Each year our church recognizes a member of the North Country community who works to make ours a more humane and progressive community. This year two recipients were honored, both members of the UU Church. Janet Green and Helen Hutchinson were recognized for their outstanding work with Hospice and Planned Parenthood, and for their many contributions to making a difference in our community.
The annual social action award is given in memory of Rachel Somers Grant, who was herself a member of the UU church, a teacher, and an activist who lived in Canton from 1977 until her death in 1990. She was involved in a variety of community groups, actively engaging others in making our community more just. Rachel believed that grassroots movements were critical to achieving social change, and she was a strong advocate for causes affecting the welfare of women, families, and the environment. Her efforts garnered the respect of supporters and opponents alike.
The award presented annually in her name by the Social Action Committee celebrates the call for social justice that was central to Rachel’s volunteerism. This year’s award is especially meaningful because both Janet and Helen knew and worked with Rachel.
Both of the 2016 recipients served for many years on the board of Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley. As volunteers with hospice patients and families, they have experienced the power of human touch and human connection during difficult times. Janet and Helen also have a long history of working for and supporting Planned Parenthood, one of Rachel Grant’s particular interests; they worked in clinics, provided education and training on health issues, offered STD/HIV/AIDS education and support, and promoted women’s reproductive health services.
A native of Newfoundland, Janet Green earned a nursing diploma and immediately began work in pubic health nursing. In the North Country in addition to her work for Planned Parenthood, she was a drug and alcohol counselor and a public health nurse at the psychiatric center in Ogdensburg. She volunteered at the North Country Children’s Clinic and doing STD and HIV counseling.
Professionally Helen Hutchinson did education, training, counseling, and community outreach for Planned Parenthood and was active in pro-choice advocacy. As a 21-year Hospice volunteer, she focused on patient services and respite care.
The awards were presented as a part of the church’s regular service on Sunday, June 6. At that service the church’s periodic Social Action Shared Offering was taken to benefit the work of Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley.
Photo caption: The Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton recently recognized two of its members for their extraordinary contributions to the North Country community with the Rachel Somers Grant Social Action Award. Pictured here after the presentation are, left to right: Brian Gardham, former director of Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley; award recipients Janet Green and Helen Hutchinson; UU Social Action Committee Co-Chair Eileen Raymond.