Worship Service Suggestion
Project Sponsor: Worship Committee

Project Description: Many of us have been seated in service and had an inspiration that could make our shared experience on Sunday even more meaningful.

Responsibilities: With love at the center of any suggestion, reach out to your worship chair, Kimberly Roberts or Rev. Jaye

Desired Timeline: Anytime