News and Announcements
Effective in October 2022, SCUUF returns to the Edling Bldg. located on the corner of Adams & Louisiana Streets in St. Croix Falls, Wis.
SCUUF occasionally will hold some of its services over ZOOM. Those services will be posted on the Homepage’s Calendar.
https://fusmpls.zoom.us/j/9636944471?pwd=cDBYRi9rTG9Xd0hxYUsreG1zeHEyUT09
Meeting ID: 963 694 4471
Passcode: 201
Call in via phone: 312 626 6799
HOW YOU CAN HELP
During the service on March 6, the question was raised about where folks might donate to help the Ukrainian people. Here are some organizations that come highly recommended:
Local Ukrainian groups suggest donating to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s fundraiser to support humanitarian efforts in the country. The funds will go toward purchasing pharmaceutical and medical kits. ucca.org.
Ukraine Ministry of Defense: Funds will be used for humanitarian support for Ukraine’s armed forces that includes logistical and medical support. Money will go directly to the agency’s bank account. ukraine.ua
Razom for Ukraine provides tactical training and medical supplies. The organization said it is purchasing supplies from the United States and Europe because Ukrainian suppliers ran out of gear and medical supplies. razomforukraine.org
United Help Ukraine is providing lifesaving first-aid kits to the front lines. The organization also helps the families of those wounded or killed in war and gives support to displaced people from Crimea and eastern Ukraine. unitedhelpukraine.org
Sunflower of Peace is raising funds for first-aid medical backpacks for paramedics and doctors on the front lines. Each backpack has the ability to save up to 10 lives, according to the organization. facebook.com/sunflowerofpeace.
Ukrainian Red Cross Society: Volunteers and staff provide first aid in areas where medical access is limited. Funds will be used to support those in need, blood collection, mobilization of volunteers and resources and emergency activities. redcross.org.ua/en
UNICEF is ensuring Ukrainian children have access to safe water, nutrition, health care, education and protection during the invasion. unicefusa.org/helpukraine
Voices of Children provides psychological and psychosocial support for children caught in the middle of the armed conflict. voices.org.ua/en/
The Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian-English news site, provides up-to-date information of Russia’s invasion. Its fundraising site can be found on GoFundMe.
Alight (formerly American Refugee Committee): wearealight.org They are responding to the emergency needs of people still inside Ukraine. They are also based in Poland at the Medyka border crossing.
Nova Ukraine: https://novaukraine.org/
World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee: https://www.uusc.org/
May peace prevail for the people of Ukraine. Glory to the heroes.
Jazz in the Afternoon
SCUUF hosted St. Paul jazz pianist and singer Larry McDonough and saxophonist and poet Richard Terrill on Sunday, February 26 at the Taylors Falls Community Center. McDonough and Terrill performed the music of visionary jazz pianist Bill Evans and discussed Evans’ life and contributions to jazz. McDonough and Terrill have been presenting programs for Unitarian Universalist congregations for nearly 20 years. Their rich music and poetry are also well known to jazz enthusiasts in the region and throughout the St. Croix Valley.
SCUUF’S Eric Peterson is a National Champ!
Eric and his team (pictured above – Eric is second from left) won the Champ Car Endurance Racing Series (the largest in North America) National Championships in May 2022 in D class (the highest power and weight class).
From St. Croix Falls, Eric’s team won both Saturday and Sunday — each 8-hour endurance races at the new Ozark International Raceway. It’s the first Class double win in Champ Car National Championship history! The champions drove the only Maserati BiTurbo endurance race car in North America. Congratulations Eric!
SCUUFers attend Cultural Jambalaya event
Cultural Jambalaya held its annual fundraiser on October 21 in Minneapolis. The event supported the nonprofit’s work to provide educators with creative multimedia resources to address the critical need for global education in our schools. Cultural Jam’s videos bring the world into the classroom with free content and lesson plans that improve students’ global awareness and cross-cultural understanding. The organization was founded by Gail Shore, who serves as executive director. www.CulturalJam.org.
Together Again
Rev. Kelli led SCUUF’s first in-person service since the pandemic began in early 2021. It was wonderful – and a bit overwhelming — to gather with (and hug) our fellow members, whose faces we’d only seen over Zoom. Thanks to Leann French and Bruce Fillipi for hosting our outdoor service at their beautiful home; to Joe Snyder for playing the hammered dulcimer; to Maaren Spears and her Wandering Fires pizza wagon for providing lunch; and as always, to Gary Noren for bringing his camera.
