UU Family News
🧡 Open Minds 🧡 Loving Hearts 🧡 Helping Hands 🧡
New Reader of the UU Family Newsletters?
Join our Family Ministry program for fun, friendship, and faith exploration rooted in Unitarian Universalist values. Each week we connect through stories, crafts, music, and service—celebrating love, curiosity, and community.
💛 Your family is welcome—just as you are. Register here.
👉 Learn more at uufhnc.org/family-ministry
😊 Complete a photo-release form so your family can appear in this newsletter.
News at a Glance
Letter from the Director
Good News & Good Works Recap
Children's Choir Sign up to Sing out
Soup Making & Baking Too
Photo Highlights from Last Week
Food Resources for Readers
Toy Drive for Migrant Families
Information about the Donation Drives
Save the Dates
This Sunday 11/16 - Guest: Mrs. Janey, Kids Choir Practice 12-1
Thursday, 11/20 - Trans Day of Rememberance Service
Sunday 11/23 - Cornbread Baking 9-10, Kids Choir 12-1
Thursday, 11/27 - 1PM Thanksgiving Potluck
Sunday, 11/30 - John leads, Kids Choir Practice 12-1
Sunday 12/7 - 2PM Yule & Christmas Tree Event at the Shoemakers
Sunday 12/16 - Christmas Cookie Baking Day
Sunday 12/21 - Choir Performs, Soup Sunday, Parents Day Out
Letter from the FM Director
Dear UU Family,
I love the outpouring of generosity and Family Ministry support that I've seen from you this week! Y'all are simply the best!
Here is some praise because you ALL deserve it, and also some information about...
- where to find food
- how to adopt a migrant family
- the new children's choir
- what's happening with the donation drives
- how to help with the cooking and baking days ahead,
- where volunteers should sign up
- and, of course, our plans for this Sunday!
I hope you and your family can join us this Sunday, November 16th, as we explore the theme of gratitude. Joining us for learning hour is Mrs. Janey, who is going to lead some craft activities, and Mr John, who's excited about playing soccer with the UU chalice lighters!
If you keep reading, you'll see some super cute photos and find info about what's going on in Family Ministry at UUFH!
As always, please know that you are loved; your children are cherished, and you have the support of your UU family. If you need help securing food for your family or connecting with resources, please let me know. I can help you discretely.
Lots of Love,
Sunday Shae Parker
Praise & Thank You's
UU Helping Hands Have Been Busy this Week...
So much to celebrate and so many reasons to be thankful!
- All of the families in the AMOH adoption pool are adopted! That's over 100 kids now receiving toy donations for the holidays! Woo Whoo! Thanks for stepping up!
- That's not all....7 car loads of food have been donated to IAM since the word went out, and the donations keep coming in! Special thanks to everyone who donated food. I'd list your names here, but I'm terrified I'd accidentally leave someone out of the thank you list. Thanks to all!
- Kudos to all of the IAM donation drivers who have signed up to take donations from UUFH to IAM! Love and gratitude to Cheryl, Anita, Judy, MC, Stephen C, Helen S, Lynne, and David P.
- I'm also hearing great things from our community partners about UU's signing up to volunteer at IAM, Field and Kitchen, and Caja Solidaria. Way to live out UU values!
Are you able to help on Wednesday? Field & Kitchen needs 8 Volunteers on Wednesday, November 19th from 9-10 to help prepare soup or wash dishes. Field & Kitchen, which has been offering free soup daily, needs help keeping up with the demand. Sign-up here to make soup on Wednesday, November 19th.
Not able to help this time? Don't worry! Coordination efforts are underway to set up monthly volunteer opportunities with Field & Kitchen and Caja Solidaria.
Sign-up for the Children's Choir - Practice Starts 11/16
Becoming part of a choir is more than making music—it’s building community. Singing together strengthens confidence, reduces stress, and creates a sense of belonging that’s hard to find anywhere else. Whether you’re child's a seasoned vocalist or brand-new to group singing, choir offers a joyful space to learn, grow, and connect.
Give your child the chance to lift their voice, share the harmony, and discover how good it feels to be part of something bigger than themselves! Sign-up today!
Spread A Little Joy!
Do you like to cook or bake?
Are you handy in the kitchen or maybe you have a sweet tooth.... sign-up to make soup, bake cornbread, or prepare Christmas cookies today!
Photo Highlights of Last Week
Fun with friends in the Spirit Play classroom!
Chalice kids 🧡playing with the babies in the nursery!
Hmmm.... is this a future FM Director in training? 😊
Little hands can be helping hands!
Curiosity cultivated at UU becomes art projects at home.
CK's calavera linocut turned out great!
Grand Opening of Field & Kitchen - a nonprofit, shared-use kitchen
that's 8 minutes away from UUFH!
Minister Deborah and former UUFH RE Director, Sonya, at Field & Kitchen
Big thanks to Field & Kitchen for giving away Free Soup in response to the Gov't Shutdown and the SNAP benefit reductions and delay! UUs are Grateful for YOU!
Let's keep the hot soup coming! You're invited to join us here, at Field & Kitchen, on Wednesday 11/19 to make soup and help out around the kitchen! Sign-up here!
Adopt a Family this Holiday Season
Holiday Toy Drive - Adopt a Migrant Family Today!
Dear Family Ministry,
This gift drive is for Migrant Families that weren't able to get on the list with any other organization for Christmas gifts.
The names of the families we are buying for were given to us by the Children and Family Resource Center and Migrant Ed Program for the HCPS. The group that I am part of is the one lead by Ann Backer and Sissy Owens who did the Migrant Welcome Bag last spring.
Individuals can adopt a child or a family to buy gifts for the children, and we will provide the fixings for Christmas Dinner. If donors cannot or don't want to shop for gifts, they can contribute money by mailing a check to True Ridge, made out to True Ridge, with a note in the memo line that says "Migrant Worker Account"
We will do the food shopping. Donors can email me directly and I will assign them a child giving them the sizes, gender, wish list from the parents, and answer any other questions they may have.
Love,
Vicki B
Food Resources for You and Your Family
If you know of other food resources that aren't listed here, please email Sunday at RE@uufhnc.org.
General Information about Food Pantries in Our Area
Henderson County Food Pantry List
Ways to Get Involved and Help Others
UUFH is partnering with Interfaith Assistance Ministries (IAM), to get food, clothing, blankets, and personal hygiene items to those who need them.
If you are in a position to give, you are strongly encouraged to bring your food, warm clothing, and hygiene donations to UUFH or take them to IAM directly and get a receipt for the UUFH office. Keeping track of receipts is helpful for writing grants and internal bookkeeping.
Donors have options. You can drop off donations at the UU office across the street from the sanctuary Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday between 10-2PM or you can drop off the donations into the donation wagon in the foyer on Sunday mornings immediately before or immediately after the service.
Food Drives
Food Drive Happening This Week at UUFH
Click Here to Sign-up to Take Donations to IAM
Note: As of 11/14 at 6AM, donation drivers are needed for 11/16, 11/17, 11/24, 11/25, and 11/30. Please click here if you can be a donation driver.
Clothing Drive
Warm Clothing Donation Drive These items are needed right away.
Note: There's a clothing donation bin in the UUFH foyer and another set up in the Fellowship Hall. Clothing donations are accepted at the same times as the food donations: M,T, TH from 10-2 and Sunday mornings 9-11:30 or so.
Bedding and Toiletries Drives
Click here for a list of bedding and personal hygiene items needed at IAM. These donations can be placed with the food donations to go to IAM.
Volunteers Are Needed
Able to Volunteer?
IAM needs volunteers also! Your presence can make a profound difference and not just in the tasks you do, but in the comfort and kindness you share. Here’s a list of all the various shifts that currently need to be filled. You can apply directly via this link or contact Marcia Crabtree at marcia@iam-hc.org. or you can call (828)697-7029 ext.224.
Able to help pickup and drop off donations?
UUFH needs volunteers to take collected items to IAM during the week. Please sign up here.
Let's Connect!
Sunday Shae Parker, M.Ed. (she/her)
Family Ministry Director
Email: RE@uufhnc.org
Phone: (828)693-3157 ext 3
Website: Family Ministry - UU Fellowship of Hendersonville
Newsletters: https://secure.smore.com/u/uufh-family-ministry


