Each week this congregation gives half of all offerings collected in our plate to local organizations whose work furthers our mission. Here are some of our prior recipients. All members and friends are invited to nominate an organization that they’re familiar with or inspired by.

• Share the Plate – 7/14 and 7/21 – Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development

  The share-the-plate for July 14 and 21 will be Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development. They cultivate youth empowerment, community leadership, and reentry services. They also offer the Justified Anger series of educational courses on systemic racism and Black history. They were nominated by Kelly Kearns. 

• Share the Plate – 6/30 and 7/7 – Sjorgen’s Foundation

  The Share The Plate for Sunday June 30 and Sunday July 7th is the Sjogren’s Foundation. Sjogren’s (pronounced: show grins) is a serious autoimmune disease that affects the moisture producing glands in the body. For some people it affects the eyes and the mouth leading to irritation and possible vision and dental losses. For many it involves multiple organ systems. There currently are no FDA approved treatments for this disease which approximately 59,000 people in Wisconsin live with. Ninety percent of people with Sjogren’s are assigned female at birth. For 40 years the Sjogren’s Foundation has worked to support people with this disease and has pioneered research and provides educational programs for patients, caregivers and medical practitioners. Medical research has been a significant part of systematic white supremacy and this organization is working to rectify this. The Sjogren Foundation was nominated by Jeanette Clawson.

• Share the Plate – 6/9 and 6/16 – TRUUsT

  This Pride Month the Share the Plate for June 9 and 16 will be Transgender Religious Professional Unitarian Universalists Together (TRUUsT). Founded in 2004, TRUUsT supports and advocates for transgender, genderfluid, genderqueer, agender, and two spirit UU ministers, youth directors, music directors, administrators, etc. They are also working to transform UU congregations into spaces that are truly inclusive of trans people. They were nominated by Rev. Bowie. 

• Share the Plate -5/26 and 6/2 – Veterans For Peace

  The Share the Plate for Sunday May 26th and Sunday June 2 is Madison Veterans for Peace, the local chapter of a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. They inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Their work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars.

• Share the Plate -5/12 and 5/19 – Girls Inc

  The Share the Plate for Sunday 5/12 and 5/19 is Girls Inc of Greater Madison. Girls Inc. of Greater Madison offers girls ages 5-18 life-changing experiences in the form of classes, trips, and community service to empower them to reach their full potential. Hosted by Goodman Community Center, they provide STEM-based activities and leadership opportunities, reaching over 1,000 girls a year. 

   

• Share the Plate – 4/28-5/5 – Groundswell Conservancy

  The share the plate partner for Sunday 4/28 and Sunday 5/5/ is Groundswell Conservancy. Since 1983 Groundswell Conservancy has permanently protected hundreds of special places where people can enjoy and explore the out-of-doors in south-central Wisconsin. They work with farm families to keep rich farm soils available for farming. They help elementary schools in Madison create green schoolyards where children can have fun in nature. They manage natural areas to care for wildlife and connect communities to the land.  They improve access and land tenure for farmers of color and New American farmers. Thanks to Julia Richards for nominating them.

• Share the Plate – 4/14-4/21 – Arts and Literature Lab

  The Share-the-Plate recipient for April 14 and 21 will be the Arts and Literature Lab, a community-driven contemporary arts center showcasing visual, literary, and performing arts. They offer numerous arts education opportunities. Their guiding values of accessibility, curiosity, ethics, equity, excellence, free expression, generosity, gratitude, responsiveness, and solidarity align with our own. They were nominated by Virginia Harrison.  

• Share the Plate – 3/31/24 and 4/7/24 – Autism Society

  The share the plate for March 31st and April 7th is The Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin. The Autism Society of  South Central Wisconsin is dedicated to improving the lives of all who are impacted by Autism by providing information, resources and support, while raising awareness and acceptance in our community. They create connections, empowering everyone in the autism community with the resources needed to live fully. They were nominated by Mary Schaper 

• Share the Plate – 3/17/24 and 3/24/24 – Teacher Support Network

  The Share the Plate recipient for March 17 and 24 will be the Teacher Support Network, a program of the Madison Public Schools Foundation, which helps MMSD teachers buy needed resources for their students. From pencils to snacks to winter gear, this fund allows teachers an option other than their personal funds to address unmet student needs. They were nominated by Joan Kemble.

• Share the Plate – 3/3/24 and 3/10/24 – WUUSAN

  The Share the Plate for Sunday March 3rd and Sunday March 10th is The Wisconsin Unitarian Universalist State Action Network Inc (WUUSAN). WUUSAN envisions Unitarian Universalist congregations in Wisconsin in a collaborative relationship, sharing hopes and ambitions, embracing UU values, and working together to bring about the Beloved Community in the state of Wisconsin. Their mission, grounded in their UU faith, is to build and sustain a collaborative network where all voices are heard.  Using inclusive democratic process, they will employ their resources to support those efforts that our congregations deem most critical to our state.  

Share the Plate Past Recipients

2024

• Allied Food Pantry
• Great Turning Hospitality House
• Get Kids Outside Wisconsin

2023

• Odyssey Behind Bars
• Wheels for Winners
• Raza United
• Veterans for Peace
• Wilma’s Fund
• Ho-Chunk Housing and CDA
• Centro Hispano
• Operation Fresh Start
• GSAFE
• One City Schools
• Moms On a Mission
• Black Business Hub
• UUSC
• Urban Triage – Inspired House
• Centro Hispano (x2)
• White Helmets
• Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership and Development
• Illustrated English Dictionaries for Madison Public Schools
• UUA Disaster Relief Fund
• Neighborhood Food Solutions
• Yahara House

2022

• Community Action Coalition
• Ho-Chunk Housing and Community Development Agency
• Goodman Community Center
• Movin’ Out
• Community Immigration Law Center
• Briarpatch
• Solace Friends, Inc
• UW Nurses Union
• Literacy Network
• League of Women Voters
• The River Food Pantry
• Women’s Medical Fund
• POWERS
• Focused Interruption
• Urban Triage
• UU Service Committee’s Emergency Fund
• The Farley Center
• The Catfish River 4H
• The Progress Center for Black Women
• Social Justice Center
• Wisconsin Network for Peach and Justice and Sustainability
• WUUSAN
• Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
• The Center for Black Excellence and Culture
• The River Food Pantry

2021

• Catalyst for Change
• East High Food Pantry
• Porchlight Drop-In Shelter
• Goodman Center Thanksgiving Baskets
• MOSES
• Open Doors for Refugees
• Worker Justice Wisconsin
• JSS Madison Refugee Resettlement Project
• Madison Tenant Power
• Freedom Inc Books & Breakfast
• Honor the Earth
• Madison Adaptive Cycling
• TRUUst
• DRUUM
• Wisconsin Network for Peace Justice & Sustainability
• Safe Skies Clean Water
• DANEnet
• Second Harvest
• Domestic Abuse Intervention Services
• Women in Focus
• Giniw Collective
• Tenant Resource Center
• Occupy Madison Village
• River Food Pantry