MLK Day of Service

Join us for our 30th annual Day of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, held Monday, January 18, 2027. Several hundred volunteers come together each year to serve community organizations — preparing food, making cards and decorations, painting, cleaning, gardening, and advocating for justice through letters and demonstrations. If your organization would like to receive service from us, or you’d like to sponsor or participate, check back each December for details, or email mlkday@usguu.org.

Ending Racism Committee (ERC)

Active at USG since 2000, the ERC works to identify and fight racism in ourselves and our communities through readings, discussions, workshops, trainings, healing practices, teach-ins, service, and public witness. Vision: a society in which racial justice and equality are the reality for all. Mission: dismantling racism in all its forms — individual, institutional, and systemic — through self-examination, education, advocacy, public witness, and service. The ERC also maintains a lending library of over 100 books, available Sundays after service and in the Sullivan lobby. Contact Treva Burger at endingracism@usguu.org, or join ERC Zoom meetings at bit.ly/USGEndingRacism.

End Gun Violence

USG’s End Gun Violence group tracks common-sense firearm legislation and creates opportunities for legislative advocacy in Harrisburg and local communities, working as part of the UUJusticePA coalition. Get involved: endgunviolence@usguu.org.

Hunger and Housing

We collect nonperishable food donations for St. Vincent’s Food Pantry every second Tuesday — bring smaller containers with visible expiration dates to USG on Sunday mornings or weekdays 10am–2pm. USG also hosts families seeking permanent housing through Family Promise of Philadelphia, and participates annually in Rebuilding Philly block builds (typically mid-October). Contact rebuildingphilly@usguu.org.

Immigration Justice

USG’s Immigration Justice group works to protect Philadelphia’s status as a sanctuary city and support our immigrant neighbors, coordinating with the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia. We’re currently collecting hygiene and household items for refugees served by the Nationalities Service Center — drop donations in the gray bin near the food pantry collection, or give via our Amazon wishlist. [Sign up for the Immigration Justice newsletter →]

Vigils

Join our weekly vigils in front of USG (6511 Lincoln Drive), all welcome, pets included:

Black Lives Matter Vigil — Tuesdays, 5–6pm (4–5pm after daylight savings ends in November)
We Stand with Ukraine Vigil — Fridays, 5–6pm (4–5pm after daylight savings ends in November)

Check our Facebook event pages for weather updates and details.