There is no such thing as doing too much to protect our democracy and our planet.

         

The Social Action Committee (SAC) at First Parish strives to fight for social justice on a local, state, and national level and endeavors to provide truthful information on a wide variety of relevant issues. We also regularly publicize and provide social justice-oriented opportunities that encourage church members and friends to become actively involved and put Unitarian Universalist values into practice.

Current Projects

The SAC’s weekly e-blast keeps the congregation and others informed about the work we are doing and publicizes local events/meetings and various webinars related to social justice issues. Through the e-blast we also promote a wide range of petitions that focus on issues such as curtailing fossil fuel drilling; protecting the rights of minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals; passing effective gun laws; banning harmful pesticides and chemicals; and encouraging more sustainable buying habits.

We make a consistent effort to hold companies and organizations accountable for their actions by writing to corporate and or local offices, and we regularly communicate our views to our local, state, and federal representatives, often in the hope of influencing policy. By contacting our state representatives about specific pieces of MA legislation that represent our UU values, we express our commitment to seeing that these bills become law.

In addition to organizing a monthly food drive to benefit the South Shore Community Resource Council’s “Back Pack” program, which helps families in need across the South Shore, the SAC has helped to provide meals and clothing for those in need.

Our “Buy Nothing Project” encourages First Parish members and friends to give away what they no longer have any use for and to ask for items that they might need.

We also have established contact with and strive to maintain communication with other local social action committees, identifying/participating in shared goals and activities.

Anyone wishing to be added the Social Action Committee’s weekly e-blast e-mail list can sign up at socialactionfpp@gmail.com. (The church e-blast is sent out separately and covers different topics.)

Save Our Bay Rally
Monthly Food Collection
2023 Town Charter meeting
Get Out the Vote Campaign

Additional Social Action Projects for 2024

  • Would you be willing to help the Social Action Committee focus on an issue of your choice without joining the committee or coming to meetings?

  • Our committee is going to try out a new idea—asking for volunteers to form small (perhaps even one person!) subcommittees that would work independently of the  Social Action Committee and not be obligated attend our once-a-month Monday morning meetings. First Parish membership is not required.

  • We’d like to start our first subcommittee by focusing on the issue of guns: What is happening locally? What bills have been proposed state-wide and nationally? What can we as individuals do to help stem the tide of gun-related violence in America? If you would like to join this subcommittee (or focus on a topic of your choice), please e-mail our committee at socialactionfpp@gmail.com.

  • Democracy in Action Circles (Friday nights 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the parlor at First Parish offices): Beginning in March, we will be writing Get Out the Vote postcards to Plymouth residents in an effort to increase turnout for the spring election.

  • We have joined Kingston’s First Parish UU in establishing Conversation Circles in which members of the First Parish Social Action Committee and congregation work with small groups of refugees in hour-long sessions designed to expand their ability to comprehend and speak English.

  • We are continuing our tri-monthly (free/open to the public) film series, which is held in First Parish’s Brewster Chapel in conjunction with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Sustainable Plymouth, and the South Eastern MA Pine Barrens Alliance.

The Social Action Committee of First Parish Plymouth supports every woman’s right to choose and make decisions over her own body.

Committee members
Rick McDonald (Co-chair), Donna Petrangelo (Co-chair), Patricia Devine (Treasurer, Secretary), Valerie Peck, Abigail Bottome, Lee Marchant, Carol Bernal, 

& Rev. Arthur Lavoie, Ex-officio

socialactionfpp@gmail.com