Preparing for Tent City 3’s Arrival: Seeking Volunteers

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Saturday, March 18 morning and/or afternoon; Sunday mornings; Wednesday evenings

"Tent City 3" on a bright gold background

Hosting TC3 could be “a season of transformation if we at UUC lean into the experience, let our hearts be moved by the people we meet, if we let those same hearts be broken open by the painful realities of homelessness in our shared city.”

Rev. Beth Chronister, February 19, 2023, introducing Fleagle Lecturer Rex Hohlbein, founder of Facing Homelessness

If you missed Rex Hohlbein’s inspirational and educational words and images from the pulpit last Sunday you can watch or listen to the recording of Sunday’s service online. Rex emphasized the importance of proximity, firsthand knowledge, and recognizing the trauma experienced by unhoused individuals, often before being on the streets, but always once arriving there. He encouraged us to lean into this opportunity of hosting Tent City 3 and come to know the TC3 community. Years ago, Rex joined the Tent City 3 community to live with them for a month. And, in preparation for yesterday sermon and presentation, he recently returned to live with them for a few days again. He has found this community to be welcoming, generous and beloved. As Rev. Jon Luopa shared in his prayer, “we are bound together as one human family.” Let this be a season of transformation for our beloved community.

If, having heard Rex, you are moved to volunteer, please stop by our TC3 information/learning station in Nathan Johnson Hall after services on February 26 to fill out a volunteer card (additional information/learning station dates to come). Volunteer opportunities include:

  • Help with move-in on Saturday, March 18. Opportunities include helping to provide a hot breakfast or helping with packing and loading in the morning at the UW site that TC3 is leaving and/or helping provide lunch or helping unload and set up in the afternoon in the UUC parking lot.
  • Be a “Parking Ambassador” on Sunday mornings and assist congregants and visitors locate nearby lot or on-street parking, if they are not mobility limited or arriving with small children
  • Prepare food for regular Wednesday evening dinners while we host Tent City 3. (We will share hosting duties with our neighbors to the north at Congregation Beth Shalom and possibly with other neighboring congregations. Food will be prepared by volunteers at their homes, due to licensing limitations for UUC’s kitchen.
  • Help us envision and develop other activities—movie night anyone?

In addition to providing information on volunteer opportunities, at the TC3 information/learning station in Nathan Johnson Hall after services on February 26 we’ll also collect information from those interested in carpooling to UUC and needing any assistance in getting started.  

If you can’t visit an information station/learning session, but would like to volunteer, need help with carpooling, or have or have input or questions, please contact the UUC Tent City 3 Team at UUCHomelessness@gmail.com.

~UUC Tent City 3 Team