Outreach

Inter-Faith Council for Social Service has been a valued partner of Holy Family since its founding in 1963. As the primary nonprofit provider of safety-net services in Orange County, IFC works to keep people housed, serves more than 52,000 hot meals each year, distributes over 11,000 bags of groceries, and provides safe shelter with the goal of helping individuals secure permanent housing. Holy Family supports this work through financial contributions from the Outreach Commission, monthly food donations and special drives like Project 5000, participation in the annual CROP Hunger Walk, and hands-on volunteer service preparing and serving Community Kitchen meals. Fourteen parishioners currently volunteer each month, reflecting our ongoing commitment to share our time, talent, and resources in service to others.

Please visit the IFC website for more information.

Holy Family proudly supports Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, NC through financial contributions and hands-on volunteer participation in local home builds. Habitat partners with families in our community to make safe, affordable homeownership a reality. With the help of volunteer labor and donated resources, homes are built and sold with low-interest mortgages, and monthly payments are structured to remain affordable for working families.

In addition to new construction, Habitat assists homeowners with critical repairs that improve safety and stability. As part of the broader mission of Habitat for Humanity International, this work strengthens families and neighborhoods locally and around the world. Holy Family is grateful to support efforts that build brighter futures and lasting stability in our community.

Please visit Habitat for Humanity of Orange County for more information.

Caring for refugees is woven into the fabric of Holy Family’s life and faith. Our Refugee Ministry began in 2015, when parishioners committed to learning, planning, and preparing to walk alongside families rebuilding their lives in the United States. Since welcoming our first family of Syrian refugees in 2016, parishioners have offered practical, hands-on support — helping with school enrollment, job applications, transportation, English language learning, and the many everyday systems that can feel overwhelming in a new country.

Over the years, Holy Family has partnered with local organizations and neighboring churches to support families from Afghanistan and beyond, raising funds, securing housing, and building strong networks of care. What began as a single-family sponsorship has grown into a sustained ministry marked by generosity, collaboration, and long-term relationships. Today, the families we have supported are thriving, employed, educated, and active in their communities, a testament to what is possible when a parish commits to faithful accompaniment.

Orange County Justice United is a coalition of 24 congregations and community organizations working to promote justice for our neighbors in Orange County. Holy Family formally joined OCJU more than a decade ago, building on earlier individual involvement, and has steadily deepened its commitment through financial support and significant volunteer leadership. Today, a core parish team collaborates with OCJU’s leadership to shape an annual, grassroots-driven agenda and engage public and private decision-makers on issues that affect everyday life in our community. More than 40 parishioners regularly participate in major action events, demonstrating strong and visible support for this work.

Through OCJU, Holy Family has helped achieve meaningful local impact. These efforts have included improving living conditions in area mobile home parks, securing $3.3 million to expand equitable access to mental health services, and preserving affordable housing with $1.6 million for home repairs and property tax relief. Current initiatives focus on fair tax assessment practices, housing solutions for people transitioning from incarceration or homelessness, and protections for immigrants’ rights across the county. Together with our partners, we are able to extend our reach beyond what we could accomplish alone and make a tangible difference in the lives of our neighbors.

Please vist Orange County Justice United for more information.

Holy Family has long supported the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry,, a joint ministry of the Episcopal Dioceses of North Carolina and East Carolina serving farmworkers across eastern North Carolina. Founded in 1978 as a small clothing pantry, EFWM has grown into a wide-ranging ministry offering food and clothing distribution, field supplies, mattress swaps for labor camps, ESL classes, school supplies, legal advocacy, and community programs for workers and their families — most of whom are Latino agricultural laborers.

Our parish has been involved with EFWM for nearly four decades through volunteer service, material donations, and consistent financial support through the Outreach Commission. As farmworker communities increasingly settle year-round in the region, EFWM continues to adapt to meet changing needs. Holy Family remains committed to standing alongside this vital ministry, supporting the dignity, safety, and well-being of the workers who sustain our agricultural economy.

Please visit Episcopal Farmworker Ministries for more information.