Church donates to bullying prevention program

Carol Cole-Lewis, Cynthia M. Parkhill and June Wilson

LAKE COUNTY — The Unitarian Universalist Community of Lake County (UUCLC) has taken a special collection that raised $144 toward bringing “Challenge Day” to Clear Lake High School (CLHS).

A parent, June Wilson, is working with high school students from Clear Lake, Lower Lake and Kelseyville high schools to bring Challenge Day to CLHS. Challenge Day asks communities to “Imagine a school where every child feels safe, loved and celebrated ... where bullying, violence and other forms of oppression are things of the past. This is the work of Challenge Day.”

Cynthia Parkhill, a member of the UUCLC, asked her congregation to take a special contribution for Challenge Day. “The reason this cause is important to me is because I was bullied and ostracized at school and there was no ‘Challenge Day’ program to promote understanding and acceptance of children who were outcast like me,” she said.

Parkhill said, she thinks Challenge Day’s “Be the Change” campaign, with its emphasis on “Notice, Choose and Act,” is compatible with the spirit of the Unitarian Universalist public advocacy campaign, “Standing on the Side of Love,” which encourages UUs to take a stand in their own communities for the dignity of every individual.

“Challenge Day” organizers continue accepting donations, which can be sent payable to “Challenge Day,” to P.O. Box 1314, Lakeport CA 95453. All donations are tax deductible. Meetings take place at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Round Table Pizza in Lakeport.

Organizers are also asking people to send brief letters supporting Challenge Day to Clear Lake High School principal Steve Gentry, 350 Lange St., Lakeport CA 95453; sgentry@clhs.lake.k12.ca.us. Learn more about Challenge Day at www.challenge-day.org.

The Unitarian Universalist community meets at 10 a.m. every Sunday at the Kelseyville Senior Center, 5245 Third St. in Kelseyville. The mission of the UUCLC is to create a religious community that fosters liberal religious living through worship, service and fellowship in order to make a difference in its members’ lives, their community and their world. For more information about the UUCLC, call 578-4243 or visit the UUCLC online at www.uuclc.org/.

Published in the Lake County Record-Bee