First UU Church of San Diego
  • Home
  • Worship
    • Messages
    • Online Worship
    • Participate in a Service
    • Principles & Sources
  • Connections
    • Welcome Newcomers! > >
      • Visiting First UU
      • What is UUism?
      • Become a Member
    • Groups from A-Z > >
      • Affinity Groups
      • Archives
      • Art Guild
      • Looking Glass Theatre
      • Meditation
      • Men's Fellowship >
        • UUMF Renewal Registration
      • Neighborhood Groups
      • UU Seniors
      • Wisdom Circles
    • Member Networking
    • Right Relations
    • Listening Circles
  • Music
    • Vocal Ensembles
    • Handbell Ensemble
  • Education
    • Children's RE > >
      • Family Ministry Library
      • Children's RE Registration
    • Adult Faith Formation
    • Family Ministry > >
      • All Church Camp
    • Youth Programs
    • Young Adult & Campus Ministry
    • Our Whole Lives (OWL)
    • SD Co-op Preschool
  • Programs
    • Front Street Productions
    • Caring
    • Food Pantry
    • Larger UU Connections > >
      • Denominational Relations
      • Friends of De Benneville Pines
      • Philippines Partner Church
      • Transylvania Partner Church
      • UU Service Committee
    • Leadership Development
    • Social Justice > >
      • Social Justice Executive Team
      • Climate Justice
      • Generosity Offerings
      • Organizing for Justice
      • Palestine-Israel Justice Group
      • Rainbow Action
      • Reproductive Justice
      • Sanctuary
      • SOLACE
      • Uptown Community Service Center
    • Ushering
  • Giving
    • Donations > >
      • Pledging
      • Planned Giving
      • Donate Your Vehicle
      • Donate Flowers
    • Dining for Dollars D4$
    • Shop and Support!
  • News
    • Blog
    • The Window - Weekly Bulletin
    • First Words Magazine
  • About
    • About First UU
    • For Members > >
      • Member's Login
      • Board Login
    • Hillcrest Campus
    • South Bay Campus
    • Our Ministers
    • Our Staff
    • Calendar
    • Our Sustainable Future
    • Facilities >
      • Facilities Overview
      • Ceremonies
      • Facilities Use Request Form
    • Forms
    • Governance > >
      • Article II
      • 8th Principle
      • Journey Toward Wholeness >
        • Black History Month
      • Strategic Planning > >
        • Funding our Future
        • Visioning The Future
      • Our History
      • 150th Celebrationn
  • Contact
    • Ministers and Staff
    • Website Feedback Form
    • MAG Contact Form
    • Privacy and Terms

BLOG

From South Bay Food Pantry Founder to Pantry Coordinator Emeritus: Appreciating the Contributions of Maureen McNair

5/4/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Nina Douglass
​Maureen McNair’s imminent departure to her new home in Northern CA is a seismic event for FUUSD South Bay Food Pantry volunteers and the many clients who have come to know her.  As Deirdre Lonergan notes, “Maureen has been a “FORCE of NATURE because of the massive and persistent energy it took to build this community...”  While the pantry teams will grapple - and perhaps fumble at times - as we adjust to Maureen’s transition, her remarkable leadership and legacy will continue to inspire us.

When my husband Jeff and I began attending South Bay services in 2019, Maureen welcomed us warmly and helped ease us into the congregation by introducing us to others.  She also shared with us her experience of encountering hunger among students she had taught in the local schools, and her vision of addressing area food insecurity by creating a small food pantry at the church. Before long, we were attending food handler trainings and joining other FUUSD members to discuss how to best apply our Unitarian Universalist values to working with pantry clients. Jenner Daelyn provided guidance and even a video based on her own deep experience in addressing food insecurity. 

Committed to providing pantry clients with a variety of high quality foods, Maureen searched out and collaborated with multiple agencies to source food, all of which have complex policies, regulations and practices.  She developed relationships with The San Diego Food Bank, Feeding San Diego, I Love to Glean and other food and community support programs.  Maureen has been dedicated to meeting diverse needs and circumstances of local clients by creating programing for unhoused people, church families lacking transportation, and people challenged by the high costs of diapers and period products.  Maureen recognized the need to establish strong relationships with the owner/operators of the small businesses in the strip mall where the pantry operates, and with the property manager, whose collaboration has been vital to its success.

With the onset of the Covid pandemic, many volunteers (including Jeff and me) retreated from pantry work in order to quarantine.  Despite her own vulnerability to the virus, Maureen decided to continue operating the pantry, helped by a dedicated handful of volunteers. Says Sara Ferguson,  “As a pantry volunteer, I always felt safe because she was on top of every COVID policy change. We went from wiping every surface with disinfectant and wearing a mask, any mask, to face shields, to K95s. She made sure we had air filters and extra masks for the clients. When vaccines came out, she made sure any pantry volunteer who wanted one could get an early place in line as an 'essential worker.' Her flexibility and care for the people at the pantry has been remarkable.”

South Bay families have been disproportionately impacted by illness and death during the pandemic. Many found themselves designated “essential workers” during the pandemic, putting them at higher risk, while others lost their jobs or could not work for other reasons. As their food insecurity rose, the number of families seeking pantry assistance grew rapidly.  To accommodate the increased need, additional food was sourced and increasingly staged and distributed from the temporarily unutilized worship and social spaces of the South Bay campus.  By early 2022, the pantry had been serving over 250 households each Saturday, in addition to diaper distribution on Sunday mornings.

In recent months, Maureen has worked with pantry volunteers and church staff and leaders to transfer pantry storage and operations out of the church spaces and into an adjacent suite, leaving the church spaces ready for resumed gatherings when full reopening is advisable.

​Pantry volunteers have been reflecting on Maureen’s work, impact, and legacy.   “I'm truly amazed and honored to be entrusted with some pantry responsibilities as life takes her elsewhere and I hope to live up to her example,” wrote Deirdre Lonergan. “My son (who is much smarter than me on this) pointed out: ‘goes to show you, Mom: Maureen is always right.’”  Says Peggy Holl, “She did an amazing job of organizing the pantry, getting grants and making it what it is today. She and John picked up 2,000 lbs. of spinach one Friday afternoon to distribute on Saturday,  and shared it with other pantries. She always thanked us for our service, whatever it was, and was open to suggestions about pantry improvements.”  Sara Ferguson recalls that Maureen “handcrafted ornaments for all the volunteers two years in a row. One year she made hand knitted vegetables. Her hand knitted peppers are the pride of my Christmas tree.” 

Lety Reyes, a community-based volunteer, offers this tribute to Maureen: 
M= Mindful of other's needs
A=  Appreciates everyones help
U= Unconditional LOVE
R= Reliable (gets things done)
E= Energetic
E= Exemplifying
N=Nurturing

Maureen’s work has truly exemplified the mission statement of FUUSD, helping us all to “act on our values to help heal the world.” We thank her for this precious gift to FUUSD.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    What's New?

    The First UU Church of San Diego blog is your resource for upcoming events and past event recaps. Leave us a comment to let us know what you think!

    Categories

    All
    150th Celebration
    Aging
    Announcements
    Art & Collectibles Auction
    Black Lives Matter
    Board Of Trustees
    Camp De Benneville Pines
    Careers
    Climate Change
    Climate Justice
    COVID Caring
    Democracy In Action
    Dining For Dollar$
    Events
    First UU History
    First Words Stories
    Food Pantry
    Free Family Friendly Events
    Front Street Productions
    General Assembly
    Gun Violence
    Holiday Events
    Holiday Greetings
    Immigrants Rights
    Intercultural Workshops
    International Women's Day
    Journey Towards Wholeness
    JTW
    Kids Activities
    LGBTQIA
    Marriage Equality
    Meditation Mondays
    Meet A Volunteer
    Minister Letters
    On The Side Of Love
    OSF
    Partner Churches
    Pledge Drive
    Press Releases
    Racial Justice
    Religious Education
    Reopening Team
    Rev. Alix Klingenberg
    Rev. Carolyn Owen Towle
    Rev. Carolyn Owen-Towle
    Rev. Everett Howe
    Rev. Ian Riddell
    Rev. Jennifer Channin
    Rev. Justine Sullivan
    Rev. Kathleen Owens
    Rev. Omega Burckhardt
    Rev. Tania Marquez
    Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
    Sabbatical Notes
    Sanctuary
    Social Justice Actions
    South Bay Campus
    Staying Connected
    Stevie Carmody
    Unitarian Universalism 101
    UU Parenting
    UUs In Action
    UU Women
    Visioning The Future
    Volunteer Opportunities

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    July 2024
    May 2024
    March 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    April 2017
    December 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    October 2014
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    March 2011
    October 2010
    September 2008
    June 2002

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
(619) 298-9978  |  Staff Directory
We have two campuses:
Hillcrest campus: 4190 Front Street, San Diego, CA. 92103  |  South Bay campus: 970 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA. 91911
  For GPS to our Hillcrest Campus, please use 298 W Arbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92103
For detailed directions, parking and more see our Contact page.
Picture
©First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego. All rights reserved. Admin.
  • Home
  • Worship
    • Messages
    • Online Worship
    • Participate in a Service
    • Principles & Sources
  • Connections
    • Welcome Newcomers! > >
      • Visiting First UU
      • What is UUism?
      • Become a Member
    • Groups from A-Z > >
      • Affinity Groups
      • Archives
      • Art Guild
      • Looking Glass Theatre
      • Meditation
      • Men's Fellowship >
        • UUMF Renewal Registration
      • Neighborhood Groups
      • UU Seniors
      • Wisdom Circles
    • Member Networking
    • Right Relations
    • Listening Circles
  • Music
    • Vocal Ensembles
    • Handbell Ensemble
  • Education
    • Children's RE > >
      • Family Ministry Library
      • Children's RE Registration
    • Adult Faith Formation
    • Family Ministry > >
      • All Church Camp
    • Youth Programs
    • Young Adult & Campus Ministry
    • Our Whole Lives (OWL)
    • SD Co-op Preschool
  • Programs
    • Front Street Productions
    • Caring
    • Food Pantry
    • Larger UU Connections > >
      • Denominational Relations
      • Friends of De Benneville Pines
      • Philippines Partner Church
      • Transylvania Partner Church
      • UU Service Committee
    • Leadership Development
    • Social Justice > >
      • Social Justice Executive Team
      • Climate Justice
      • Generosity Offerings
      • Organizing for Justice
      • Palestine-Israel Justice Group
      • Rainbow Action
      • Reproductive Justice
      • Sanctuary
      • SOLACE
      • Uptown Community Service Center
    • Ushering
  • Giving
    • Donations > >
      • Pledging
      • Planned Giving
      • Donate Your Vehicle
      • Donate Flowers
    • Dining for Dollars D4$
    • Shop and Support!
  • News
    • Blog
    • The Window - Weekly Bulletin
    • First Words Magazine
  • About
    • About First UU
    • For Members > >
      • Member's Login
      • Board Login
    • Hillcrest Campus
    • South Bay Campus
    • Our Ministers
    • Our Staff
    • Calendar
    • Our Sustainable Future
    • Facilities >
      • Facilities Overview
      • Ceremonies
      • Facilities Use Request Form
    • Forms
    • Governance > >
      • Article II
      • 8th Principle
      • Journey Toward Wholeness >
        • Black History Month
      • Strategic Planning > >
        • Funding our Future
        • Visioning The Future
      • Our History
      • 150th Celebrationn
  • Contact
    • Ministers and Staff
    • Website Feedback Form
    • MAG Contact Form
    • Privacy and Terms