UUAA Sharing the Collection Outreach Program

Wondering how your non-profit can apply to the Sharing the Collection program? Follow this link or scroll down to applicant information.

On the first Sunday of each month the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor donates our collection to a selected nonprofit community service organizations to further their important work in our community.

Please consider making a donation to this program:
- Make an online donation using this link to our donations web page. (Be sure to enter your donation amount on the line that says  "Share the Collection".)
- You can also write a check made out to "UUAA", with the sharing the collection community group's name in the memo line and mail it to - UUAA, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103-8739

 Questions about the UUAA Sharing the Collection program can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2020 Recipients of First Sunday Collections

January

Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley  - UUAA has been a supporting congregation of the "Good News Group", a combined ministry of 13 area congregations, for over 20 years.  UUAA congregants provide hands-on site work and financial support to HHHV's mission to enrich Washtenaw County through a legacy of affordable home ownership for low-income families.

February

Foundation Preschool - Founded in 1934 under the name of Perry Nursery School, Foundations Preschool of Washtenaw Countycontinues to serve children and families in our community by providing a high quality early education with support services. Our goal is to ensure affordability, equity, and inclusion for those who need it most. We do this by building foundations for children and families so that they can be better positioned for success upon exiting than they were when they entered.

March

Summer Camp Scholarships - Their vision is to introduce Washtenaw County’s most vulnerable 4th and 5th graders to a setting which is designed to develop resilient, independent, and responsible young adults: overnight camp. The experience can be transformative for youngsters lucky enough to attend, so we invite boys and girls whose families can’t afford the cost--4th and 5th graders who are eligible for the National School Lunch Program, which includes low-income, foster, and homeless children. SCS covers all of the costs associated with overnight camp.

April

Growing Hope - Growing Hope fosters an equitable and sustainable local food system where all people are empowered to grow, sell, buy, prepare, and eat nourishing food. We envision a community where all people--particularly those with barriers due to race, class, culture, language, ability, and mobility--have access to nourishing local food that is culturally appropriate and affordable, can grow and prepare their own harvests, and may earn a living as a food grower, producer, or entrepreneur. Growing Hope is a leader in garden based education for youth and adults. They maintain an Urban Farm used for trainings, youth education and events. In addition, Growing Hope manages and operates the Ypsi Area Online Markets in downtown and the Depot Town Farmers Markets. As a key collaborator in improving the local food system, the organization operates a licenced incubator kitchen and provides free workshops for farmers and food entrepreneurs to grow and start their businesses.

May

Avalon Housing - Avalon's mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. We envision a community in which all our neighbors have stable homes and an opportunity to thrive. Since our founding in 1992, Avalon Housing has used housing first, an evidence based approach to end homelessness for families, particularly those who struggle with mental illness,substance use and intergenerational poverty. Amidst this year's COVID challenges, Avalon continues to move individuals out of homelessness and into housing.Through supportive housing - permanently affordable housing combined with essential supports - Avalon clients live more stable, productive lives.

 
June

Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) - A UU action organization whose vision is "Michigan faith communities connected and empowered to create a more just and caring world."

July

Ozone House - Ozone House is a community-based, nonprofit agency that helps young people lead safe, healthy, and productive lives through intensive intervention and prevention services.

August

Friends in Deed - Friends In Deed is a haven for the members of our community with needs that would otherwise fall through the cracks of assistance offered through other organizations and agencies in Washtenaw County. While we consider requests on a case-by-case basis, our assistance tends to fall into one of several established categories: referrals, car repair, transportation, furniture, beds/cribs, utilities, prescriptions, and storage (for the homeless). Friends In Deed launched a new program called Circles Washtenaw County 2017 which works to alleviate poverty in our community through education, social capital, community involvement, advocacy, and one-on-one relationships. In 2019, we expanded our card donation program and opened up new areas of service in regard to transportation. We are now able to provide bus tokens, Lyft rides, and we have new garages to partner alongside. Now in 2020, we have returned to helping with housing to combat the new wave evictions since COVID-19 hit. We are able to help with a half’s month rent to avoid eviction as long as it’s Covid related

September

Community Action Network - CAN operates community centers in low-income Ann Arbor neighborhoods where it offers a host of programs, including academic tutoring & enrichment, basic needs and other supportive services to children, youth and families. CAN also builds community by facilitating resident council elections, cohosting community activities and strengthening parent/school relationships.

October

Children’s Literacy Network - Growing Readers for Life! Children’s Literacy Network’s mission is to design and implement literacy based programs to provide equitable opportunities for children to develop a love of reading and books.We are a volunteer-based nonpro\t agency dedicated to closing the book and reading achievement gap to keep low-income students from falling further behind. Our highly impactful programs include:BookPALS, FLIP: Family Literacy Interactive Program, Literacy Pack Project for COVID relief, CLNReads,Read to Kids, and SICT: Staying in Closer Touch. CLN hasserved 300,000 children since 1991 and is now the leading provider of books and literacy programs to low-income preschool through elementary students and their families in Washtenaw County. We are proud to partner with UUAA again, and are excited to celebrate our 30th anniversary this year!

November

IHN/Alpha House - UUAA was a founding member of IHN, which has over 28 years of experience working exclusively with children and families experiencing homelessness, the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) at Alpha House offers services to meet the most basic needs of children and families.  Our services efficiently and effectively provide stability for parents and children living in the shelter and guide them through a plan to secure and maintain stable housing."

December

Big Brother Big Sisters of Washtenaw County - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washtenaw County started in 1991 and in our first several years programming, an average of 45 children were matched annually with the goal of inclusion and equity.The program has grown to serve an average of 400 children annually. We continue our efforts to serve every child in Washtenaw County that needs and wants a mentor. Our vision is that all youth achieve their full potential, as we believe that potential is inherent and limitless in all youth. Our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We hold ourselves ACCOUNTABLE to every child in our program by working with parents/guardians, volunteers,and others in our community to help achieve: a) high aspirations, greater confIdence, and better relationships, b) avoidance of risky behaviors, and c) educational success.

To see lists of nonprofits who were recipients in previous years, please follow this link.

Information for Non-profit Applicants

Non-profits wishing to be considered for our Sharing the Collection program should complete this simple form. We will then email the application once it is ready (in October). Applications are accepted during the month of October for the funding period beginning in January. Non-profit organizations that serve or advocate for predominately disadvantaged families and individuals living in Washtenaw County are urged to apply.

Selection Criteria: The Sharing the Collection program is guided by the second of the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism: Justice and compassion in human relations.

Amount of Award: We cannot specify the exact amount that will be awarded since it is based on the amount donated by congregants on the designated Sunday. Past experience indicates that the award will fall within the range of $1000-$3000.

Deadline: Applications are accepted October through November 27th.  You will be notified in early December regarding the status of your application..

Click here to apply for "Sharing the Collection".

For questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The 2020 Sharing the Collection team facilitators are:
Janet Duncan (chair), Casey Jackson, Glenn Kime, Fran Lyman, Jim Marks, Mary Phelps, Kate Warner

UUAA Sharing the Collection Program Recipients for 2013 - 2020

2020 Recipients

• Growing Hope - $2,793
• Peace Neighborhood Center - $2,576
• SafeHouse Center  - $2,643
• Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) (not available)
• Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley  - $3200
• Our House - $1725
• Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) - $1210
• Michigan Prison Doula Initiative - $1065
• Student Advocacy Center of Michigan - $650
• Liberty Club - $3215
• IHN/ Alpha House - 
• House by the Side of the Road -

2019 Recipients

2018 Recipients

• January 7        Foundations Preschool of Washtenaw County ($2,848)
• February 4      House by the Side of the Road ($1,630)
• March 4         Packard Health ($2,320)
• April 1           Michigan UU Social Justice Network ($2,819)
• May 6           Habitat for Humanity – Huron Valley ($3,283)
• June 3          Summer Camp Scholarships ($2,045)
• July 1           Avalon Non-Profit Housing ($1,283)
• August 5       Children's Literacy Network ($1,309)
• September 9 SOS Community Services  ($1,422)
• October 7    UU Service Committee (UUSC) ($2,156)
• November 4  IHN/ Alpha House  ($3,482)
• November 18  Re-member.org ($2,605)
• December 7   Community Action Network ($1574)

       2018 Total:  $28,776

2017 Recipients

2016 Recipients

2015 Recipients

 2014 Recipients