A Heart to Help:
Small Efforts Create Big Impact
Do you remember what you ate for dinner on August 13?
Chances are, probably not. But for those who dined at Blue Plate Kitchen for Get Stuffed for Good, their meal will not soon be forgotten.
Each meal at Get Stuffed for Good generated a donation to
Beyond the Basics
, an
Urban Alliance
initiative to help churches and parachurch organizations in our local community reach and serve people who are lacking food, clothing or housing so they meet their basic needs and gain greater stability in their lives.
"Knowing that Blue Plate Kitchen donates 20% of my dinner check to the Beyond the Basics initiative is an easy and fun way to donate," shared Jennifer Mizia, who has attended four Get Stuffed for Good events. "I don't know of any other local event that does this, so it's particularly exciting to be a part of it."
"It combines good food with a great cause," explained attendee Dan Patrick.
Thanks to the generosity of many, Get Stuffed for Good has mobilized over $2,000 in community investments since it began in 2015.
"It has always been an opportunity for everyone to get together and enjoy some delicious food at one of my favorite places in Connecticut, all while generating resources that will strengthen programs that help people gain life stability," explained Jaleith Gary, Director of Philanthropy at Urban Alliance.
"Many others not only can't afford to go out to eat, but also don't have enough funds to eat at all," said Mizia. "If we have the time, money or resources, we have an obligation to provide for those who do not."
Don't worry if you missed this year's Get Stuffed for Good; there are many other ways to get involved with
UAGive
.
"If you're still learning about Urban Alliance and why our work is important to the community, then I'd encourage you to attend
Vantage Point
," explained Gary. "You'll have the chance to learn about Urban Alliance and how you can get involved in a variety of ways. You'll learn more about our work, our motivation, our hearts and our value-add."
And, for less than the price of dining out once a month, you can make a continual and meaningful impact by becoming a
UAGive Champion
. With a monthly gift of $40 or more, you'll get special insights in quarterly e-newsletters, a limited edition Urban Alliance sweatshirt and other perks.
"We also have the Leverage Club, a group of donors committing to invest at least $1,000 a year to advance our work and convene annually to reflect on the impact we've made together," explained Gary. "We're at the forefront of Better Together, our first capital campaign, and we're aspiring to invest $600,000 into our community, so every opportunity to give is a chance to help change lives."
If you have a heart to help, Urban Alliance can help find your place to effect change in our community.
"We all have a part to play in making our world a better place," said Gary. "Urban Alliance has really honed in on helping people to find their spot in the grand scheme of things."
For more information about Get Stuffed for Good, Vantage Point, The Leverage Club or other UAGive questions, contact
Jaleith Gary
, Urban Alliance's Director of Philanthropy.
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"If you're still learning about Urban Alliance and why our work is important to the community, then I'd encourage you to attend
Vantage Point
. You'll have the chance to learn about Urban Alliance and how you can get involved in a variety of ways. You'll learn more about our work, our motivation, our hearts and our value-add."
- Jaleith Gary, Director of Philanthropy
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Join Us for the Children and Youth Leaders Summit!
Saturday, October 20
9:30am-4:00pm
(breakfast and lunch provided)
Get ready to worship, be inspired, network and learn about ways to increase your program's capacity to impact children and youth so they develop the character, relationships and skills needed to succeed in their schools and communities and grow in their faith.
All churches and parachurch organizations that participate in Urban Alliance's
Next Generation
initiative and attend the Summit are eligible to apply for a grant to support a youth-led community project.
Registration is required.
For more information or to register, contact
Rosaicela Rodriguez
, Urban Alliance's Director of Implementation,
Children & Youth Initiatives
.
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Save Your Seat at the Community Resource Center Training
Would you like your basics needs program to help connect people you serve to needed resources with a community resource center?
Do you want to become trained to operate the community resource center currently offered by your program?
If so, consider registering for the Beyond the Basics Community Resource Center Training:
Friday, September 28
9:30am-1:00pm
(breakfast and lunch provided)
The
Beyond the Basics
Community Resource Center Training and tool kit equip your basic needs program with materials and skills to effectively connect the people you serve to community resources that will meet their specific needs.
Registration is required.
Please register by Friday, September 14. Attendance is limited to 8 programs and spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information or to register, contact
Angela Colantonio
, Urban Alliance's Director of Implementation,
Health & Basic Needs Initiatives
.
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UA Grant Funding Provides Service Learning Experience for Hartford Youth
Congratulations to
Glory Chapel International Cathedral
, who was recently awarded grant funding through
Next Generation
, an Urban Alliance initiative that helps churches and parachurch organizations reach and serve youth so they develop the character, relationships and skills needed to succeed in their schools and communities.
Grant funding provided the opportunity for 9 youth to participate in
The Hartford Project (THP)
, a four-day service learning experience where youth grow spiritually and relationally, develop leadership skills, and serve the Hartford community.
The youth from Glory Chapel, together with 181
middle- and high-school youth and 53 adult leaders from various churches and parachurch organizations, participated in THP 2018.
For more information about Next Generation, click below or contact
Rosaicela Rodriguez
, Urban Alliance's Director of Implementation,
Children & Youth Initiatives
.
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Congrats, YX Movement Grant Recipients!
Grant funding will allow 63 youth from these churches to participate in the
YX Movement
camp retreat, where youth and leaders connect through worship, classes and team-building activities.
For more information about Next Generation, click below or contact
Rosaicela Rodriguez
, Urban Alliance's Director of Implementation,
Children & Youth Initiatives
.
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Revitalize: Fresh Food Made Accessible for More than One Thousand Residents
As part of the 2018 Revitalize Community Health Outreach,
coupons for $5 in fresh farmers market produce were distributed throughout Hartford
.
These efforts were part of an expression of Urban Alliance's
Revitalize initiative
, which helps churches and parachurch organizations reach and serve Hartford residents who have very limited access to affordable health services and good quality fresh food, to help them improve their nutrition and decrease the prevalence of adverse health conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Additional bags are distributed by schools and other churches and parachurch organizations in the Urban Alliance network.
Nearly 1,200 coupons were redeemed at five Hartford farmers markets this year:
KNOX's Frog Hollow Farmers Market, the West End Farmers Market, the North End Farmers Market, Chrysalis Center's Homestead Farmers Market and the Billings Forge Farmers Market
.
More information about the impact of the Revitalize Community Health Outreach will be shared in the coming months.
Click the button below to learn more about Revitalize.
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