History of Guest at Your Table

A couple of years ago I did the children's story as part of our Guest program. When I reached the part of asking who helped this woman get water, and I was going to tell them UUSC did, one of the younger children shouted out, "We did, because we put money in the boxes." It was such a great moment!

Davalene Cooper,
Old Ship Church First Parish, Hingham, Mass.

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Guest at Your Table has been an important part of UUSC and UU culture since 1975, when it first began.

The program made its UUSC debut following a trip made by Warren Salinger, then UUSC institutional advancement director, to the Netherlands. While there, he was inspired by an organization's program Gast aan Tafel, which educated supporters about the organization's work, while raising vital funds. The program used colorful boxes that the whole family could enjoy. Salinger immediately began working with UUSC staff to adapt the idea for use in UU homes nationwide — and even worldwide!

Each year since 1975 involvement in Guest at Your Table has grown, strengthening UU connections to our shared principles and helping to challenge injustice throughout the world.

Today, nearly every UU congregation in the United States, and some around the world, participate in this important tradition. Together, members of these congregations help raise more funds and memberships each year to support UUSC's mission than any other initiative.