For 75 years, the women of Hayes Barton United Methodist Church have rallied their talents and time to support their community with Raleigh’s Humble Heart Bazaar.
By Ayn-Monique Klahre
Hayes Barton United Methodist Church’s Humble Heart Bazaar offers plenty of opportunities for shopping, with tables selling everything from candles to jewelry to sweaters. But insiders know it’s really about the pies—not to mention the soups, cakes, and Mamie Jo Coker’s famous cheese straws. “The bake sale has more items than you can possibly imagine, and people are lined up all the way down the hall waiting for the doors to open,” says Ellen O’Connor, who’s serving as this year’s communications chair.
The tradition, which is in its 75th year, has always been rooted in the church’s women’s circles. It was first hosted in 1951 by the church’s Women’s Society of Christian Service (now known as United Methodist Women). Longtime bazaar volunteer Autney Nelms researched its origins by looking through the minutes from past meetings. The September 1951 minutes note that “Mrs. H. H. Moore told of plans for a bazaar to be held in November.” The December 1951 minutes report that the bazaar was a success, raising funds from its “white elephant, country store, aprons, coke bar, miscellaneous goodies, dinner, and Christmas cards.” That year, they raised more than $1,000.
Over the years, the bazaar has supported mission projects, as well as the upkeep of the church and the purchase of items like Sunday school materials, choir robes, and books. The exact format of the event has evolved over time, with some years offering a lunch, dinner, or tea, and others inviting cash donations. But by 1983, the format was solidified, and in 2005, the fundraiser was renamed the Humble Heart Bazaar. The United Methodist Women have also narrowed the scope of the fundraiser over the years to supporting mission projects through grants. “All of the proceeds go directly back to the community to support women and children,” says longtime volunteer Kimberly Powers.
These days, the Humble Heart Bazaar, which will be held Nov. 17 to 18 this year, is a multipronged fundraising effort that includes the marketplace, greenery sales, a luncheon, and a silent auction (one coveted annual prize is a private recital with church organist Stephen Aber). “It’s an event where everybody in the church—not just the women’s circles—can come and participate, from making a pie in your own kitchen to helping on a baking or crafting day to shopping,” says longtime volunteer Betsy Vance. “The church staff helps, the men drive the buses, the youth group stuffs the shopping bags and wraps the silver—it’s definitely a multigenerational effort,” says Nelms.
“I love that this event started with a group of women just wanting to do something, but it has evolved into this well-oiled machine,” says O’Connor. “We keep the costs really low so we can give back as much as we can to the nonprofits.” Last year they awarded nearly $100,000 in grant money to 30 nonprofits, including A Place at the Table, Diaper Train, The Encouraging Place, Haven House Services, Methodist Home for Children, and Wee Care. “We make a concerted effort to cover all aspects of need—for example, to have projects that address mental health, homelessness, and food insecurity—but always for women and children; that’s never changed,” says Nelms.
A Place at the Table has been a longtime grantee of the bazaar. “Having almost 10 years of support is rare, and that kind of steady, faithful giving helps us keep our doors open and keep serving good food to everyone who walks in, no matter what they can pay,” says executive director Maggie Kane, who notes that church members have also become volunteers and donors. “Year after year, the bazaar has shown up for our community, and we could not be more thankful.”
This article originally appeared in the November 2026 issue of WALTER Magazine.
