Photography by Megan Mumford
This story is part of our annual Capital Region Gives Back initiative that honors 10 locals who are making our community a better place. Read up on all of the 2026 honorees and join us on December 9 for the 8th annual Capital Region Gives Back event at Putnam Place.
Erin Vickers recently celebrated her first anniversary as director of development and communications at Unity House in Troy, but her history with the organization dates back 12 years, when she began volunteering in its ReStyle Thrift Store. New to the region, Vickers figured volunteering would be a good way to become connected to the community, and she found Unity House’s mission irresistible.
“In simplest terms, the focus is to make life better for people in our community,” Vickers says. “In a broader context, Unity House is a place that serves individuals and families by helping them to build healthier, safer lives and increase stability.”
Vickers eventually joined the board of directors—“I just couldn’t stay away,” she says—and when the position of director of development became available, she stepped up. “Unity House is well known in the community, but the piece that’s missing is our vast range of services,” she says. “People typically know us for one or two things, but we want to raise awareness on all we offer.”
Started in 1971 by a nun and two Franciscan friars at a run-down residence on Eighth Street, the organization still does outreach to people in need, but has expanded into specific services including childcare centers, a mobile food pantry, domestic and sexual violence services, housing support, behavioral health services, career planning for individuals with disabilities, free legal counsel, and youth programming.
Before her job at Unity House, Vickers’ career was in the private sector, but volunteering was always an avocation. “It’s how I was raised,” she says. “My mother always took me with her to help feed the hungry or do prison ministry support groups.” More recently, she has volunteered with the American Heart Association (following a heart scare at age 38) and the Alzheimer’s Association (after her mother was diagnosed). Now that Unity House has become her career, Vickers sometimes has to pinch herself. “I never thought I’d have a job I actually love,” she says. “It’s amazing.”
