Unity lost its rights to use, lease, or purchase Victoria Hall for their program use, year-round fundraising purposes, and the annual Unity Telethon. To continue providing their services to the clients of over 300 other non-profit agencies, Unity’s Board of Directors determined that the new building was needed to replace the space lost for their program, educational, training and fundraising activities.

“The Unity Shoppe was in a predicament losing the use of Victoria Hall and needing a large downtown space in a few months to host the Telethon….110 W Sola is an amazing answer to their need”, said Brad Frohling of Radius.  “It was great to be apart of a cooperative transaction. We all knew we were working on a good solution to help the Unity Shoppe find a new building that would help them continue their efforts to impact the community for years to come.”

In 1917, Drs. Pearl Chase and Hazel Severy began the work of the Unity Shoppe as a holiday program. They coordinated services to eliminate duplication so more people could be helped. Staying faithful to the core vision of our founders, Unity created a “Central Distribution Facility” for year-round services to the clients of all non profit agencies, churches, schools and hospitals. In 1987 Kenny Loggins, Bob Smith, Sandy Benton, Don Katich, Jelinda DeVorzon and KEYT joined to create the Unity Telethon to help Unity raise its program costs. Today over 22,000 clients are referred annually for food, clothing, basic necessities, furniture and disaster support services. Upon completion of a successful Capital Campaign, the new site will reduce Unity’s fixed overhead by almost $20,000 per month and allow for future growth. Unity serves low-income working families, children, the sick, elderly, and those affected by fire or disaster.

The generous support of Jelinda DeVorzon and Harold & Annette Simmons made it possible to close escrow in time for the December 11, 2010 Unity Telethon which traditionally raises 1/3 of Unity’s program costs. The Unity Telethon will be held at 110 W. Sola Street from 1:30 pm to 11:30 PM and broadcast on Cox 8 and CBS 12. The Capital Campaign to pay off the building will be ongoing and co-ordinated by Larry Crandell, Gerd Jordano, Janet Garufis, David Hughes and Kent Englert. The Unity Shoppe needs the support of the community to successfully complete the Capital Campaign.