As you may know, the federal government is “rebating” tax dollars, encouraging us to spend the money on consumer goods in order to “stimulate” the lagging economy. You probably have also seen news stories about the escalating cost of food and the associated hardship for people everywhere. The rebates will not help those in the direst financial circumstances, because people who are too poor to pay taxes will not receive a tax rebate.

Within our own congregation, some of us will need this check just to pay our bills, and some of us won’t. If you are in this latter category, you can Rechannel Your Rebate through UUC. Funds received will be used in three ways:

• In our congregation: One third will go to our own Sharing Fund, which is administered by our ministers to anonymously assist congregation members facing crises.

• In our community: One third will go to local food banks to help those in our community who are struggling to put food on the table.

• In our world: One third will support emergency food relief for some of the hardest-hit people in the world.

The Internal Revenue Service started distributing the rebates of up to $600 per taxpayer this week, and the process will continue through July. If you would like to rechannel all or part of your rebate, please endorse or make your check out to University Unitarian Church, and be sure to write “Rechanneled Rebate” in the memo line. For more information, contact Social Justice Coordinator Jennifer Bright.