Wilkinsburg News

Winter 2010 Download "The Well" in .pdf format

 

 

“For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season, and that things are going well for you this year. Also, that you are all still being faithful to those New Year's resolutions! God has been good to us during the holiday season with donations of food and money from individuals, our faithful churches, and foundation grants. A big thanks to Jami Broom for working hard sending out grant applications.

I have also been blessed with a Social Work intern from Carlow University - Jennifer Matich. She has been immensely helpful in contacting churches, assisting with fund raising and organizing drives. Thanks, Jennifer. Also a big thanks to all our staff for their dedication to their jobs. Ray, Anita, Bert, Sharon, Ed, Beverly, Ken from AARP, Dora and Tonya from EARN. Thanks also go to Roger Schneider and John Walter for all the time they have given working on our small computer network.

March is our Senior Hunger Awareness month – ‘March for Meals'. Over 5 million seniors in the US – 11.4% of all seniors - have experienced some form of food insecurity. Of these 2.5 million were at risk of hunger and 750,000 suffered from hunger due to financial restraints. We are asking our Mayor, John Thompson to deliver meals again this year on March 24 th and to pledge that he will help to end senior hunger. You can also help by:

1. Volunteering to deliver meals to the seniors in your community either as a driver or as a helper.

2. Donating change to our ‘End Senior Hunger' boxes which will be located in various locations around the community.

3. Signing our pledge form to help end Senior Hunger, which will also be located at the same locations as the box.

I know times have been hard for everyone over this past year, but as the poem below says, we can build a new tomorrow - our futures have not yet been written. No matter what has happened in the past we can try to make our future better.

Blessings,
Ann

New Year brings hope and courage, May we share a wider friendship

Resolutions, plans and schemes. Reaching out to those we meet,

May our lives be free from blemish, Laughter lighting darker moments,

Always worthy of our dreams. Raising smiles along the street,

As we walk the days ahead, Lord, As the months go swiftly by, Lord,

May our paths be straight and clear, Help us value every day,

Leading on to new horizons. Let us build a new tomorrow

Free from danger, doubt and fear. Knowing you will show the way.

Iris Hesselden, UK.

---

 

SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS HELP MEET ON-GOING LOCAL NEEDS

Food Pantry:

WCM purchases boxed and canned food from the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank and distributes it to needy individuals and families. Food is distributed, based on family size, to those who are in a crisis situation in need of emergency food.

The WCM Food Pantry is now serving East Hills, Swissvale and Homewood at the request of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Residents in need from those areas must receive a referral from the Community Food Bank. Their phone number is 412-460-3663.

When the WCM freezer broke in October 2009, there was no money budgeted for a new one. An Emergency Response application was submitted to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for equipment assistance. In December that application was approved and a much-needed freezer was purchased. WCM greatly appreciates the positive response by GPCFB in this time of need.

Angel Food Ministries Program:

	Sep '09	Oct '09	Nov '09	Dec '09	Jan '10
Households served:	21	15	25	18	22

So far this year, WCM has served a total of 139 families. The monthly "menu" includes 15 items for the low cost of just $30.00. A "Senior Box" is also available, which includes 10 perfectly seasoned, nutritionally balanced fully cooked meals that are ready to heat and serve. The cost is only $28.00.

The “menu” for each month generally includes 15 items for the low cost of just $30.00. A “Senior Box” is also available, which includes 10 perfectly seasoned, nutritionally balanced fully-cooked meals that are ready to heat and serve. The cost is only $28.00. In addition there are monthly specials ranging in price between $18.00 and $23.00. Distribution day is on a Saturday at South Avenue United Methodist Church between 9:30 AM and 12:00 Noon. Participants must bring a large box to hold the food. Food stamps EBT are accepted. South Avenue United Methodist Church is located at 733 South Avenue.

See the latest Angel Food monthly menu.

Holiday Food Assistance: WCM distributed food at Thanksgiving and Christmas again this past season.

 

Utility Assistance:

Since the time Dollar Energy opened in October 5, 2009 to the beginning of the moratorium on December 1, 2009, Wilkinsburg Community Ministry has received and processed 116 applications. There are no applications pending. The LIHEAP program will remain open until April 2, 2010. All income eligible applicants must apply for federal grants and qualify before applying for Dollar Energy Fund assistance.

 

---

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR ‘SERVICES FOR SENIORS' PROGRAM  

Volunteers delivered 1,281 Meals-on-Wheels in December 2009!

• Volunteers served over 6000 meals to Wilkinsburg residents in the last 5 months of 2009.
• About 70 meals were distributed each weekday.

 

In October we received this gratifying note from a regular Meals-on-Wheels recipient. News like this makes all the volunteer effort worthwhile:

“ Please cancel my Meals-on-Wheels at the beginning of the month. I'm feeling a lot better than I was earlier. I'm driving again and can now shop by myself. I appreciate the people who prepared and delivered healthy meals to me. I'm sure that helped me recover.”

 

Drivers are still desperately needed for our 4 Meals–on-Wheels Routes.

Our volunteers are dedicated and always take on the burden of delivering extra meals if we are short of drivers/helpers. We hope that you will consider taking part in our March events to end Senior Hunger.

Please contact Anita McKeithen at 412-241-8072 to volunteer.

 

---

COLLEGE INTERN EXPRESSES THANKS

Hello, my name is Jennifer Matich, and I started interning for Wilkinsburg Community Ministry in September 2009.  I am a social work major at Carlow University and will graduate this May.  By the time I leave in April, I will have interned here for 500 hours.  I have had a wonderful experience, as Ann has taken me under her wing to show me the ins and outs of WCM as a growing community organization. 

I have been helping to build correspondence with at-large community members, other community organizations, and the churches in and around Wilkinsburg.  In December, with help from churches and community members, WCM was able to donate 25 care-packages for the homeless to Operation Safety Net. 

I appreciate the opportunity that WCM has given me as I have learned about fundraising, outreach, and most importantly serving a community in such a need as Wilkinsburg.   

 

---

SPECIAL THANKS TO TWO VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

We want to take this opportunity to thank two individuals who have made significant contributions to WCM as former members of the WCM Board:

Gail Gratton recently ended a long-term appointment to the WCM board as a representative from Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church. We appreciate her service to WCM and to the community.

James Garner: 1940 – 2009. Our friend and helper for WCM departed this life on October 23, 2009.

James Garner worked his faith. James retired in 1997 from a 32 year career with the Westinghouse Air Brake Company. He gave many, many volunteer hours to the Veterans Hospital on Highland Drive where he had a special ministry as a retired marine. He served WCM in many ways - as a Meals-on- Wheels volunteer, as a Board member, and he walked in several CROP Walks, even though he had bad feet. He was a deacon in the Christian Church of Wilkinsburg, and served as a volunteer in the “One Step” program for Junior High youth where he was a strong and gentle role model. Since James did not drive a car, he walked or took a bus everywhere he went. Yet whenever James saw a need, he responded quietly and without fanfare. Our beloved brother was a “doer of the Word and not merely a hearer”. (James 1:22) Let us give thanks for James and all of those quiet, gentle workers of the Lord who touch our lives with the love of Jesus.

 

YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER