Unitarian Universalists From Across the Country Make their Way to Hope Community

At the annual Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly, held June 23-27, 2010, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Unitarian Universalists from across the country volunteered at Hope Community and raised more than $40,000 for the nonprofit community development organization.

“It takes a large village to raise a village,” said Mary Keefe, executive director of Hope. “It’s humbling and overwhelming to have over 3,000 Unitarian Universalists join this village. Their donation will support our work with children, our community center, and our other programs that serve six hundred people every year. It will make so much difference in all of the work that we do with people in the neighborhood.”

Approximately sixty Unitarian Universalists, including youth and adults from around the country, engaged in direct service at Hope during General Assembly. Volunteers painted in a Hope apartment building that houses formerly homeless people and cleared weeds and installed new perennials in garden areas throughout Hope Block, the anchor of Hope’s affordable housing presence.

“The service project enriched the GA experience of volunteers and connected them with members of our host community,” stated Tim Wilson, a member of the General Assembly Local Planning Committee who coordinated the volunteer effort.

Upwards of 3,500 Unitarian Universalists from across the country gathered at the 2010 General Assembly to worship, celebrate, and take part in the democratic process that guides the work of this religious association of over 1,000 congregations. Eight Unitarian Universalist congregations are located in the Twin Cities area.