The Food Bank Network of Somerset County

TUC members and friends participate on a weekly basis as The Food Bank Network of Somerset County. They sort food, keep the Food Bank database up to date, and help in any way they are asked. In addition to collecting food all month long, TUC has designated the third Sunday of every month as "TUC Hunger Offering Sunday." The food and funds collected are sent directly to the Food Bank. We also man the Somerville Pantry on Saturdays in the month of March.

The impact of the services of the Food Bank are far reaching. In addition to food, the Food Bank Network provides good-conditioned clothing, especially through their Working Wardrobe, a clothing bank for women who need appropriate clothing to get back in the work world; provide prescription drugs to families without medical coverage; join with other Social Service Agencies to provide emergency assistance like preventing utilities from being turned off or repairing an auto so the breadwinner can get to work; in September and October, providing all school supplies needed by low income families; and every other month, packaging basic hygiene items for the women leaving the welfare program and starting employment.

Giving Gardeners' Project

The Giving Gardeners Project (GGP) is dedicated to feed the poor and needy by producing vegetables, which are distributed through agencies such as Food Bank Network of Somerset County, Star Fish of Plainfield, and Calvary Chapel Lighthouse of North Plainfield. The gardens are grown on plots donated by Wagner Farms Arboretum Foundation and tended entirely by volunteers.

The GGP garden is divided into plots approximately 4 by 40 feet. The GGP volunteers produced over 2000 pounds of produce during 2007, its first year in operation.

TUC volunteers maintained 3 plots in which they grew tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and beans.

Somerset Jail Chaplaincy

The inmates in Somerset County spiritual needs are served by the Somerset Jail Chaplaincy. Rev. Kathleen Roney, director and her staff work tirelessly with the inmates and their families, providing, educational needs, Bible study and social services to the inmates of Somerset County. Local faith communities not only fund the Chaplaincy but also provide volunteer board members and volunteers who work with the Chaplaincy.

The Resource Center for Women and Their Families

The Resource Center for Women and Their Families provides safety and support for victims of domestic violence. The center provides safe shelter for women and children in crisis, as well as social services help through case management, legal aid and support in the court system, psychiatric therapy and counseling for their clients. Transitional housing is supplied for families needing longer stays and services. Volunteers, after training, provide a multitude of services for the women and their families. The victims of domestic violence, not only physical but also those victims of emotional violence, find a safe haven and support to begin new lives.

Annual Fair Trade Gift Fair

Beginning in the fall of 2006, "TUC" Beginning in the fall of 2006, “TUC” has hosted an Annual Fair Trade Gift Fair, featuring hand-crafted gift items from Ten Thousand Villages and products from Equal Exchange (coffee, tea, chocolate and hot cocoa). has hosted an annual Fair Trade Gift Fair, featuring hand-crafted gift items from Ten Thousand Villages and products from Equal Exchange (coffee, tea, chocolate and hot cocoa).

Ten Thousand Villages is a not-for-profit that provides income and opportunities for people in areas of poverty around the world. They market quality products from diverse cultures, working with people that they know and care enough about to do business in a manner that together they consider fair.

Equal Exchange is the largest cooperatively owned coffee roaster in the world and the largest fair trade company in the US. For over 20 years, they have partnered with poor farmers throughout the world to allow them to live and work in dignity.

From the items sold, we receive 15% of the total proceeds. Those monies then help to fund the local and global missions we support, such as Habitat for Humanity, the Somerset Food Bank and Heifer International.

We believe passionately that supporting Fair Trade allows us to live out our faith and promote economic justice.

Heifer International

Heifer International raises farm animals at its USA facilities, selects approved receiving agencies in global communities, trains people in these countries in animal husbandry and ships hundreds of thousands of animals to needy families worldwide all year long. The key element in the program is the requirement that recipients must pass on an offspring of their herd or flock to another village family in need, extending this reach of hope. This live building block provides essential nutrition, income and training in animal care. These new farmers organize to provide community development, housing and educational opportunities in isolated places. Most importantly, families receive needed empowerment and the ripple effect of sharing this vital commodity. More about the program is described at www.heifer.org.

During Advent for the past three years, Trinity United Church has participated in Heifer International by funding an entire Ark. Each year we raised $5,000 to provide dozens of varieties of animals from water buffalo and camels to bees and pigs, all of which are distributed world-wide through the program.

In 2004, a mission trip was made by church members to a Heifer International farm in Massachusetts to observe and participate in the work of the organization.