Share the Plate

UUSD designates one Sunday of every month to offer 50% of the non-pledge collection to an area organization whose justice work aligns with UUSD’s Principles. Contributions to the Share the Plate program may be made on the designated Sunday (usually the second) of the month by placing cash or a check in the offering basket with “Share the Plate” in the memo line, online, or by mail-in check.

Selecting Organizations

• Nominations for potential recipients may be made by any UUSD committee or member to the UUSD Social and Environmental Justice Committee using the Nomination Form for Share the Plate.
• The committee will review nominations and make a selection based on consistency with UUSD’s approved Resolution of Conscience, timeliness, and balance of priority areas, giving preference for a majority of choices each year to those doing work in Sussex County.

To view Share the Plate FAQs, please click here.

2026 Recipients

• June 2026 – Habitat for Humanity. Share the Plate offering in July is for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. Seeking to put love into action, they bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Since 1991, SCHFH has built and sold 210 homes, serving over 700 individuals, including over 500 children. Since 2019, the Healthy Homes program has provided repair services to over 700 low-income people who are homeowners impacted by age, disability, and family circumstances, including over 130 in the last fiscal year alone.
• May 2026 – La Plaza Delaware.  The Share the Plate offering in May is for La Plaza Delaware. Their Vision is to improve opportunities, business savvy, and prosperity for minority-owned businesses in Sussex and Kent Counties. Since 2021, La Plaza has served more than 300 Latino businesses in Kent and Sussex County through business training, workshops, coaching, and events. Under current conditions in Sussex County, La Plaza is providing direct aid to immigrant families who are being affected by ICE actions in our region.
• June 2026 – Purity Laundry Project. For over two years this project has helped families in Sussex County by giving the Gift of Clean Clothes to those in need by offering free bimonthly laundry services including all supplies) in Millsboro, serving the Rt 113 corridor from Frankford to Georgetown. Although many of their clients are unhoused, sleeping rough or in cars or motels, some are just struggling financially and need even this small bit of economic relief to redirect their funds for food, shelter, or other basic necessities. In one evening recently, the Project paid for 165 loads of laundry for almost 60 families at a cost on average of $20-$22 per family, or $10-$12 per individual. They have worked with the Pallet Village residents in Georgetown and are hoping to expand their services to the Laurel area.
• April 2026 – Pathways to Success. Our Share the Plate offering in April is for Pathways to Success, a Georgetown based organization working with at-risk students, mainly from single-parent homes in underserved communities. Pathways has been named a Superstar in Education & Training 2025 Honoree by the DE Chamber of Commerce. Their program empowers underserved students in Delaware by providing them with the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to break the cycle of poverty and achieve success. A holistic approach helps families with well-being, housing, work experience, and college counseling. Program Administrators in four high schools in Sussex County (and one in Kent) are available 24/7 for student mentoring, advocacy, and support in emergency situations. The program currently has over 400 students enrolled. Pathways participants have a 98% graduation rate, with 96% of those going on to college, jobs, or the military.
• March 2026 – Sister Souurce, Inc. This is the first and only organization dedicated to empowering the presence, amplifying the voices and creating connections for Black UU women, girls, and femmes. They are based in Atlanta, GA, with virtual ministries that span the US and Africa. They create spiritually expansive, Black-centered spaces that speak to those from various faith traditions and relationships to spiritual life and host events that welcome allies and wider audiences to celebrate Black joy. They believe in freedom, fun, and friendship.
• February 2026 – Humanitarian Fund for Displaced Children in Gaza. Through a mutual aid program that has teams on the ground in Gaza, the Fund is regularly helping to supply at least 12 families with food and clothing. This model provides a direct route for emergency aid / relief that bypasses much of the legislative red tape around incorporation. Each family is verified by external advocates and Fund Board Member video-calls with the children to confirm their location, living conditions, and needs. The Fund’s Board decides on the most equitable distribution of available funds based on vulnerability of the children due to age, medical status, length of time without food or formula, exposure to cold / lack of protective items like clothing or blankets, and recent donations. Once received, all funds are distributed as quickly as reasonably possible due to the extreme urgency of need.

  

  
  
• January 2026 – Network Delaware works with Sussex County organizations to build civic education and expertise via training in strategy, tactics, and lobbying for policy change for social good projects. These groups include La Esperanza, the Haitian Coalition, and Children & Families First, among others. Our Share the Plate donations will be earmarked to provide scholarships for individuals to participate in “change agent” training for projects chiefly in Western Sussex County.

2025 Recipients

• November 2025 – Milton Community Food Pantry. Since 2014, the Milton Food Pantry has served those in need of food assistance. Beginning late last year, they have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of clients being served (assumed to be due to lay-offs and loss of benefits), forcing them to limit their service area to specific Sussex County zip codes in and bordering Milton. Additionally, due to the cessation of food shipments from USDA to the regional Food Bank, there is much less selection for the pantries, less consistency in what can be provided, and the cost of all foods has risen. Need continues to grow due to the current issues surrounding SNAP benefits.

• October 2025 – Community Resource Center (CRC). CRC was created in 2011 to assist low-income individuals and families in times of need. They provide an average of 2,000 bags of food each month, emergency financial assistance to help families avert crises, and they have a Baby Pantry. The job center provides skills and counseling for employment and budgeting. The day center for the area’s homeless population provides respite, showers, laundry facilities, and food. A 2024 grant from UUSD’s Roy Parks Memorial Social Justice Grant program allowed CRC to hire a service navigator. This effort was such a success that it became the catalyst for CRC to be able to obtain further funding to make the position more permanent to meet the ever increasing need. Meanwhile, another winter is coming, and they are so grateful for our steadfast support.

• September 2025 – Speak Out Against Hate (SOAH). SOAH was formed for the express purpose of confronting and countering the rising tide of hate wherever and whenever it exists in a direct, focused, and ongoing manner. SOAH’s goal is to make “no hate here” a reality in Delaware. Their “Hate Has No Home Here” initiative aims to make a visible statement of our shared values, protecting the community by publicly standing against hate. They are doing this by hanging banners and signs, including in business windows and yard signs, that say clearly and directly: Hate has no home in our community. Our Share the Plate offering will support this initiative.

 

• August – 2025 – Lighthouse for Broken Wings. Lighthouse is dedicated to combating homelessness and food insecurity with compassion and action. They provide immediate relief and long-term solutions through transitional and emergency housing and supportive services. Lighthouse is still helping to house families at the Red Mill Inn. Funds are needed to provide food and other necessities to these families (some of whom are housed at the Inn by DHS, which only provides some housing vouchers). As costs of food and shelter rise and funding for school breakfast and lunches disappear, there is more need than ever.

• July 2025 – Family Promise of Southern Delaware. The essential part of their mission is preventing families from becoming homeless in the first place with Shelter Diversion, Rental Assistance, and Transportation programs. They help with rental payments, utility bills, security deposits, and first month’s rent to keep families out of shelter whenever possible. Stabilization programming after initial crisis includes tenancy and financial training, and coordination with other community resources. They support families with children, regardless of family size or composition. In 2025 they are expanding their Rapid Rehousing program that helps families quickly transition from homelessness to permanent housing.

• June 2025 – West Rehoboth Children and Youth Program. Since 2003, this very successful, year-round program promotes literacy, learning, and health; and provides after-school and summer enrichment activities for at-risk children ages 5-15 years. Their after-school program provides dinner and help with homework. This summer, they will be taking the children on many field trips in the area. Our donations will help them cover the costs of lunches, transportation, and scholarships for tickets. The West Rehoboth Community Center, which houses this program, is about to be designated a Delaware Historic Site.

 

 

 

 

 

• May 2025 – Food Bank of Delaware (FBD). One in eight Delawareans (and 1 in 7 children) are food insecure. The high cost of living has impacted everyone. Families who once donated their food, time, and money are now in need of help themselves. Due to current and potential cuts in funding, and with USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program shipments uncertain, the Food Bank of Delaware faces a gap in essential resources. Items like fresh produce, dairy, protein, and shelf-stable items must be replaced. The FBD distributes emergency food throughout the state; there are close to 50 FBD food pantry partners in Sussex County alone. For every $1 raised, we can provide three meals! Every act of kindness truly makes a difference.

 

• April 2025 – Pathways to Success, a Georgetown based organization working with at-risk students, mainly from single-parent homes in underserved communities. Pathways has been named a Superstar in Education & Training 2025 Honoree by the DE Chamber of Commerce. Their program empowers underserved students in Delaware by providing them with the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to break the cycle of poverty and achieve success. A holistic approach helps families with well-being, housing, work experience, and college counseling. Program Administrators in four high schools in Sussex County (and one in Kent) are available 24/7 for student mentoring, advocacy, and support in emergency situations. The program currently has over 400 students enrolled. Pathways participants have a 98% graduation rate, with 96% of those going on to college, jobs, or the military.

• March 2025 – La Esperanza. Sussex County’s multiservice bilingual and bi-cultural nonprofit agency focuses on Latinos and immigrants. They provide DOJ-accredited immigration counseling, victim assistance programs and navigation assistance. The newer “Opciones” program provides career and college coaching. Fear of deportation has heightened in Sussex County. Legal services provided by La Esperanza are needed now more than ever. Our donation will help give hope (esperanza) to immigrants as they achieve stability, integration and success.

La Esperanza gratefully received our March 2025 Share the Plate donation of $896.00. Since Bryant spoke at our March STP service, La Esperanza received notice that their Federal funding for legal assistance to unaccompanied migrant children has been terminated. Since 2023, there are well over 3,000 unaccompanied children in Delaware. They are mostly undocumented, and often their sponsors or family members are also undocumented as well. La Esperanza has the capacity to assist only 60 of these particular clients at any one time, and they are at full capacity. These cuts would leave many to navigate immigration courts without legal representation. A Federal judge in CA recently ordered the funding to be restored but that order expired April 16 and the court cases continue.

• February 2025 – Independent Living for Young Adults (ILYA) supports young people aging out of foster care in Delaware. This is a UU-sponsored program that works in tandem with the Division of Family Services in Delaware. Projects include student care packages, graduation celebration and backpacks, tutoring, new mother support, emergency grants, and new apartment kits and furnishings.

• January 2025 – The Dignity Backpack Project. The Social and Environmental Justice Committee will be working, in coordination with the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice and The Way Home, to raise funds for the purchase of backpacks and essential basic hygiene and personal care items, grocery gift cards, clothing, and more to give individuals transitioning out of incarceration and rejoining their communities. These resources foster a sense of dignity and empowerment by supporting successful post-release integration and physical and mental health, thereby lowering recidivism rates and allowing impacted individuals the chance to focus on gaining employment. The funds raised will be used to make all necessary purchases. We are intentionally asking for funds rather than in-kind donations, so that we purchase specific items required to create as many complete backpacks as possible.

2024 Recipients

• November — UUA Disaster Relief Fund. Many of our fellow UU congregations over at least four states were in the path of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and have requested assistance. The UUA Disaster Relief Fund exists to support congregations affected by natural disasters, but it is at its lowest level since inception in 2017. It is funded by donations from congregations and individuals who want to help other UU congregations, their members and their communities get back on their feet. By request from UUSD members.
• October — Clothing Our Kids (COK). Since 2012, this all-volunteer local organization has provided appropriate clothing, shoes and coats at no charge to nearly 36,000 at-risk Sussex County children. In 2023-24, they provided over 28,000 items to over 3,500 kids. Many children do not have essential school clothing which has a direct negative impact on their self-esteem, attendance, ability to learn, and can lead to bullying. COK works with the school nurses/counselors and program directors to determine the needs of these children. When they started, COK only served elementary school children in Sussex County. Now, they serve not only 32 elementary schools and 11 HeadStarts, but they have added all the Sussex county middle schools, as well as three high schools. In accordance with our Resolution of Conscience supporting Children and Families and Economic Justice.

• September – Indian River School District Homeless Liaison Program. IRSD is the largest school district in Sussex County. There are approximately 150-200 children and youth at any given time in the District without fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The work of the IRSD Homeless Education Liaison program is to minimize educational disruptions for those students who are experiencing homelessness in whatever form. They provide personal and/or household supplies, transportation, and help getting rental assistance and emergency shelter.

• August – Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ). SDARJ is a non-partisan organization that educates, informs, and advocates for racial justice, equality, and fair opportunity. UUSD is an official “Partner” of SDARJ and has worked together often.

• July – Primeros Pasos Early Learning Center in Georgetown. Casey Christophel (right), Executive Director, happily receives our STP donation from July. The funds will go toward the purchase of bikes and helmets for the Center’s newly built bike track for the children, most of whom have no other place to learn to ride and then safely ride a bike.

• June – What Is Your Voice? Jacqueline Sterbach, Founder and President of What Is Your Voice?, was thrilled with our Share the Plate donation. She is pictured below on their campus in Lewes. New cottage under construction on the right, and on the left is their blue post barn warehouse for supplies to help maintain the families living on the campus as they transition to being rehomed and reintegrated back to the community of Sussex County.

  

  

  Thank You card from “What Is Your Voice?”

  
  

• May – I Support the Girls. Through an international network of Affiliates, I Support the Girls (ISTG) collects and distributes essential items, including menstrual hygiene products, allowing women and folx experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, or distress to stand tall with dignity. UUSD collected over $675, and due to an overwhelming response, we then collected menstrual hygiene products over the following few weeks. A large group of UUSD volunteers came together for a Packing Party to pack over 400 Backpack Period Packs with pads and tampons. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped, especially to ISTG Volunteer and UUSD member Darlene Regan.
  

• April – Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, Thanks You Letter. The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays gratefully receive our Share the Plate donation in their HQ at the Indian River Inlet. In the photo (l to r):

  

  Christophe Tulou, Executive Director; Anna Fagan, Deputy Director; Vicki Nichols, UUSD; and Mark Carter, Director of Development.

• March- First State Abortion Fund.
• February – Teach a Person to Fish Society, Thank You Letter

• January – Rise Against Hunger, Thank You Letter; Rise Against Hunger thanked UUSD for the Share the Plate donation in the amount of $547, and for their participation in the Rise Against Hunger event. UUSD was by far the most visible group there with an estimated 50 UUSDers participating either in the morning or afternoon sessions. Those present packaged 70,000 meals.

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• November – Milton Community Food Pantry, Thank You Letter
  

  Donna Murawski, Outgoing President,; Vicki Nichols,UUSD member; & Lawrence W. Bivens, Sr., Incoming President

• October – The Way Home
  

  Paulette Rappa, Executive Director, and Ira Roach III, Program Manager of The Way Home.
  They were thrilled to receive our October Share the Plate donation of $607.

• September – Cape Henlopen School District Homeless Liaison Program, Thank You Letter

• August – Planned Parenthood of Delaware – Thank You Letter
• July – Sussex County Habitat for Humanity

2022-2023 Recipients

• June – Sussex Pride
• May – Family Promise of Delaware – Thank You Letter

• April – Sussex Preservation Coalition
  

  L to r: Jane Gruenebaum, President, Sussex Preservation Coalition; Vicki Nichols, UUSD

• March – Springboard Collaborative Village in Georgetown

• January and February – Lighthouse for Broken Wings

2021 – 2022 Recipients

• November – Pathways to Success; Thank You Letter
  

  L-R: Sarah Gilmour, Pathways Outreach and Development Director, Fay Blake, Founder and Executive Director, and Dan Acker, Pathways Board of Directors Treasurer and UUSD member

• October – Michaela’s Place
  

  L to R:Vicki Nichols, UUSD, and Laila Brooks, Regional Director of Fellowship Health Resources, Inc. (FHR), who operate Michela’s Place

• September – Nanticoke Indian Museum,Thank You Letter
• August – Cape Henlopen School District Homeless Liaison Program, Thank You Letter

Shawna Steinmann, Asst. Homeless Liaison; Craig Warrington, Homeless Liaison;

and Visiting Teacher, Stephanie Collick

• July – Abriendo Puertas , Thank You Letter
• June – Meals on Wheels, Thank You Letter
  

  Kathy Keuski (center), Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth, with staff members

• May – Delaware Wild Lands, Thank You Letter
• April – ACLU Delaware, Thank You Letter
• March – Planned Parenthood of Delaware, Thank You Letter
• February – Delaware State Opportunity Scholars (Dreamers Program), Thank You Letter
• January – Lighthouse for Broken Wings; Thank You Letter