A New Approach to Community Outreach: the Interfaith Community Outreach Organizing Program (CO-OP)
UUCOV will soon have an opportunity to get involved with a very exciting interfaith program. A new interfaith committee sponsored by the Venice Interfaith Community Association has been formed to help organize community outreach in South Sarasota County. The Interfaith Community Outreach Organizing Program (CO-OP) is an outgrowth of the Venice Community Dinners. The dinners have been so
successful and have attracted so many volunteers that organizers decided to look into other ways faith groups could work together to serve the community. In response to a survey, participating congregations, including UUCOV, identified affordable housing,
support for the homeless and joblessness as their three top priorities for community service.
The UUCOV Social Justice Committee has identified support for the homeless as one of its priorities for community service. There were questions, however, about what the needs are and what we could do as a single organization. The Interfaith CO-OP may be the
answer. We invite congregation members and friends to attend the forum on Sunday May 9 to learn more about the Interfaith CO-OP and how we may participate in its service to the community.