Our Caring Network Unitarian Society of Hartford

Our Caring Network (March 02) With Some Modifications

I suspect our Society has always had a “caring network” ... thoughtful, aware individuals who spring into action to rally around those in trouble, but it was usually considered to be mainly the Parish Work of the minister. There was no formal “Caring Network” when I had my year-from-hell in 1994 ... double mastectomies, high dose chemotherapy, higher dose radiation ... and yet I think it was a year before I had to shop for or cook another meal. At least 3/4 of that support came from members of our Society, along with cards and calls and books and flowers. As the healthy member I was when I joined, I must admit I never knew such support was an integral part of our community of faith, because if you didn't need it, you didn't see it happening.

Today's Caring Network grew out of the Pastoral Care Committee which was formed to help with pastoral visits during Rev. Jon Luopa's sabbatical. When Jon came back the group disbanded, but the idea of members supporting fellow members in time of need has stayed with us. As we grow as a congregation, learning to minister to each other becomes an increasingly important part of our religious and community experience.

It is fitting that the Caring Network service on March 24th should have as its featured speaker the Head of the Greater Hartford American Red Cross. The Caring Network is becoming our Society's own small-scale version of the Red Cross ... always ready to help those in need, while largely invisible to us when our luck is good.

There are five categories of tasks overseen by the Caring Network at this time ... and over seventy volunteers on their database. The five categories overseen by the Network are:

Tasks:
Communications:
Food:
Emotional Support:
Memorial Services:
Data Support:
Publicity:
Co-Chairs:

Requests for help may be routed through the office.

Reverend Cooley recently gave a training session to the Caring Network volunteers, dealing with such issues as how to present yourself to someone you don't know, the mechanics of visiting people in times of need, ethics, confidentiality, and sensitive listening. The Caring Network committee believes volunteers benefit from re-training at regular intervals.

The Caring Network tries to do one big project a year. Last year it was “The Later Journey ... Are We Prepared?” Seminar. This year it is the Red Cross service. They would also like to organize a cooking party in the fall to stock the freezer and be ready for unforeseen needs.

The Caring Network is considering ways to become even more effective, and to get the congregation more involved. For many types of help, a regional approach makes more sense. They would like to see a more formalized mechanism for publicizing personal milestones ... birth, death, achievements. etc. Our congregation is not presently accustomed to sharing in this way , but the Caring Network Committee feels the Newsletter could develop a feature which invites the congregation to celebrate their milestones.

“You get back by giving” is the most important message

Let us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 2/21/05)