Outreach Ministry

. . . Helping People in Our Community

The volunteer Outreach Projects on this page have been decided on for the upcoming year. In addition, some time during the first year of the committee working together, a survey will be sent out to all congregants to get input for subsequent year’s activities and volunteer interests. It is the committee’s goal to get everyone involved!

Stay tuned for upcoming events. In the meantime, feel free to talk to any of the project chairs and other committee members on how you can get involved.

Remember, the heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others! — Sally Coffin and Carol Miles
Co-Chairs of the Volunteer/Outreach Strategic Planning Committee

Blood Drives

Did you know that someone needs blood every three seconds? And that over 700 blood donors are needed each day to meet Arizona’s needs alone?

United Blood Services provides 92% of the blood needs in the Valley, and Unity of Phoenix is honored to play a part in meeting those needs. We hold blood drives on our campus four times a year. Volunteers are needed in the weeks leading up to the drive to inform and encourage sign ups. Volunteers are also needed to help coordinate, support and sign in donors on the day of the event.

Our participation in this project helps to guarantee the ongoing availability of blood for the many patients who need it. As part of the blood drives, we have also begun an organ donor registration program.

Our BLOOD DRIVES are a great example of how much service can make a difference. I get a lot of gratification knowing that, in exchange for such a small amount of time and effort, I am able to help someone in a life or death situation; we hear story after story about how blood donations help so many. One of these days I may be on the other side of the line, and it’s comforting to know that there are people out there who will give blood in order to help me through. Project Chair: Cecilia Casillas

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Organ Donor Program

Our Organ Donor Program runs on the same Sundays as our Blood Drives.
"You have the power to save lives by registering to be an organ and tissue donor. Register today for someone's tomorrow."
Project Chair:Ursula Neal

Our daughter was born dying with highly deficient lungs. We had no clue that anything was wrong until she tried to take her first breath. She was given a 0% chance of living, and we were told that our only choice was to take her off the ventilator and let her die. That just wasn’t an option for us, so we started diligently looking for other solutions. We found a Children’s Hospital in St. Louis that did lung transplants, and by some miracle all things came together. OUR DAUGHTER WAS TRANSFERRED THERE FOR A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT THAT SAVED HER LIFE.

When we got her home and stabilized, we started volunteering in whatever capacity we could to help with tissue and organ donation. In the past nine years, we’ve encountered so many powerful stories. Every one is sad and fabulous at the same time, because the death of the donor enables a rebirth on the transplant side. Donating your organs is one of the most altruistic acts a person can do. One person can help up to 75 people with tissue donations, alone. There is such a shortage of organs; people are waiting and dying every day. I encourage everyone to sign up to be a donor so that, when they’re done with their body, they can give the precious gift of life to others. - Ursula Neal, Organ Donation Registration Chair

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Saturday OutReach

Chairs: Chris Finney and Barbara Kramer

Helping at food banks and crisis nurseries and serving meals to the underprivileged: these type of events have served as Unity’s key outreach for several years. Small but mighty groups of Unity volunteers gather on campus Saturday mornings to connect and carpool to a wide variety of non-profit organizations to lend a helping hand. From chopping onions to stocking diapers, these faithful servants provide the volunteer force that helps to keep these Valley organizations effective.
Chairs: Chris Finney and Barbara Kramer

Our events take place at various AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES AND MEET BASIC NEEDS—SUCH AS FOOD AND CLOTHING—TO HOMELESS PEOPLE AND OTHERS IN NEED. I feel strongly about helping people in the community, and we all so thoroughly enjoy doing it, while also getting to know one another. We do everything from filling emergency food boxes, to serving food, to sorting and organizing clothing for homeless people. Our events are intended to be a very simple way of making a big contribution by just showing up for a few hours on one day.

It’s heartwarming to see how our volunteers are so touched, energized and inspired by the people they help. There’s a uniqueness and depth that people feel when they are actually able to work ‘hands on’ with the people who receive the service, whether it’s serving food, giving manicures and massages to women at a shelter, or creating fun for children who’ve been through devastating circumstances. You get to see firsthand the fruits of your labor. In fact, many of our volunteers enjoy our Saturday Projects so much that they go back to the agencies again and again on their own to volunteer, because they get so much fulfillment out of the work they do there. - Chris Finney, Saturday Outreach Chair

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Interfaith Cooperative Ministries

Interfaith Cooperative Ministries (ICM) is an organization made up of over 30 ministries in the greater Phoenix area which serve the working poor. The ministries provide services to more than 60,000 clients each year, 40% of whom are children.

Unity has been involved with ICM for a number of years, facilitating drives to collect everything from clothing and household items to tuna, peanut butter, diaper and toiletries. ICM provides an immediate response to basic human needs, and our donations help to make that possible. In addition to facilitating donations, our volunteers have gotten the word out about drives in the courtyard, and also coordinated collection points and sorting.

COLLECTING FOOD FOR THE INTERFAITH COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES FOOD BANK is also rewarding. Putting food on the table for someone who needs sustenance— especially for children — is very gratifying. Each hand that brings even one can of food helps those who can not help themselves. By helping one another, we serve as the arm of God.
Project Chair: Cecilia Casillas

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Habitat for Humanity

For the past several years, Unity of Phoenix has teamed with other organizations to help build single-family homes for local families. We intend to repeat our success by building another home over the upcoming year.

Habitat for Humanity is an international, non-profit agency that strives to eliminate poverty housing, and has built over 200,000 homes in 100 countries. Homes are built based on a partnership between a family and the community. A qualifying family pays for their home through sweat equity hours and special financing arrangements. Unity of Phoenix volunteers will work alongside the family to provide labor during most phases of the home's construction.
Chair: Monica Lawfield

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Palomino/Echo Mountain Christmas Project

Unity has provided a great deal of support over the years to the Palomino and Echo Mountain schools, which both serve a large number of financially- challenged families. Our congregants’ generosity ensure the families a holiday meal and enough food to see them through the two-week winter holiday break from school. (Most of the students receive both breakfasts and lunches through the school, so without these food supplements, it would be difficult for families to feed their children while they are on winter break.) This heartwarming project truly makes a difference in the lives of these children and their families.
Project Chairs: Barbara Kramer and Anna Adams

I started attending Unity in 2001 and volunteered for the Palomino project that December. I “adopted” an 11-year-old girl, and enjoyed picking out clothing and a toy for her. I also volunteered at the distribution party, and was absolutely overwhelmed! There were rows of bicycles, and plastic garbage bags full of wrapped gifts. Santa came, and there were tables where the kids could have snacks and make gifts for their families. When the families came in, the children’s eyes were wide with delight. When we gave the parents food certificates, they started to cry! They were all so grateful. The program has varied over time, but I’ve participated ever since …

I’ve always felt proud to be part of a church community that helps those less fortunate than ourselves. I ALSO FEEL A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF GRATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MY GIFTS: money for food certificates, clothing, books, toys, and— most importantly—love and compassion for our neighbors. Each year, I prayed for the children and their families; I still remember their names and often pray for them. Participating in this program has helped me to fulfill my life’s purpose. Would you like the same experience? Your participation is needed! - Barbara Kramer, Palomino Project Chair

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Feeding the Multitudes

How do you feed a soul? With 1,800 hamburgers, 150 pounds of potato salad, ice cream and an abundance of willingness! For the past two years, our amazing Unity of Phoenix volunteers have fed multiple souls through this incredible OutReach project. This event blessed not only those in our greater community who could use a hand up, but also reached into the heart of the multitude of Unity volunteers who participated in making it happen.

Our commitment is not just to feed these folks physically, but also to “feed” them spiritually by being present to them. We serve chips, cold drinks and dignity to those there for a meal. We also distribute mail, provide supplies for arts and crafts, and have music to support the atmosphere of abundance and celebration.
Chairs: Richard Freshley
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