The 2024 JUC Social Justice Challenge is February 18 – March 31.
Serve alongside our Justice Teams by participating in as many actions as possible.
Families are encouraged to participate in blue highlighted actions.
Track your participation to help us meet our goal of 1000 hours of action!
Events
Social Justice Challenge Kickoff: Italian Feast Fellowship Dinner
Saturday, February 17 at 5:30 pm
Our Justice Council has planned six weeks of opportunities for all-ages for us to Serve Respectfully together, beginning this Sunday. Kick off this exciting time with a gourmet home cooked pasta fellowship dinner. There will be trivia and prizes, all ages welcome! Sign Up Link
Green Task Force: Green Gardening in Dry Colorado
Tuesday, February 20 at 7 pm
Simple gardening strategies lead to impactful, environmental solutions for your home and landscape. Learn about many options for creative green gardening from Mike Moore, the owner of a local landscaping design company.
JUC CAN: Speak Up – Your Voice Matters
Sunday, February 25 at 12:30 – 2 pm
Sunday, March 17 during Faith Exploration classes for 6-12 grades
Learn how to be a better advocate. We’ll provide details about housing and the unhoused in Jefferson County, along with ideas on how to communicate your thoughts. We’ll provide the paper, envelope, stamps and addresses for city and county officials and help you craft a letter that we will mail. It can be a concern or a thank you for something that is working. Make your voice and your values heard. Sign Up Link
JUC CAN/Jefferson Humanists: Homelessness in Jefferson County and Metro Denver
Sunday, February 25 at 4 pm
Join the Jefferson Humanists for a presentation from Cassie Ratliff, Chief Impact Officer for The Family Tree, as she talks about the State of Homelessness in Jeffco, problems that the unhoused face, available services and what you can do. Sign Up Link
Spring Cleaning: JUC Kitchen
Sunday, March 3, 12:30-2 pm
Sunday, February 25, 1-3 pm for families
Help get the JUC kitchen ready for a year of preparing meals for our partners at the Arvada Rising Day Site. Sign Up Link
Affordable Housing Development Field Trip
Saturday, March 9 at 2 pm
Ever wondered what Affordable Housing looks like? Foothills Regional Housing (Jeffco’s Housing Authority), builder of affordable housing in Jeffco, will take you on a tour of the Flats at Ford Street in Golden. They’ll provide information about affordable housing, answer your questions, and give you a tour. Children are welcome and snacks will be provided. Sign Up Link
We Are Alive Book Discussion
Sunday, March 10 at 12:30 pm
Explore the historical events that have shaped the community of our Guatemala Scholarship students. We are Alive (Estamos Vivos) is a detailed record of the events, including massacres and forcible displacement, that created the resettlement community of Pacux where many of our students live. Books will be available in the commons on Sundays. Sign Up Link
Diversity 101 Workshop
Sunday, March 16, 9:30-11 am
Join Katie Bradford for an engaging presentation covering the fundamentals of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB). From acknowledging social identifiers to recognizing stereotypes, Katie will share her experiences as DEIB professional, arts educator and parent. Exploring the nuances of DEIB in a safe space provides participants the tools to learn and grow. DEIB can be messy- don’t be afraid to “fail forward.” Sign Up Link
Sharing the Table Lunch
Saturday, March 16, 11:30-12:45 pm
Join JUC CAN and help prepare a lunch and share that meal with people who are unhoused at the Golden First United Methodist Church at 1500 Ford St. Golden Methodist has been providing meals for a number of years and is also a Safe Parking site. There will be a conversation starter so you all can share. A great opportunity to learn more through experience. Sign Up Link
Arvada Rising Field Trip
Saturday, March 16, 1-3 pm
Come and spend a couple of hours helping to sort and organize at the Arvada Rising day site. All are welcome – there are jobs for people of all ages and abilities! Families especially encourage to come. Sign Up Link
Work in the Habitat for Humanity Work Shop
Saturday, March 23, 9 am – 2 pm
Spend a day working at the Habitat for Humanity Production Shop (near 6th Ave. and I-25 on Raritan Way) doing painting or assembly. We have room for eight JUC volunteers (ages 14 and up). If interested, register by March 8. Sign Up Link
Ongoing Engagement/Volunteer Opportunities
Family Promise Host Week
Sunday, March 17 – Sunday, March 24
Four families experiencing homelessness will be living at JUC. Please join our loving community in welcoming them to our church by volunteering to drive the families, serve dinner, or host. Family Promise is an all church commitment as it takes 90 volunteers. We have detailed instructions for everyone who signs up and support from the JUC core volunteers and the FP staff. Sign Up Link
Civic Engagement Opportunities
Monday, February 26 – Monday, March 11
Engage in local politics by attending a school board, city council, or county open house meeting. Event dates and times are in the sign up. Sign Up Link
Prepare Dessert for Arvada Rising Day Site
Through March 31
Families will prepare desserts during the March 12 We Are Parents gathering
6-12 graders will prepare desserts during FE classes Sunday, March 24
Prepare dessert for 60 people and deliver it to the Rising Day Site by 11:30am. Sign Up Link
Migrant Settlement Assistance
Through March 31
More than 6.1 million refugees and migrants have left Venezuela as a result of the political turmoil that has created an ongoing humanitarian crisis. Currently, almost 3,000 migrants are in Denver’s shelter system, and many migrants–including families with young children–are sleeping outside, sometimes in tents and even in the cold weather. Support them in settling in our community by signing up to help. Sign Up Link
Cook for Arvada Rising Day Site
Through March 31
Join a cook team to prepare lunch for Mission Arvada’s Day Shelter guests. Sign Up Link
Primary Postcard Writing
Through March 31
Write postcards through Reclaim Our Vote to help fight voter suppression by providing information to make voting easier. Reclaim Our Vote is a non-partisan, BIPOC-run organization focused on turnout of low-frequency BIPOC voters. Pick up postcard packets in the commons on Sundays throughout the Social Justice Challenge.
Lunch Service at Arvada Rising Day Site
Through March 31
Help serve lunch to our unhoused neighbors and clean up afterward with one of our JUC cook teams. Bring an apron if you’ve got one! Sign Up Link
How to Talk About Unhoused People
Through March 31
Learn how to talk about unhoused people in a compassionate way by viewing these training videos.
Staff the Abundant Harvest Table
Through March 31
K-5 grades will staff table Sunday, March 24 during FE classes
Help at the Abundant Harvest Table on Sunday! Sign up to set up, refill cookie plates, serve soup, clean up after second service, and learn about our successful program. Sign Up Link
Helping Hands Bags
Through March 31
Create a Helping Hands bag. Pick up a ziplock bag and a list of items that are useful to an unhoused person. Take it home and fill it with as many items from the list as you can. When it’s done, keep your Helping Hands bag in your car to hand to the next unhoused person that you would like to help. Bags are available in the commons on Sundays.
Abundant Harvest Table Goodies
Through March 31
Bake or cook and donate a treat for the Sunday Abundant Harvest Table to help raise funds for our day shelter ministry at Mission Arvada. Sign Up Link
Family Promise Goodies
Sunday, March 17 during FE classes
K-5th grades will help support family promise by making snacks and desserts for families.
Collections
Migrant Essential Needs Collection
Collected in JUC commons Sunday, February 25
Support newly-arrived migrants and refugees by collecting these much needed items. Items collected in JUC commons on Sundays.
- infant formula
- diapers size 5+6
- feminine pads (all varieties)
- suitcases (new or used, in any condition)
- backpacks (new or used)
Arvada Rising Underwear Collection
Through March 31
Donate men’s boxer shorts size S and M and women’s panties size S, M, L. Will be collected at Abundant Harvest table on Sundays through March 31.
Arvada Rising Essential Items Collection
Through March 31
Donate essential items to support to Mission Arvada. Will be collected at Abundant Harvest table on Sundays through March 31.
- backpacks
- sleeping bags
- sleeping pads
- blankets
- kitchen supplies
- hand/foot warmers
- men’s jeans size 29 – 36 waist (can be used, must be clean)
- shaving supplies
- other toiletries