Stories & Updates
Read about the real impact Unity4Kids is making in the lives of children and families across Rockbridge, Bath, and Alleghany Counties — and beyond.
2025–2026 Impact Statement
Read about the full scope of Unity4Kids' impact over the 2025–2026 year — families served, meals delivered, children reached, and communities strengthened across Rockbridge County and beyond.
Unity Reads Launches — 55 Children at First Event!
Unity Reads officially launched in June 2026 with our very first event held at Kids Playce — and what a celebration it was! Fifty-five children attended, each going home with literacy resources, books, and other items to support their reading journey. The event was filled with games, crafts, challenges, and activities designed to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and a love of reading. Every child participated in reading exercises woven throughout the day in a fun and engaging way. We are so proud of this new program and the incredible community that showed up to support it!
Unity4Kids Food Pantry Opens!
We are thrilled to announce that the Unity4Kids Food Pantry officially opened in June 2026! This is a major milestone for our organization and our community. The pantry provides families with access to essential food items, ensuring that no child in our community goes hungry. This new resource is a testament to the generosity of our partners, volunteers, and donors who make it all possible.
Paint Night — "Color Outside the Chaos"
Unity4Kids hosted a Paint Night event in partnership with community partners to provide an evening of calm, creative activity for families. "Color Outside the Chaos" brought the community together for a peaceful, restorative night of painting while also providing valuable community resources and support information for families navigating life's challenges.
New Partnership with Local Craftsman Ron Ginder!
We are thrilled to announce a wonderful new partnership with Ron Ginder, a local craftsman and toy maker right here in our community. Ron currently makes handcrafted toys for Rockbridge Christmas Baskets, and he will be joining Unity4Kids for Christmas 2026 to make special toys for the children we serve. His generosity and talent are a true gift to our families. We are so blessed to be partnered with Ron!
Lexington Meal Deliveries Have Started!
Our Lexington food ministry has officially launched! Rockbridge CAN, Unity4Kids, and CFRBA partnered together for Rockbridge Nourish Together 2026. We are grateful for every volunteer and partner making this possible.
Rockbridge Nourish Together Collaboration Launched!
Unity4Kids is proud to announce a new collaboration with Rockbridge Connect and Nourish and the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany. Together we are working to nourish our community and ensure no family goes without. This partnership marks an exciting new chapter in our mission to unite communities and support families across the region.
Spring Awakening Breakfast — 250 People Fed!
Our Spring Awakening Breakfast was a wonderful success! We were honored to feed 250 people in our community, bringing neighbors together over a warm meal and celebrating the spirit of giving. Thank you to every volunteer, donor, and partner who made this event possible.
Our Food Ministry Has Begun!
We are currently delivering free warm, nutritious meals every 3 weeks in Buena Vista and have expanded to Lexington. Manly Memorial Baptist Church joined our Lexington food ministry. Volunteers Gary Judy, Ron and MJ Ginder, Deborah McCullough, and Carole Judy have been incredible!
Unity4Kids Voted Humanitarian of the Year 2025!
We are deeply honored to have been voted the People's Choice Award Winner for Humanitarian of the Year 2025 by the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce. This award belongs to every volunteer, donor, and community partner who has stood with us.
Miracles of Christmas 2025 — 620 Children Served!
Through our Miracles of Christmas 2025 initiative, we were honored to serve 620 children across three counties, made possible by the unwavering support of our volunteers, donors, and community partners. We assisted children and families referred by local schools, Social Services foster care program, churches, and community members.
Cancer Care Packs Delivered
DCCU volunteers helped put our Cancer Care Packs together. We delivered 40 Cancer Care Packs to folks in our community who are battling cancer and going through chemo. Each pack contains skin and hair care products, hygiene items, and comfort supplies.
Skin & Hair Care Packs for Teenage Girls
Skin care/cleansers, hair care and hygiene packs were delivered to area high schools and middle schools for young girls who otherwise may not have access to these products. This will assist vulnerable girls with feeling more confident.
Back-to-School Shoe, Blanket & Coat Drive
Our Back-to-School Shoe Drive was a huge success! Over 400 pairs of shoes were given to children at our shoe drive and more were distributed to CarePortal and at Christmas. 105 kids received back-to-school supplies. Fuzzy blankets were given to every child. Kids picked out their own shoes. We partnered with Lex Running who donated several pairs. Unity4Kids was awarded a grant from Covington Walmart! 38 pairs of shoes were donated to foster kids in Alleghany/Covington. Buena Vista Police Department, Rockbridge Connect and Nourish, Community Foundation, and Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office all partnered with us.
Comfort Bags for Kids in Crisis
Castle Christian School packed the bags. Students drew pictures to go in the bags to encourage and lift up the child that receives the bag. Our bags contain a fuzzy blanket, stuffed animal, toothbrush, activity set, flashlight, change of clothes, and stress balls. 40 Comfort Bags were delivered to Alleghany-Covington Department of Social Services for kids in foster care and protective services.
2025 Food Drive — Kids Helping Kids!
Local kids helped pack food bags — kids helping kids! Our community donated food to help fill the bags. Ryan Brink and W&L Campus Kitchen donated over 350 meals that were delivered to our community. Food was donated by several organizations including Rockbridge Area Community Services Board. Lexington Public Defender's Office donated food. 34 bags of food and Starbucks donations were delivered to the TAP Headstart preschools.
Community Yard Sale Fundraiser
Our yard sale was a huge success with so many giving to help raise funds for Unity! We are thankful for all of our community partners who came out to support.
608 Easter Baskets Distributed
We can't thank the communities in Bath, Alleghany and Rockbridge County enough for letting us be a part of bringing joy to the children in these communities. We helped distribute more than 608 baskets to children in need. Buena Vista Police joined us in delivering Easter Baskets to children at Buena Vista schools and in the community. We delivered Easter baskets to Bath, Alleghany, and Rockbridge Social Services for children in CPS and foster care. We also delivered 200 Easter Baskets to North Carolina to Hurricane Helene victims.
Rockbridge Christmas Baskets
We deliver Christmas food boxes to families in the Fairfield and Mountain View areas for the Rockbridge Christmas Baskets program. Tammy and Peggy showed up every day to sort and deliver. Billy Reid, BARC employee, delivered gifts to Millboro and Valley Elementary.
Christmas Success — 334 Children Reached
Gifts were gathered at Spencer Home Center. We were able to reach 334 children! Spencer Home Center co-workers helped load gifts to go to Morganton First Church of God where we took 75 gifts for Hurricane Helene victims on December 14, 2024. We also distributed gifts to families in Spruce Pine, North Carolina.
Thanksgiving for Hurricane Helene Victims
Kenny's Catering and friends in the community helped donate and serve a meal the day before Thanksgiving to Hurricane Helene victims at Morganton First Church of God. We fed 500 people that day.
Disaster Relief to NC — 700+ Fed
We traveled to North Carolina to take food and supplies to Hurricane Helene victims. We made new friends and witnessed compassion, love and genuine humanity. We fed over 700 people that day! Several local caterers donated food. We helped sort and find clothes for hurricane victims. Lasting friendships were formed. Our lives were changed on this trip.
Be Part of the Next Story
Every donation, every volunteer hour, every act of kindness becomes a story of hope for a family in need.