CAHEC staff have collectively contributed more than 800 hours of volunteer service to community organizations in 2025 through their Team Outreach program, which has been an integral part of the organization's mission for nearly a decade. Each staff member volunteers 22 hours annually at local nonprofits, reflecting the organization's commitment to creating positive and lasting change in communities.
The volunteer efforts support organizations addressing critical community needs, including The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, which provides daily nourishment, disaster supplies, and educational programming to families. Staff also regularly assist North Raleigh Ministries, focusing on financial literacy and food assistance for community members in crisis situations.
Additional organizations benefiting from CAHEC's volunteer program include Dress for Success of the Triangle, which empowers women toward economic independence through support networks and resources, and Made4Me, creating personalized adaptations from industrial cardboard for children with special needs at no cost to families. Staff also volunteer with NC Senior Games and The Flower Shuttle, which recycles flowers for individuals living with sickness, terminal illness, poverty, and disabilities who typically do not receive them.
This year, CAHEC staff expanded their volunteer efforts by writing notes for Amy's Ray of Sunshine, a local nonprofit that sends cards to patients undergoing bone marrow transplants. According to Community Relations Manager Stefanie Lee, "Volunteerism is an important part of who we are as an organization. By giving our time to support other nonprofits in our community, we not only strengthen the neighborhoods we serve, but also strengthen ourselves as a team."
The Team Outreach program allows employees to connect outside their daily roles while collectively making an impact, serving as a meaningful way to live out CAHEC's mission while investing in both community and team development. As a community development organization, CAHEC strengthens communities through affordable housing and supportive service initiatives across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, engaging in diverse areas including low-income housing tax credits, historic tax credits, new markets tax credits, and renewable energy credits. To learn more about their contributions to affordable housing and surrounding communities, visit CAHEC's website.
