[Staff] Fwd: UUCB Mutual Aid Grocery Buddy System: November & December

[Douglas Taylor]

Hello staff,
I wanted you all to also be aware of this program Catherine and I are
experimenting with over the next two months.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Catherine Magdala <catherinemagdala613 at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Subject: UUCB Mutual Aid Grocery Buddy System: November & December
To: Program Council <Program at uubinghamton.org>, UUCB Board <
board at uubinghamton.org>, Social Action HUUB Group <huub at uubinghamton.org>, <
uucb-rainbow at googlegroups.com>, HeaRT Team <heart at uubinghamton.org>
Cc: Douglas Taylor <dtaylor at uubinghamton.org>


✨ UUCB Mutual Aid Grocery Buddy System: November & December

We are excited to launch a confidential, short-term initiative rooted in
our values of community care and mutual support: the *UUCB Mutual Aid
Grocery Buddy System*.

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.

*🤝 How It Works*

This initiative operates as a completely *confidential* buddy system:

   1.

   *Register:* Congregants register as either a *Giver* or a *Recipient* using
   the appropriate Google Form.
   2.

   *Donate:* Givers purchase a set, bi-weekly amount on a *Visa or
   Mastercard gift card* (details below).
   3.

   *Submit:* Givers give the gift card(s) to *Catherine Magdala*.
   4.

   *Match:* Catherine confidentially matches Givers and Recipients and
   distributes the funds.
   5.

   *Privacy:* Givers and Recipients *will not* know each other's
   identities. Only *Douglas Taylor* and *Catherine Magdala* will have
   access to the names and amounts


*❓ Recipient Instructions*

If you are a UUCB congregant needing temporary grocery support for November
and December:

   -

   *Registration:* Complete the Recipient Google Form. CLICK HERE:
   https://forms.gle/tGa9JwCc3ZmfhA9R9
   -

   *Prioritization:* 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, *SNAP recipients will be prioritized* during the matching process.
   After SNAP recipients have been taken care of, matches are prioritized
   based on intersectionality.
   -

   Catherine Magdala will confidentially contact you and arrange the
   bi-weekly distribution of the matched gift cards.

If you wish to register as a Giver, please follow these strict guidelines:
*💳 Giver Instructions & Key Rules*

   -

   *Eligibility:* Participation (giving or receiving) is strictly limited
   to *UUCB congregants only*.
   -

   *Required Payment:* Only *Visa or Mastercard gift cards* are accepted.
   -

      *NO* grocery store cards, Amazon cards, online payments, cash, or
      checks.
      -

   *Marking Cards:* Do not write any names on the gift card. Only write the
   dollar amount clearly on the card.
   -

   *Submission:* Submit the gift card(s) directly to Catherine Magdala. She
   will provide you with a receipt at the time of your donation.
   -

   *Registration:* Complete the Giver Google Form to specify your set
   bi-weekly donation amount. CLICK HERE:
   https://forms.gle/eKTs8jYFCECAMupaA

*📧 Questions and Submissions*

Please email *Catherine Magdala* at *catherinemagdala613 at gmail.com
<catherinemagdala613 at gmail.com>* to arrange the submission of gift cards or
if you have any questions.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Douglas Taylor and Catherine Magdala will NEVER email you
or text you a request for gift cards or money! *
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