The United Thank Offering is a program of the national Episcopal Church, with a vital local program in the Diocese of Oregon. It began in 1889 as the United Offering, spearheaded by General Convention delegates Ida Soule and Julia Emery. In the early days offerings supported expanding the mission of the church. Grants supported training women in the church, supporting and sending women missionaries domestically and overseas and funding the building of schools, hospitals and church buildings all over the USA. The United Offering became the United Thank Offering in the year 1919. That triennium the offering totaled $1,371,537. In the 1943 triennium the UTO offering surpassed the one million dollar mark for the first time and in 1949 it had increased to almost 2 million dollars. UTO begins this new millennium by granting over $3 million.

In Oregon, between the years of 2000-2006, congregations have contributed $62,229 to UTO, which disperses grants back to contributing dioceses. Programs such as Rahab's Sisters, Trinity Respite Care in Ashland, St. Michael/San Miguel in Newberg (facilities improvements), Green Pastures Harvest Kitchen in Cave Junction (St. Matthias), Human Solutions (Gresham) and transitional housing in Grants Pass have all been awarded UTO grants.

Contact:
Ms. Florette Lewis
florettelewis@aol.com