Unity in the Community
We serve the larger community through hands-on work projects, fundraisers, and special drives. By taking part in these outreach efforts, you can help spread love in the world.
Habitat for Humanity
We have worked with Habitat for Humanity of Wake County since 2014. During these six-week projects, teams from Unity join with volunteers from other faith communities to build houses for those in need. Unity also originated a project in which children paint messages of love on insulating baffles for the ceilings of Habitat houses. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Contact Mark Boggs.
Undie Sunday
Every February, Unity celebrates Undie Sunday, when congregants bring new underwear to be delivered to the men and women at Healing Transitions centers and the women at Helen Wright Center in Raleigh. Contact Karen Thorsen.
Blessing Bags
In fall, we collect travel-size items — toiletries, socks, reading glasses, combs, brushes, nail clippers, and the like — which our youth sort and pack into “blessing bags” for the Women’s Shelter and Oak City Cares, a facility serving the homeless in downtown Raleigh. Contact Joset Wright Lacy.
Eastern North Carolina Food Bank
Several times each year, a team from Unity spends a Saturday at the Food Bank sorting produce, boxing frozen items, and helping out as needed. This is a fun and popular project for an organization that provides food to thousands of low-income families in Eastern North Carolina. Contact Nancy Goodyear.
Angel Tree
Every Christmas, Unity takes part in the Angel Tree project organized by the Wake County Guardian ad Litem program to provide gifts for children in foster care. We receive wish lists from children, put their names on our Angel Tree, and congregants choose children and buy and wrap their gifts. This is the most joyful Christmas shopping you’ll ever do. Contact Jane Johnson and Nancy Goodyear.
Prayer Books
In the wake of devastating natural disasters, our congregation has come together to support those in need. After an earthquake in Haiti and hurricanes in Puerto Rico, we created, published, and sold prayer books to raise money for relief efforts. Each prayer book raised more than $2,000. We will repeat this project as new emergencies arise. Contact Karen Thorsen.
Beat the Heat
Summertime in North Carolina can be brutal for those living without air conditioning or adequate ventilation. For the last two summers, our congregants have provided window fans to the Helping Hand Mission to distribute to those in need. In 2019, we also collected fans for the Women’s Shelter. Contact Karen Thorsen.
Sidewalk Listening
This innovative program, based on a California model, sends teams into the community — to libraries, senior centers, and parks — where we set up tables and chairs and invite strangers to sit and talk about whatever they like. The idea is to get people engaged in conversation, spread friendship, and dispel some of the loneliness that often divides us. As a volunteer you’ll be trained on how to be a better listener — to listen without judging or trying to fix anything or give advice. These events take place on Saturdays; check the calendar for the next training, or contact Karen Thorsen.
Interfaith Initiative on Homelessness
Unity takes part in the Interfaith Homelessness Education, Action & Response Network (IHEAR), a joint initiative among Wake County churches to help homeless and low-income residents and address the root causes of homelessness. IHEAR has compiled a directory of free services — including meals, clothing, shelter, toiletries, medical and dental care, and haircuts — which has been distributed to area churches. Unity has donated supplies to Oak City Cares, an organization that provides free shower and laundry facilities in downtown Raleigh. We are on the IHEAR steering committee and look forward to becoming more involved in this cause. Contact Carol Hessenflow.
“I have always felt a responsibility to put my faith into practice. Representing Unity in the community, helping others get involved in spreading love—these things are important to me and give me joy.”
Karen Thorsen, Outreach Coordinator
