Social Justice: Education and Action
At Don Heights we have a small, dedicated Social Justice Team. We meet to talk four or five times a year to review Social Justice plans and create recommendations for Don Heights Annual General Meeting in April. Everyone is welcome to participate in these meetings to make suggestions and share ideas. We study issues, share facts and direct our annual donations to where we feel we can make some impact for justice in the world. We have been focusing on five Social Justice areas:
- International Justice and Refugee Support
- Economic Inequality: Poverty, Food Security and Homelessness
- Environment, Health and Climate Change
- Inclusion and the Celebration of Diversity: Racial, Ability, Gender & LGBTQ Rights
- THR: Truth, Healing and Reconciliation
Our Sunday Service speakers often provide Social Justice Education on important issues.
Annual donations are sent to several registered charities that work in the above areas.
Each year our congregation votes to provide a larger donation to one or two selected charitable organizations
NEWS!!:
Changes to Out Of The Heat (OOTH) at ACSA
The Out of the Heat Program is provided by ACSA, the Agincourt Community Services Association.
- ACSA’s two Drop-In locations offer a host of programs to individuals over 18 years of age who are homeless, socially isolated or living in precarious housing.
- Drop-In North (4155 Sheppard Ave East) offers breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks, access to computers and internet, phones, TTC tokens, showers, clothing and other personal hygiene supplies.
- ACSA social programs include a Women’s Group and Art Group.
- ACSA is always looking for volunteers to help with their kitchen program.
- On Saturday, July 16th, 2022, Don Heights Unitarian Congregation participated in the ACSA Out of the Heat summer program by making and providing apples, oranges and more than one hundred sandwiches. The sandwiches were egg, hummus with sliced veggies, peanut butter, chick pea salad and meat sandwiches. They were prepared by Rosemary W, Germaine, Judy, Sharyn and Peter. The fruit was supplied by Tery, Ruth and Lorna. Lorna and her daughter Adrienne did the delivery at noon on Saturday to a grateful group of people.
Thank you all.
Sharyn Devine
Click on any logo / box / photo below for more information:
Action
Recent Social Actions
2021 Actions
At the April 2021 Annual General Meeting we voted to again donate $5000 to Toronto First to support bringing more refugees to Canada
2020 Actions
Sponsorship of Syrian Refugee Families
Partnering with First Toronto Unitarian, we helped to sponsor a Syrian family to come to Toronto in 2015 and are doing so again in 2020, although the arrival of the second family has been delayed because of the pandemic. We’ve contributed $5,000 in both 2015 and 2020 toward the costs. Several Don Heighters helped with English classes and medical, grocery and other forays, helping the family get established. Our first Syrian family left almost two years ago to live in Edmonton because of family relationships there.
2019 Actions
International Food Security
Seed Change is carrying on the work started years ago by Lotta Hitschmanova with the Unitarian Service Committee in Canada, focusing on preserving natural organic seeds for farmers in a world of GMO, monoculture and Monsanto’s glyphosate. We supported them with a gift of $5,000 in 2019.
2018 Actions
Pikangikum Water Project
We supported the Pikangikum Water Project with a donation in 2018 of $4,000
Youth Without Shelter
We supported YWS with a donation in 2018 of $1,000
2017 Actions
Indigenous SNAP program
We supported the Child Development Institute to expand the SNAP Program in Indigenous Communities with a donation in 2017 of $2,500
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
We supported UNHCR with a donation in 2017 of $2,500 for Bangladesh refugee camp swamped with Rohingya people fleeing Myanmar
2016 Actions
Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
We supported the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto with a donation in 2016 of $1,000
Indspire
We supported Indspire with a donation in 2016 of $4,000
Groups We Support With An Annual Donation
Agincourt Community Services Association
We support ACSA and their food bank with a collection the first Sunday of every month.
Flemingdon Park Ministry
We support the ministry and their food bank with a collection the last Sunday of every month.
North York Women’s Shelter
We support their work with a collection every December
International Food Security
Seed Change is carrying on the work started years ago by Lotta Hitschmanova with the Unitarian Service Committee in Canada, focusing on preserving natural organic seeds for farmers in a world of GMO, monoculture and Monsanto’s glyphosate. We supported them with a gift of $5,000 in 2019.
Unicamp of Ontario
One of the best ways we can save our planet for future generations of humanity is to encourage memorable, happy experiences with nature. Unicamp is a registered charitable organization started and maintained by UU congregations in southern Ontario. We donated $500 in 2019 on the occasion of Unicamp’s 50th anniversary.
Dixon Hall – Out of the Cold Program
Don Heights has supported the Out Of The Cold (OOTC) program at Knox United Church in Agincourt for many years
Amnesty International
Each year we send support cards to prisoners of conscience in foreign countries. Amnesty will supply us with their names and addresses. After the Services in late November and early December we will be writing cards to show our concern for their well-being.
Groups We Support by Providing Program Space
Bliss I-Band
The Bliss I-Band is a social activity program of Don Heights meeting every Wednesday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm under the music direction of Aaron Lightstone.
The group provides an opportunity for adults with disabilities and their friends to make music together, playing i-Pad instruments. Persons who have never played a music instrument or participated in a music group are discovering their unique ways to play world and folk music, jazz, blues, rock and more!
We welcome helpers/participants.
Brochures describing the Bliss iBand are available at the entrance to the main hall in Don Heights at 18 Wynford Drive.
Democracy Workshops
On June 6, 2018, Donna Dasko was appointed to the Canadian Senate
Click on the flyer for a video of part of Donna’s talk
Education
International Justice and Refugee Support
UN Sustainable Development Goals
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
We supported UNHCR with a donation in 2017 of $2,500 for Bangladesh refugee camp swamped with Rohingya people fleeing Myanmar
Don Heights 2020 Action
Sponsorship of Syrian Refugee Families
Partnering with First Toronto Unitarian, we helped to sponsor a Syrian family to come to Toronto in 2015 and are doing so again in 2020, although the arrival of the second family has been delayed because of the pandemic. We’ve contributed $5,000 in both 2015 and 2020 toward the costs. Several Don Heighters helped with English classes and medical, grocery and other forays, helping the family get established. Our first Syrian family left almost two years ago to live in Edmonton because of family relationships there.
Economic Inequality – Poverty, Food Security and Homelessness
Housing Solutions for Everyone
Housing and Homelessness Recovery Response Plan
Dixon Hall – Out of the Cold Program
Don Heights has supported the Out Of The Cold (OOTC) program at Knox United Church in Agincourt for many years
Manitoba’s Experience with Basic Income
Supporting Local Food Security
Agincourt Community Services Association
We support ACSA and their food bank with a collection the last Sunday of every month
Flemingdon Park Ministry
We support the ministry and their food bank with a collection the last Sunday of every month.
Don Heights 2018-19 Action
International Food Security
Seed Change is carrying on the work started years ago by Lotta Hitschmanova with the Unitarian Service Committee in Canada, focusing on preserving natural organic seeds for farmers in a world of GMO, monoculture and Monsanto’s glyphosate. We supported them with a gift of $5,000 in 2019.
Youth Without Shelter
We supported YWS with a donation in 2018 of $1,000
Environment, Health and Climate Change
David Suzuki: 10 Ways You Can Help Fight Climate Change
Don Heights 2018 Action
Pikangikum Water Project
We supported the Pikangikum Water Project with a donation in 2018 of $4,000
Assembly of First Nations
Access to safe, clean and reliable drinking water; the effective treatment of wastewater; and the protection of sources of drinking water on First Nation land.
Inclusion & Celebration of Diversity – Racial, Ability, Gender & LGBTQ
Black Lives Matter
We hope to focus on this more in the near future.
The 519
We hope to focus on this more in the near future.
Amnesty International
Each year we send support cards to prisoners of conscience in foreign countries. Amnesty will supply us with their names and addresses. After the Services in late November and early December we will be writing cards to show our concern for their well-being.
End Violence Against Women
North York Women’s Shelter
We support their work with a collection every December
UUA on LGBTQ
THR: Truth, Healing and Reconciliation
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Truth, Healing & Reconciliation: CUC
Yellowhead Institute
We are on a journey of learning about our colonial past and trying to right the wrongs in Canada against indigenous peoples
UNDRIP – UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
We supported the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto with a donation in 2016 of $1,000
Indspire
We supported Indspire with a donation in 2016 of $4,000
Indigenous SNAP program
We supported the Child Development Institute to expand the SNAP Program in Indigenous Communities with a donation in 2017 of $2,500
UU Based Charitable Organizations: Working For A Better World
Childhaven in India
We have supported the work of Fred and Bonnie Cappucino helping children in India for many years
Fred Cappucino’s 2010 talk at Don Heights – A Balloon and Baloney Index -What Flies and What Doesn’t
International Food Security
Seed Change is carrying on the work started years ago by Lotta Hitschmanova with the Unitarian Service Committee in Canada, focusing on preserving natural organic seeds for farmers in a world of GMO, monoculture and Monsanto’s glyphosate. We supported them with a gift of $5,000 in 2019.
Unicamp of Ontario
One of the best ways we can save our planet for future generations of humanity is to encourage memorable, happy experiences with nature. Unicamp is a registered charitable organization started and maintained by UU congregations in southern Ontario.