Saturday of Service
In 2018, we held our first Saturday of Service. Some 90 church members of all ages gathered their energies, talents and love of people, animals and plants, even for our very first organized day of service. Following a rallying breakfast and benediction in the Parish Hall, volunteers from the church volunteered at seven sites, including Collective Roots, Deer Hollow Farm, Pandemonium and Haven House. A large lively and dedicated crowd based in the Parish Hall assembled bags for female veterans through Operation Care & Comfort, created exquisite cards for shut-ins and our troops overseas, and made cozy fleece blankets for shelter animals.
Youth Service Trip
Every year youth and adults from Foothills go on a Service Trip. Recently our youth have chosen to focus on two main justice issues, housing and the environment. Recent trips have included building housing for the Navajo Nation and community building projects in Smith River, CA. Read more about the Service Trip and see photos from recent years here.
Justice Issues Study Group
The Justice Issues Study Group was formed several years ago to examine the UCC tradition of working for Justice in our society. As a group we aim to become more informed and to act on issues of injustice in our community. Recently forums have been held on Justice issues in the Santa Clara County Courts, laws around the LGBTQ community, homelessness and affordable housing. At present we are delving further into the latter two areas. We plan on developing more Days of Service to provide church members and friends with the chance to better understand the human cost and the human face of unaddressed Justice issues so that they, too, may feel inspired to help solve local problems.
Relay for Life
Foothills joins Relay For Life each year to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. We ask our church members to consider participating in the event and/or to make a donation to support this ongoing fight against cancer. We hold a Luminaria decoration party, with fun, music, food, fluids, and fellowship, as we share fond memories and make Luminaria bags. The Luminaria are simple white paper bags, decorated and dedicated in memory of someone who has had cancer. In 2019, there were over 150 bags decorated and placed around the track at the Relay for Life event and Foothills Congregational Church raised $9,434.00 for the ACS.
Operation Care & Comfort
Operation Care and Comfort (OCC) is an all volunteer 501(c) (3) organization that provides support and comfort to units of deployed U.S. military service members, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflict regions. Periodically, Foothills members and friends collect items that range from hygiene supplies to food, flip flops, holiday cards, newspapers and Halloween candy and then participate in packing the items together to be sent to our troops abroad. Many hands make quick work and you can be sure that our troops appreciate every item they receive.
Day of Donation
Beginning in 1962, Foothills held an annual rummage sale. The final sale was held in 2018, raising over $14,000. Read more about the sale and its many benefits to the community in the Los Altos Town Crier. In 2019, in lieu of the rummage sale, the church held a Day of Donation. Over 11,640 pounds of goods were donated by Foothills members, raising over $1600 for the Mentor Tutoring Connection.
School and Water project in Eregi, Kenya
Over the past several years, the Foothills congregation has helped raise and provide funds for the purchase of books and educational materials for the Ikhulili Primary School in Eregi, Kenya — the birthplace to church member Stanley Imbali. More recently, they have funded the laying of pipe to provide potable water to the village. Click here for more information on these projects.