All money collected from non-pledge offerings on Sunday goes to a different designated organization each month. You can also make a Compassion Offering contribution online which will go to the current month’s organization. You may also send checks directly to the church at 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison WI 53711. To contribute to previous groups featured in Compassion Offerings, contact the groups directly. Archive of past Compassion Offerings.

Recipient organizations of the monthly Compassion Offering are selected by the Ministry of Christian Witness and Service (CWS). Any member of the ORUCC congregation or pastoral staff may nominate a recipient organization that falls within our guidelines. To review the guidelines and suggest an organization to be considered for a monthly Compassion Offering at ORUCC, please read and complete this form.

Note: To view the video for the group receiving this month’s Compassion Offering, you may need to click on the title to view the original post.

October Compassion Offering: The ORUCC Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund

By Orchard Ridge UCC

October 1, 2024

ORUCC has a long tradition of supporting our social services partners in their work with neighbors in need.  Post pandemic and the end of federal CARES funds have left some of our neediest ORUCC neighbors struggling to keep up with inflationary food prices and skyrocketing rent increases.   

Established in 2020, the ORUCC Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund helps support our neighbors with Woodman’s gift cards distributed by staff from Joining Forces for Families (JFF), Commonwealth Development (CWD), and Early Childhood Development (ECI).  There is now a need to replenish this fund to continue this vital support.  

ORUCC member Loretta Swanson and Community Social Worker, Eric Alvin are our lead social services team who distribute the gift cards to other neighborhood case workers.  Loretta reports how a $20-$50 gift card can help a family through the holiday season and beyond:   

• To cover the cost of extra food needed while children are home during holiday breaks
• To help pay for gas to allow a parent to travel for a job or for an interview

These gift cards help in so many ways. Please consider a donation to the Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund to provide direct support to families and individuals in our neighborhood. Your donation is truly appreciated, this 2024 holiday season and beyond. 

Thank you in advance for your donation to benefit The ORUCC Thanksgiving Year-Round Fund as our October Compassion Offering recipient.