Fostering Economic Equity/Alleviating Poverty
Durham CAN
Group description: Durham CAN (Congregations Associations and Neighborhoods) is a broad-based, non-profit organization that works to coalesce, train, and organize communities in Durham across religious, racial, ethnic, class, and geographic lines for the public good. It's primary goal is to develop local leadership and organized power to change the conditions that prevent low- and moderate-income families from improving their circumstances.
Overarching Goals: The overarching goal is to increase awareness of and participation in CAN actions among ERUUF members and ministers so that ERUUF is well-represented and supportive of community actions that have been organized in Durham through CAN.
- Contact Person: Lynne Howard-Vaughn, Jaye Vaughn
- Role: Co-Chairs
- Email:
- Staff Partner: Kaleb Graves, Justice Coordinator
Shelter Action Teams
Group Description:
The Shelter Action Teams work in partnership with Urban Ministries of Durham (UMD) and Families Moving Forward (FMF) to provide support for unhoused and low-income or food insecure individuals and families in Durham County..
Overarching Goals:
To fulfill local shelter needs based on the following:
- ERUUFians live their faith by serving our low-income and unsheltered neighbors.
- Services provided by UMD and FMF are only possible through the work of volunteers.
- Shelters rely on thousands of volunteer hours per month.
- Each year over 250 ERUUF members and friends volunteer to support services for the housing and food insecure population.
Read more: Shelter Action Teams
- Contact Person: Bo Glenn - UMD; Jane Hewitt - FMF; Crystal & Rose Burroughs - IFC; Devon Golem - Casseroles; Marlys Ray - Cookies
- Role: Coordinators
- Email:
- Staff Partner: Kaleb Graves, Justice Coordinator
Lakewood Elementary Bag Packing Team
Group Description:
ERUUF partners with Lakewood Elementary School to provide bags of food each week for qualifying low income families with children at Lakewood Elementary. The Forest at Duke provides funding for this program. Lakewood staff and volunteers manage the procurement of food and the organization of the food pantry. ERUUF's cooperative effort in this project came about as a result of a Children in Poverty discussion group at ERUUF in 2014. The project has grown from servicing 15 families to the current 30 families.
Read more: Lakewood Elementary Bag Packing Team
- Contact Person: Judy Moore
- Role: Coordinator
- Email:
- Staff Partner: Kaleb Graves, Justice Coordinator