“Be not simply good; be good for something.”
Henry David Thoreau
Did you know that UU history is filled with leaders in justice and social reform movements? We have always been a faith that called for living out our beliefs in our daily lives. We have always declared that how we live our lives matters more than the words we speak. Early social reformers include: Thomas Jefferson, Horace Mann, father of public education; mental health reformer Dorothea Dix; the abolitionists John Quincy Adams, and Julia Ward Howe; and the women’s rights leaders Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
How First UU Wausau lives our values and serves the community:
Ari Schmidt Fund / Fair Trade Coffee
At UU Wausau we use only Fair Trade coffee that provides living wages for growers and workers. You can select and purchase Equal Exchange coffee, cocoa, and chocolate online through our our Fair Trade Coffee & Chocolate page.
The sales of our Fair Trade items go to the Ari Schmidt Fund, named after a church member passionate for justice. Small grants from the Fund support justice oriented local initiatives and church projects.
Community Meals Program – 4 times a year UU Wausau plans and cooks a free, hot community meal served as part of the meal ministry at First Presbyterian church, in collaboration with 14 other faith communities. Youth and families are invited to be part of this ministry.
Little Free library – Our Little Free Library is part of an international literacy movement that started here in WI. We keep the shelves stocked with books that anyone can take. In addition to building literacy, we are building community!
Food Collection – A grocery cart in our entryway always stands ready for you to bring non-perishable food and toiletries to be distributed to local food pantries. Our cart reminds us to practice generosity on a frequent basis.
Community Focus Collections – One Sunday a month, from October through May, we give away the entire Sunday collection to local and global programs that match our mission and vision for creating compassion, hope, and justice.