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A Heart to Help: Small Efforts Create Big Impact

Sep 6, 2018 | UA News

Do you remember what you ate for dinner on August 13?
 
Chances are, probably not. But for those who dined at Blue Plate Kitchen for Get Stuffed for Good, their meal will not soon be forgotten.
 
Each meal at Get Stuffed for Good generated a donation to Beyond the Basics, an Urban Alliance initiative to help churches and parachurch organizations in our local community reach and serve people who are lacking food, clothing or housing so they meet their basic needs and gain greater stability in their lives.
 
“Knowing that Blue Plate Kitchen donates 20% of my dinner check to the Beyond the Basics initiative is an easy and fun way to donate,” shared Jennifer Mizia, who has attended four Get Stuffed for Good events. “I don’t know of any other local event that does this, so it’s particularly exciting to be a part of it.”
 
“It combines good food with a great cause,” explained attendee Dan Patrick.
 
Thanks to the generosity of many, Get Stuffed for Good has mobilized over $2,000 in community investments since it began in 2015.
 
“It has always been an opportunity for everyone to get together and enjoy some delicious food at one of my favorite places in Connecticut, all while generating resources that will strengthen programs that help people gain life stability,” explained Jaleith Gary, Director of Philanthropy at Urban Alliance.
 
“Many others not only can’t afford to go out to eat, but also don’t have enough funds to eat at all,” said Mizia. “If we have the time, money or resources, we have an obligation to provide for those who do not.”
 
Don’t worry if you missed this year’s Get Stuffed for Good; there are many other ways to get involved with UAGive.
 
“If you’re still learning about Urban Alliance and why our work is important to the community, then I’d encourage you to attend Vantage Point,” explained Gary. “You’ll have the chance to learn about Urban Alliance and how you can get involved in a variety of ways. You’ll learn more about our work, our motivation, our hearts and our value-add.”
 
And, for less than the price of dining out once a month, you can make a continual and meaningful impact by becoming a UAGive Champion. With a monthly gift of $40 or more, you’ll get special insights in quarterly e-newsletters, a limited edition Urban Alliance sweatshirt and other perks.
 
“We also have the Leverage Club, a group of donors committing to invest at least $1,000 a year to advance our work and convene annually to reflect on the impact we’ve made together,” explained Gary. “We’re at the forefront of Better Together, our first capital campaign, and we’re aspiring to invest $600,000 into our community, so every opportunity to give is a chance to help change lives.”
 
If you have a heart to help, Urban Alliance can help find your place to effect change in our community.
 
“We all have a part to play in making our world a better place,” said Gary. “Urban Alliance has really honed in on helping people to find their spot in the grand scheme of things.”
 
For more information about Get Stuffed for Good, Vantage Point, The Leverage Club or other UAGive questions, contact Jaleith Gary, Urban Alliance’s Director of Philanthropy.
 
“If you’re still learning about Urban Alliance and why our work is important to the community, then I’d encourage you to attend Vantage Point. You’ll have the chance to learn about Urban Alliance and how you can get involved in a variety of ways. You’ll learn more about our work, our motivation, our hearts and our value-add.”
– Jaleith Gary, Director of Philanthropy
 
 

The staff at Urban Alliance are familiar with Pastor Frank because he is a regular attendee to many of the trainings Urban Alliance provides on subjects like domestic violence, addressing childhood trauma, and better counseling techniques. “That’s been so valuable to me to be able to bring that back, not only in my counseling but also in my teaching and preaching ministries, “ shared Termine.

Pastor Frank was also one of the original members of the Micah group, a group of pastors that meets at Urban Alliance to discuss and strategize about challenging issues that face the church today. One of those earlier discussions on justice, incarceration, and returning citizens was particularly memorable. “We all lamented the fact that these men and women were coming out of prison into our churches and just kind of being thrown there,” said Termine, “We could do better than this.” That discussion planted the seeds that eventually led to the creation of Second Chance Churches – an opportunity for churches to provide support and mentoring to returning citizens that continues today.

When we asked Pastor Frank what he would say to another church that was unaware of Urban Alliance, he said, “If you are looking to get out in the community and make a difference in the community, Urban Alliance is a super way to do it. We’re a small church … we can’t do everything. Urban Alliance is a pathway to get our people involved in ministries that are already doing it, doing it well, and just need extra volunteers.”

Pastor Frank Termine’s story embodies many things we are trying to accomplish at Urban Alliance: supporting organizations in the communities they serve with training, resources, and opportunities to make a difference. Pastors and non-profit leaders face a wide range of challenges and, therefore, need a wide range of help and resources. Your support can help turn stories of struggle into stories like you find at Calvary Church.

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