Housing and Homelessness
Housing Issues:
BIC Grocery Certificates
Grocery gift certificates to participating stores are sold in bulk to Barnstable Interfaith Council (BIC), then resold at face value to community members, and five percent goes directly to Housing Assistance Corporation, amounting to thousands of dollars per month. The gift certificates do not cost the buyer anything more than their face value, $25 - $100, and can be used to buy groceries that you would be purchasing during a regular shopping visit or given as a gift. These helpful gift certificates are sold every Sunday after the service. Participating stores include: Lambert’s, Shaw’s/Star Market, Stop & Shop, Ring Brothers, Peterson’s Market & Fancy's in Osterville, Roche Brothers, Country Garden, and Cape Cod Natural Foods.
Habitat for Humanity
UCB helped to build a Habitat for Humanity home in Marstons Mills in the Fall of 2014. The temperature outside was 39°F - shockingly cold for folks who had been treated to a relatively warm Fall. But, volunteers reported that they enjoyed the day of learning to side shingle and putting their principle of service in action. They encourage all to take advantage of any such opportunity to volunteer - many more Habitat homes are to be built on Cape Cod. Visit their website to view where and when you can help.
Homelessness Issues:
St. Joseph House Dinners
Monthly dinners are provided and served for approximately 50 people at the newly renamed St. Joseph's House (formerly NOAH Shelter) in Hyannis on the first Friday of each month. UCB has been actively participating in this program for over 20 years.
Walk to End Homelessness
Church members participate in the annual walk at locations across the Cape every fall.