By Bev Thierwechter

Often, I hear about different avenues to support the work of TJMCUU. I see many opportunities: including RE, PACEM, Social Justice, Soup Kitchen and more. Yet, like you, I am very aware of the very real financial needs of our church home. In addition to my own gift of financial support, I try to find creative ways to do more in this regard. One way I choose to add financial support to our church is through the UU Bed and Breakfast (B and B) Program. I am a member of the TJMC team serving as B and B hosts for traveling UU members. We open our doors for fellow UUers to stay in our home(s) overnight (or several nights) and provide them a light breakfast. This service is provided throughout our UU community across the country.

The B and B Program is designed such that the host provides a traveling UU member a place to spend the night and breakfast. Instead of the host being compensated for their hospitality, the church receives the payment. No money is handled by the host, it is managed by the B and B coordinator. There is a B and B listing that UU members can purchase that provides information and UU community contact sources about where they can stay when traveling across the United States.

I have found this to be a very easy way to financially add to my support of TJMCUU. It costs me almost nothing, except for the expense of coffee, conversation and a light breakfast. My gain is that I have had the pleasure of meeting some very interesting, likeminded people, all of whom I enjoyed getting to know. The church’s gain is it receives the B and B fee for the travelers’ stay in my home.

Over the past year, I hosted people for 12 nights, bringing the church close to a thousand dollars that otherwise, it would not have seen. I have met wonderful people, learned about new places to travel, books to read and had new insights from these experiences. I have had nothing but positive experiences doing this volunteer activity. I encourage you to try offering this hospitality as a way to give back to TJMCUU. It’s fun. You may enjoy it as much as I do!