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The work of providing sanctuary for immigrants and asylum seekers is demanding. Cedar Lane UU Church in Bethesda, Maryland, has been hosting Rosa Gutierrez Lopez for nine months, a commitment that requires significant volunteer support. The Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, the congregation’s senior minister, said, "We have people putting in four-hour shifts or more during the day. . . . At night, we have companions for the children. Then we have people who take the children out to activities or outings like shopping for school. We have people engaged in going to buy groceries. Then we have people who make food. And this is every day. It's not like you do it once and then you're done." (NPR, September 1)
More from congregations
The Church of the River, a UU congregation in Memphis, Tennessee, has begun raising funds to create a family friendly space on part of its property next to a newly constructed bike and pedestrian path. Rod Starns, the chair of the church’s public relations team, said, “I would hope to see a lot of kids enjoying a really beautiful playground, playset, that would be accessible . . . that their parents could sit and relax and watch their kids playing in a safe, fenced-in area before or after they cross the Big River Crossing.” (Memphis Commercial Appeal, August 30)
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown hosted a vigil on International Overdose Awareness Day, remembering the lives lost and raising awareness about drug overdose deaths. (WKBN, August 29)