Casas Adobes Congregational has seen the need and is collecting for a local organization to help prevent homelessness in Tucson (especially because of COVID):
Then the servant who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Sir, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ - Jesus in Matthew 25:20-21
As followers of Jesus, we are daily called to share our gifts bringing more of God's creativity, hope, love, and justice alive in the world. An act of great generosity has brought forth an opportunity for Casas Adobes Congregational UCC to multiply God’s gifts and make a transformative difference in the lives of local families impacted by the global pandemic.
A "perfect storm" is on the horizon for many families: the current moratoriums on evictions are coming to an end just as earlier stimulus monies are depleted, government funding for homelessness prevention in Tucson runs out soon, and families who are un/underemployed will be greatly challenged to make back rent/mortgage payments piled up in the pandemic. 4,000 families in Tucson have already applied for rental assistance and Pima County Interfaith researchers estimate 60,000 families in Tucson could be in danger of losing their housing in this pandemic. An anonymous donor has given $50,000 to support the ministry and mission of CAUCC, most of which will expand the capacities of one of our ministry partners, Our Family Services (https://www.ourfamilyservices.org), to prevent homelessness among vulnerable Tucson families.
Our Family Services not only provides shelter for families in need and helps families find stable housing when they are homeless, but also supports families in danger of losing housing to remain in their homes. This latter program is the focus of our mission, because once housing is lost, there is widening adverse impact educationally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually on families already struggling.
Our Ministry of Mission and Outreach (MMO), with full endorsement from the Church Council, is inviting us to multiply this original generous gift like the "good stewards" in Jesus' Parable of the Talents (excerpted above). One family has already gifted an additional $10,000 to add to this effort. Additionally, the Church Council has authorized a one-time draw of $5,000 from our CAUCC Reserve fund to be donated to meet this extraordinary local need in this global emergency. The initial gift is already multiplying and you can join in this gift-multiplication to make a transformative difference for Tucson families!
To help: please make checks payable to "CAUCC" and put "Our Family Services" in the subject line. This "Multiplying Gifts" campaign will wrap up by December 20th so that we can quickly begin meeting this great need.
To donate directly to this social service organization: Our Family Services/Homelessness, 2590 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712.