<div dir="ltr"><br>Hello staff,<div>I wanted you all to also be aware of this program Catherine and I are experimenting with over the next two months.</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Catherine Magdala</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:catherinemagdala613@gmail.com">catherinemagdala613@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 3:38\u202fPM<br>Subject: UUCB Mutual Aid Grocery Buddy System: November & December<br>To: Program Council <<a href="mailto:Program@uubinghamton.org">Program@uubinghamton.org</a>>, UUCB Board <<a href="mailto:board@uubinghamton.org">board@uubinghamton.org</a>>, Social Action HUUB Group <<a href="mailto:huub@uubinghamton.org">huub@uubinghamton.org</a>>, <<a href="mailto:uucb-rainbow@googlegroups.com">uucb-rainbow@googlegroups.com</a>>, HeaRT Team <<a href="mailto:heart@uubinghamton.org">heart@uubinghamton.org</a>><br>Cc: Douglas Taylor <<a href="mailto:dtaylor@uubinghamton.org">dtaylor@uubinghamton.org</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><h2>\u2728 UUCB Mutual Aid Grocery Buddy System:<font size="4"> November & December</font></h2><p></p><p>We are excited to launch a confidential, short-term initiative rooted in our values of community care and mutual support: the <b>UUCB Mutual Aid Grocery Buddy System</b>.</p><p>This system allows congregants to confidentially offer grocery support to fellow congregants who need it during the coming holiday months. This is being organized by Catherine Magdala and Douglas Taylor. </p><p></p><h3><u><font size="4">\U0001f91d How It Works</font></u></h3><p></p><p>This initiative operates as a completely <b>confidential</b> buddy system:</p><ol start="1"><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Register:</b> Congregants register as either a <b>Giver</b> or a <b>Recipient</b> using the appropriate Google Form.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Donate:</b> Givers purchase a set, bi-weekly amount on a <b>Visa or Mastercard gift card</b> (details below).</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Submit:</b> Givers give the gift card(s) to <b>Catherine Magdala</b>.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Match:</b> Catherine confidentially matches Givers and Recipients and distributes the funds.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Privacy:</b> Givers and Recipients <b>will not</b> know each other's identities. Only <b>Douglas Taylor</b> and <b>Catherine Magdala</b> will have access to the names and amounts</p></li></ol><b><u><font size="4">\u2753 Recipient Instructions<br></font></u></b><p></p><p>If you are a UUCB congregant needing temporary grocery support for November and December:</p><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Registration:</b> Complete the Recipient Google Form. CLICK HERE: <a href="https://forms.gle/tGa9JwCc3ZmfhA9R9" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/tGa9JwCc3ZmfhA9R9</a></p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Prioritization:</b> You do not need to be a SNAP recipient to receive support. However, to ensure the funds go to those with the most critical need, <b>SNAP recipients will be prioritized</b> during the matching process. After SNAP recipients have been taken care of, matches are prioritized based on intersectionality. </p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p>Catherine Magdala will confidentially contact you and arrange the bi-weekly distribution of the matched gift cards.</p></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p>If you wish to register as a Giver, please follow these strict guidelines:</p><h3><u><font size="4">\U0001f4b3 Giver Instructions & Key Rules</font></u></h3><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Eligibility:</b> Participation (giving or receiving) is strictly limited to <b>UUCB congregants only</b>.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Required Payment:</b> Only <b>Visa or Mastercard gift cards</b> are accepted.</p><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>NO</b> grocery store cards, Amazon cards, online payments, cash, or checks.</p></li></ul></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Marking Cards:</b> Do not write any names on the gift card. Only write the dollar amount clearly on the card.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Submission:</b> Submit the gift card(s) directly to Catherine Magdala. She will provide you with a receipt at the time of your donation.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><b>Registration:</b> Complete the Giver Google Form to specify your set bi-weekly donation amount. CLICK HERE: <a href="https://forms.gle/eKTs8jYFCECAMupaA" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/eKTs8jYFCECAMupaA</a></p></li></ul><p></p><h3><font size="4"><u>\U0001f4e7 Questions and Submissions</u></font></h3><p></p><p>Please email <b>Catherine Magdala</b> at <b><a href="mailto:catherinemagdala613@gmail.com" target="_blank">catherinemagdala613@gmail.com</a></b> to arrange the submission of gift cards or if you have any questions.</p><p><b style="background-color:rgb(255,255,0)">IMPORTANT NOTE: Douglas Taylor and Catherine Magdala will NEVER email you or text you a request for gift cards or money! </b></p></div>
</div></div></div>