Westside
Unitarian
Universalist
Church
Love Unites - Caring Connects - Community Thrives
Justice & Generosity
To live our values to empower others, Westside partners with several local organizations that focus on justice, equity, and improving the lives of others.
Justice & Generosity Partners
This program focuses on developing long-term partnerships with worthwhile organizations in the Knoxville area. Not only do we contribute financially to these groups, we work with them to educate ourselves about the community needs they support, and contribute our time and energy to helping them perform their missions. Westside has four Justice & Generosity Partners, one for each quarter of the year. See below for more information.
Quarter 1: The Bottom
The Bottom is a Black-owned, Black-centered community center in Knoxville. They offer art classes, podcast space, summer camps, a book store, and more. While not affiliated directly with Westside, we offer occasional financial support through our Justice & Generosity program, and as-needed support for their endeavors, including promotion of events and volunteer resources. We hope to continue to grow this relationship in the future.
Learn more about The Bottom at their website.
One of our members at a
Community
Appreciation
event at
The Bottom.
Quarter 2: Knox Pride Center
Originally founded in 2006 as the East Tennessee Equality Council (Inc.),
the organization has evolved beyond its annual celebration to become the Knox Pride Center. This expansion has allowed them to further their
mission as educators, communicators, and representatives of the LGBTQIA+ community through their community outreach and facilitated events.
The Knox Pride Center serves as a central hub for individuals seeking
connection and resources within the Knoxville LGBTQIA+ community and
beyond. The center offers a variety of resources, referrals, and services.
Additionally, it hosts events and meetings and provides space for other
groups to gather in support of their causes. Since opening in October 2021, the center has become a place for individuals to learn about the queer community, access gender-affirming care and life skill support, utilize the food pantry, or shop at the Thriftique.
In addition to the center, the organization continues to host the annual
Knox Pride Fest, an open celebration featuring music, entertainment, and
speakers focused on promoting equality and inclusion for all. Throughout
the festival weekend, vendors have the opportunity to share information
about their organizations or businesses, offer items of interest, and engage with the community to promote inclusion and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies in Knoxville and surrounding areas.
Visit the Knox Pride website.
Quarter 3: Keep the TN River Beautiful
Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves as the first Keep America Beautiful affiliate in the nation to focus solely on a river.
Our mission is to educate and inspire people to take action to create a clean, healthy, beautiful Tennessee River for generations to come.
We seek to achieve this mission by hosting river cleanups and other programming not to be custodians of the river, but to show our volunteers the impact litter has on our waterways and what they can do to make a difference. Our volunteer cleanups are held along the 652-mile Tennessee River and its tributaries. The area spans into the seven states of TN, AL, MS, KY, GA, NC, and VA.
Our river is impacted either positively or negatively by all parts of our society—whether it be residential, commercial, governmental, or industrial—and therefore Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful strives to work with stakeholders in each of these facets to ensure the Tennessee River remains beautiful and thriving for all to enjoy.
For more information, visit their website.
Quarter 4: Mobile Meals
Mobile Meals is a vital program of
the CAC Office on Aging that serves as the official Meals on Wheels provider for Knoxville and Knox County. Their mission is to combat hunger
and isolation by delivering nutritious meals and friendly smiles to our homebound senior neighbors.
Mobile Meals provides a critical lifeline to a vulnerable segment of our
community. Every weekday, a dedicated team of over 100 volunteers
delivers hot meals to more than 1,100 seniors across every single zip code
in Knox County.
The Impact by the Numbers:
The statistics highlight the profound need for this service and the incredible
impact of the program:
Living Alone: A staggering 63% of meal recipients live by themselves,
making the volunteer's visit a crucial point of social contact. Age: 75% of
the seniors served are over the age of 70, with 40% being over the age of
80. Income: Over half of the individuals served have a household annual
income of $20,000 or less. Eligibility: The program serves citizens aged 60
or older who are unable to cook for themselves and have no one available
to prepare meals for them.
For these individuals, Mobile Meals is more than just food; it's a source of
comfort, a safety check, and a connection to the outside world. By
supporting this organization, we are directly helping our elderly neighbors
live with greater independence and dignity in their own homes.
Learn more at the Mobile Meals website
This link will take you to our Vanco donation page. Donations will be collected throughout the quarter for the current Justice & Generosity partner. At the end of the quarter, we will issue all collected donations.
Would you like to donate to Westside instead?
Click here to visit our Donation Page.
Generosity Project:
Family Promise
What a fantastic evening making a real difference with Family Promise! Our amazing Westside volunteers (some pictured here!) cooked, served, and even stayed overnight to support families experiencing homelessness. We're so proud of our long-standing partnership with Family Promise, an incredible organization keeping families together by utilizing local churches for week-long shelter. Mark your calendars – Westside will team up with First Farragut UMC and Family Promise again soon!
Generosity Project: Bridging the Gap
To continue her vital work, she’s asking for donations of the following much-needed items. You can purchase these items and we will get them to Samantha. Or, use this link to purchase the items through Amazon and they'll be shipped right to the Sheriff's office.
Men’s medium underwear (new) – urgently needed
Socks – for both men and women
Leggings – various sizes
Men’s pants – sizes 32, 34, 36, and 38
Sweats – shirts and pants, all sizes are appreciated
Shampoo and conditioner
Hair brushes and combs
Deodorant
Toothpaste
T-shirts and hoodies
Shoes – all sizes and styles welcome
These simple items provide dignity and comfort to individuals as they take steps toward recovery and reintegration into society.
Samantha’s work reminds us that compassion, paired with action, changes lives.
Samantha Monday is a true lifeline for individuals working to rebuild their lives. As a Substance Case Manager with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Samantha tirelessly advocates for inmates struggling with addiction, crime, and challenging pasts. Whether she’s in court, on the phone, or making plans for housing, treatment, and mental health care, Samantha’s compassion and dedication provide hope to hundreds of people looking for a second chance. But Samantha cannot do this work alone. Many of those she helps lack access to basic necessities as they transition toward a healthier and more stable life.
Bridging the Gap Amazon Wish List
