International Missions
Hearts and Hands Across Borders
The focus of “Hearts and Hands Across Borders” is to extend compassion to those outside the borders of the United States. It is our hope that members will form bonds of respect, empathy and admiration for children in other parts of the World.
Current missions include helping those in:
- “Hugs for Haiti” – Ongoing fundraisers, collection drives and newborn hat making meetings for Haiti
- “Together With Thailand” – Ongoing fundraiser to provide sacks of rice every year for the children at the Baan Dada Children’s Home
- Dove Missions in the Dominican Republic – Ongoing fundraiser, backpack collection drive and “Christmas Smiles Shoebox Collection”.
- Socks 4 Syria Ambassador Led Project – Ongoing Collection Drive for socks for the Syrian refugees
Domestic Missions
Hearts to Tables
“Hearts to Tables” helps fight hunger in our region. According to the 2014 Hunger in America Study, over 1 in 4 people in North Carolina are food insecure on a regular basis. North Carolina has regularly ranked among the top ten states with the highest percentage of citizens experiencing food shortages. To fight this epidemic, members take part in several missions:
- SHBHU Kids Day at the Food Bank
- “One Doorstep at a Time” Community Food Drives
- Serving Food to the Homeless at Oak City Outreach
- Awareness Campaign at Waverly and Apex Farmers Markets
- SHBHU Volunteer Days for the Interfaith Food Shuttle Field Gleaning Days
- Verggie Fence Initiative
Hearts to Smiles
“Hearts to Smiles” works to bring smiles to children, senior citizens and military personnel who are ill or experiencing difficulty. Missions include:
- SHBHU “Chapter Cheer” – Art and Crafts with Kids at Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill
- Cards to Soldiers Stationed Abroad
- Singing at Senior Citizen Homes
Hearts to Homes
According to the NC Coalition to End Homelessness, children make up 22% of North Carolina’s homeless population, while another 13% are their parents. 10% are veterans and 17% are single women. Wake County has about 1,200 homeless citizens. To do our part to combat this, SHBHU has several missions:
- Serving Muffins and Coffee to Habitat for Humanity Volunteers
- Family Hands-On Building Day with Habitat for Humanity
- Ambassador ONLY “Building Pieces of Love”
Ambassador “Passing the Torch” Committee
A committee led by Ambassadors who are 10-17 years of age. The focus is on continuation of the nurturing compassion mission by empowering these older youth. They acquire leadership and mentorship skills and lead independent team fundraising proposals and projects for causes they are passionate about.
Hearts to Others
In addition to helping people, SHBHU also fosters compassion to animals and our environment. Missions include:
- Fun fundraisers for Local Animal Shelters and PAWS for Compassion Summer Dog and Car Wash
- Barn Chores at Hope Reins, a Therapeutic Horse Farm for Children
- Trash Pickup at Community Parks