“The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person”

Emergency Winter Shelter

Our church is part of a community faith-based partnership that provides a network of care and hospitality for the homeless in the community.  We endeavor to:

• Be effective caregivers to those served by providing compassionate and innovative assistance.
• Raise awareness of the realities of homelessness and to inspire the greater community to action

This mission is accomplished by participating in the Bethlehem Emergency Shelter. BES provides shelter and meals for our homeless neighbors during the winter months at Christ Church UCC located at Center and East Market Streets, Bethlehem.

What Do We Do?

UUCLV volunteers give of their time to help run the shelter for homeless men and women 18 years and older.   We sign up to make meals, volunteer to help with showers at UCC, and on a given night manage sleeping arrangements for up to 70 guests.

How can You Help?

1.   Sign up with BES to volunteer.  Donate a meal (dinner or breakfast) or help on a shelter night.
2.   Donate money to BES or purchase and donate needed items for the homeless such as underwear, socks, gloves and hats.

Other Ways to Help:

The Sixth Street Shelter (mission: to provide the opportunity and direction for all people to become self-sufficient, productive members of the community) offers individual apartments for families experiencing homelessness. They need actual supplies for an apartment: linens, towels, wastebaskets, curtains, dishes, etc., or to donate: click here

Immigrant & Refugee Support

The Interfaith Refugee sub-committee is a group of volunteers that, in conjunction with other local churches, has supported the resettlement of a Syrian family into the local community. We have found and furnished an apartment for the family of six and purchased necessary clothing, helped them apply for all applicable support programs such as food stamps, medical assistance, green cards, etc. We have enrolled the children in school and found employment for the father. We have supplied volunteers to help with additional needs such as eleven hours a week of tutoring which has enabled them to go from no English to the point where the children are totally bilingual, and the adults are making progress. We have provided transportation to appointments, school support and chaperones to recreational activities and assistance navigating their financial needs. After two years of support, we feel proud that the family has now achieved almost total independence.  It has really taken four years for the Syrian family, but they have just purchased their first home.

We also provide support when possible for the community as needs arise such as collecting warm clothing, toiletries and shoe drives for community organizations, and helping to find and support housing for families that have been displaced from Puerto Rico by hurricane.  We have also provided support for families in need at the Donegan School, which includes money for food as well as volunteers and clothing when necessary.

If you would like to volunteer or have more questions, contact the Social Action Committee.

Our current UUCLV program initiative, in conjunction with other churches in the Lehigh Valley, is in support of an Afghan Evacuee Family. The family will need help with transportation, tutoring, financial education, and general introduction to life in the Leigh Valley. To help, please reach out to Fran and John K. 

UUCLV has also set up a separate fund for the support of monetary needs. To donate, make checks out to UUCLV and indicate Afghan family in the comment line. Send checks to Don Davis (Assistant Treasurer) at the church mailing address: 2344 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Food Pantry

For many years, the UUCLV, along with other area churches, has participated in the Pennsylvania Avenue Interfaith Food Pantry held at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 1900 Pennsylvania in Allentown. The pantry distributes food to local families whose income is under the federal poverty level. Members of the UUCLV volunteer from 5:30 to 8:00 on the third Wednesday of every other month. For more information or to volunteer, email Judith Claps.

Special Collections

Throughout the year, the Social Action Committee sponsors special drives to collect goods or money, such as a holiday mitten&glove tree, VAST collection, socks/snacks for the men’s shelter, Turning Point, and post-hurricane Puerto Rico. Congregants give freely and generously to these drives.