Fall 2026 Call: The proceeds of the Fall 2026 Cascadia Chalice Lighters Call will go to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon in Bend, Oregon to replace aging stoves in their fellowship kitchen.
Why the kitchen matters to UUFCO and to Bend:
“Bend has seen both of our local prep kitchens close since the pandemic. Many of the cooks and chefs who use our space are preparing food to serve our unhoused or food- insecure neighbors; at least 95% of our event rentals are non-profits. A kitchen is at the heart of so many thriving homes, and we want our UU home to be no different — to gather around a crowded table, open our doors to new friends, and feed our neighbors.”
Why the current stove has become a problem:
“Our refurbished gas stove is of unknown age. Its ten pilot lights frequently go out, wasting natural gas. Our Operations Director tells us, ‘The first thing I do every morning is check the stove to see how many of the pilot lights have gone out.’ We rent our religious-education spaces to a preschool five days a week, and we are concerned about long-term NO₂ exposure — along with the risk of fire.”
Opportunities for Unitarian Universalist leaders and active members to build relationships beyond their own congregations have become limited due to the dissolution of the PNWD and the pandemic. The Cascadia Board believes that such relationships give lay leaders a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves, reduces feelings of isolation, and increases the exchange of ideas that help keep our programs and services fresh and exciting.
During the pandemic, Cascadia encouraged collaborative proposals and funded three creative, successful initiatives. Each of these brought representatives of three or more congregations together. The Cascadia Board is committed to promoting more engagements like these between congregations.
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