One of the ways we support our wider community is by giving small grants to organizations whose work aligns with ours. These grants are determined and administered by our Outreach committee, and support our commitment to eradicating hunger, eliminating homelessness, working for environmental justice, supporting immigrant justice in all of its forms, and laboring in solidarity for racial justice.
Organizations that Wellington supported in 2021 & 2022 include:
Assata’s Daughters: Empowering young Black women through education & mentorship (2021)
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (IJTF): dedicated to work that brings together the Asian American community and empower them to create change in their communities. (2022)
Books for Africa: founded to end the book famine in Africa, Books for Africa collects, sorts, and ships books, computers, tablets, and library enhancement materials to every country in Africa. (2022)
Catatumbo Cooperative Farm: an immigrant, queer, gender non-conforming, workers’ cooperative farm located in South Chicago. (2022)
Chicago Torture Justice Center (Survivor Repair Fund): this mutual aid fund to support survivors of police violence and their families. (2022)
Children’s Legal Center (IJTF): Provides free immigration legal services to children and families with children including refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. (2022)
Commissary Funds for two incarcerated individuals: supplemented congregational special offering with funds from Outreach budget (2022)
Community Counseling Centers of Chicago – STARS (Sexual Trauma Awareness Recovery Services): focuses on counseling services driven to rekindle hope and healing for individuals to become the best versions of themselves. (2022)
Eco-Justice Collaborative: Environmental issues (2022)
Equity and Transformation: purposed to build social and economic equity for Black workers engaged in the informal economy. (2022)
Fenn’s at Feitshans (FAF) Mentoring Program: an afterschool youth program dedicated to serving the underprivileged. (2022)
Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries: creates faith-based programming addressing many issues (2021, 2022)
Growing Home: Agricultural training in Englewood (2021)
Heartland Alliance – The Marjorie Kovler Center (IJTF): dedicated to providing survivors of torture with opportunities to heal, access justice, and rebuild their lives with dignity. (2022)
Hello Baby: A free play center in Woodlawn (2021, 2022)
Jane Addams Senior Caucus: a multiracial, grassroots organization led by seniors in the Chicagoland area that work towards a world where all seniors can age with dignity and safety, free of ageism, racism, and other forms of oppression. (2022)
Latino Union of Chicago (IJTF): collaborates with low-income immigrant and U.S.-born workers to develop the tools necessary to collectively improve social and economic conditions. (2022)
LVEJO: Environmental/social justice organization in Little Village
Middle East Children’s Alliance (IJTF): works to protect the rights and improve the lives of children in the Middle East through aid, empowerment and education. (2022)
Midwest Action Coalition: supports the believe that everyone should have access to safe, free, legal abortions wherever they live. (2022)
Mijente (IJTF): serves as a political home for Latinx and Chicanx people who seek racial, economic, gender and climate justice. (2022)
No More Deaths (IJTF): seeks to end death and suffering in the Mexico–US borderlands through civil initiative: people of conscience working openly and in community to uphold fundamental human rights. (2022)
Nourishing Hope: provides food, mental wellness counseling and other social services, such as job and housing assistance, to our Chicago neighbors in need. (2022)
Pembroke Environmental Justice Coalition: Environmental justice. (2022)
People for Community Recovery: driven to enhance the quality of life of residents living in communities affected by environmental pollution. (2022)
Wellington Outreach Committee: Cook & Carry: Meals for the homeless: reimburse Jackie Rivet River and Debbie Lee
Reform for Illinois: leads the charge for a more equitable and ethical Illinois government by addressing the role of money in politics, reducing public corruption, and empowering voters with fair, accessible elections. (2022)
RefugeeOne: Afghan refugees (2021)
Ronnieman Foundation: Social & racial justice. (2022)
Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs – The Final Five Campaign: invests in a community of currently and formerly incarcerated youth to lead a movement that calls on Illinois to close down the five youth prisons, fund community-directed resources & responses to harm, and ultimately end youth incarceration. (2022)
South Chicago Christian Center: Racial justice. (2022)
South Side Together Organizing for Power, NotMeWe: focused on advancing economic and social human rights by organizing and developing leadership among people most affected by economic and racial oppression. (2022)
Northeastern Illinois University – Stateville Speaks: a newsletter written by and for incarcerated individuals, their families, those working in the correctional system and other interested citizens. It provides a creative outlet—a voice for the voiceless—for those incarcerated in Illinois, as well as to disseminate legislative and legal information. (2022)
The People’s Music School: focuses on giving opportunities for all children to have access to the unique social, emotional, intellectual benefits achieved through musical excellence. (2022)
UCC Appeal – IL Conference: initiative to pay off medical debt (2021)
UCC Appeal – National: Haitian Relief from earthquake and storm (2022)
COVID Emergency Response Fund
At the beginning of 2021, in response to the ongoing global health pandemic and its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, we quadrupled our budgeted external giving for the year. These organizations received gifts from that special response:
360 Nation: Community organization on West Side (2021)
American Indian Health Service of Chicago, Inc.: Racial justice – American Indians (2021, 2022)
Centro Romero: DACA legal funds (2021)
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless: Advocacy for the homeless (2021)
Chicago Semester: Intern stipends – one student working at World Relief, the other tutoring & mentoring students in Garfield Park who fell behind due to virtual learning/Covid (2021)
Community Kitchen + Canteen: Preparing meals for needy throughout Chicago (2021)
CRLN – Sanctuary Working Group (IJTF): immigrant justice/immigrants’ Emergency Funds (2021, 2022)
Deborah’s Place: Women’s Shelter (2022)
Eco Women’s Institute: Racial justice – Covid PTSD (2021)
Farm-Food-Familias: BIPOC urban farms tackling hunger by creating equitable food systems, training (2021)
Franciscan House: Homelessness, Hunger (2021)
Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries: TV Programs – info on Covid (2021, 2022)
Healthy Hot Free Meals: Free restaurant for needy in West Garfield Park (2021)
Hello Baby: Free play center in Woodlawn, help to mothers with little means (2021, 2022)
ICDI: Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants (IJTF): immigrant justice (2021)
ICIRR: IL Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (IJTF): immigrant justice (2021, 2022)
Lakeview Pantry: Food Pantry/mental health/social services (2021)
Mariposa Legal: immigrant justice (2021)
Metropolitan Tenants Organization: Prevent Homelessness (2021)
NIJC: National Immigrant Justice Center (IJTF): immigrant justice (2021)
North Side Housing and Supportive Services: Homeless issues: money was requested by them (2021)
WUCC Outreach Committee: Sleeping bags for the homeless
RefugeeOne: immigrant justice/asylum work (2021)
Sarah’s Circle: Homeless Shelter (2021, 2022)
The Common Pantry: Hunger (2021)
The Love Fridge: Free groceries in fridge near WAUCC office (2021)