Second Helpings Newsletter - Westmoreland County Food Bank

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Spotlights VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Joe Canada of Irwin, came to WCFB about two years ago, with a van that he wanted to donate to WCFB. His father, the owner of the van, had recently passed away and Joe felt that his father would be pleased if he donated it to a good cause. Once Joe met with the food bank, he expressed interest in not only dona�ng his van, but dona�ng his �me. Eventually, Joe became a weekly volunteer doing pickups and deliveries for the food bank. Joe has become a valuable asset to us. Look for him and his wife, Sandy, at the upcoming Empty Bowls Fundraiser for the food bank. They are the Volunteer Coordinators, looking to make that volunteer-driven event a successful one. VOLUNTEER GROUP SPOTLIGHT Since August 2011, a growing number of members of West Place Clubhouse in Greensburg have remained commi�ed to the twice a month group project of assis�ng at the food bank’s warehouse. For some, this is the first �me that they have volunteered in the community. The members eagerly look forward to whatever challenging task is awai�ng them. They work together as a team, encouraging and suppor�ng each other. One member, Anna, shared about her volunteer experience: “I enjoyed ge�ng to volunteer at the food bank and knowing I am helping others. I am happier because I par�cipated. And now I have an understanding about the process that it takes to get the food from the food bank to the people who need it.” The members of West Place Clubhouse are grateful for the opportunity to work together as a team to give back to our community. AGENCY SPOTLIGHT It takes a very large group of caring volunteers to operate the Mount Pleasant Church of God Food Pantry. Coordinator, Michelle Sechrist, is very thankful for all of them. The last Tuesday of every month 50 to 60 dedicated volunteers gather to help fight hunger in the Mt. Pleasant area. Although the doors open for clients at 9:00 am, but the work starts much earlier. Some of the du�es include se�ng up tables, packing bins, handing out food, and tearing down the distribu�on tables. Many of the volunteers don't leave un�l 11:00 am. With each volunteer having a role, each recipient who walks through the doors leaves knowing that they ma�er. Volunteer Coordinator, Kathleen Varner, also handles registra�on of new clients. Each new client is walked through the process and sent home with a box of food. Beside the walk-in client, the MPCOG Pantry also serves the 3 senior ci�zen apartment complexes in town. The team of volunteers led by Pastor Tim Hoover delivers either a regular food box, a CFSP box, or some�mes both right to the door of 40 residents. Pastor Shirley Farino and the ladies from the Good Samaritan Center handle everything to do with the CFSP boxes. During pantry hours, they sign-up clients and then distribute the boxes. The Good Samaritan Center also func�ons as the storage area for the food a�er each distribu�on, and as an emergency center for those in need between monthly pantry distribu�ons. Shirley remembers the many years that the pantry was held at the Mt Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department. The pantry was moved from there in December 2009. Pantry Coordinator, Michelle Sechrist, took over the pantry in August of 2010 a�er being approached at the HIS Hands Community Meal. Food for the HIS Hands Community Meal is provided by WCFB and local donors, and is held in the Chris�an Ministry Center of Mount Pleasant Church Of God from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Jina Biller is the coordinator for the free of charge meal to anyone needing a meal. Jina has a passion for feeding the soul as well as the stomach. A group of hardworking and dedicated volunteers prepare delicious meals each month Many of the same volunteers who help at the Pantry also help at the Community Meal each month. In October 2011 when Pastor Brad Adams became the Senior Pastor at MPCOG, he quickly pitched in to help. He helps unload the truck, distributes food, and serves food. He and his wife, Kay, have a heart for helping those in need. Kay recently took on a new venture; she opened a Clothing Closet to operate during the hours of the Pantry and the Community Meal. Clients from both events will be able to go into the church parsonage basement and choose from donated clothing free of charge. With each volunteer having a role, each client that walks through the doors of MPCOG leaves knowing that they ma�er. Westmoreland County Food Bank is very proud of the assistance given to the Mount Pleasant residents. 10
We Couldn’t Do It Without YOU! We wish that we could print every act of kindness that occurs throughout the year and especially around the Holidays, but we want you to know that WCFB and the 15,000 people who benefit from your generosity can not thank you enough for your dedica�on to helping those in need and those who are less fortunate. We truly couldn’t do it without you. In November 2011 the Employee’s Charitable Trust Fund of Excela West‐ moreland Hospital granted funds to WCFB to assist in the acquisi�on of food to provide to those who seek our assistance. This year, the Trust Fund granted $10,000 to the WCFB and, in turn, we provided over 13,420 pounds of food to our consumers. Excellent leadership skills were exhibited by Cadet Allison Hamilton of the JROTC program at Valley High School while execu�ng a community food drive in November . Cadet Hamilton coordinated and led her team from the JROTC program and their family members to canvas New Kensington neighborhoods to collect 2,365 pounds of donated food and $100 for the needy. With the help of community-minded ci�zens and the leadership of individuals like Cadet Hamilton, we are able to “end hunger here at home”. Never Enough Bou�que in Greensburg collected dona�ons when wrapping gi�s for clientele during the holidays. $300 and 82 pounds was collected. We appreciate the Educa�on Manage‐ ment Corpora�on who decided to do a large “Holiday Ini�a�ve” food drive throughout their network of approximately 2500 employees in Pi�sburgh to benefit WCFB. The Good Works Commi�ee at EDMC collected 800 pounds and $6460. Many employees come from the Westmoreland County area, hence the decision to make WCFB the beneficiary of the “Holiday Ini�a�ve” this year. Employees of Vocollect of Monroeville decided to support WCFB by offering their �me volunteering at our Delmont warehouse and facilita�ng their “Harvest for Hunger” Food Drive in the fall. They created a page on our website, where employees made monetary dona�ons. There total dona�on was $5,570 with half being matched by Vocollect. In addi�on to that employees donated 630 pounds of food! West Penn Power at Cabin Hill in Greensburg donated 640 pounds and $1,840 during the holidays for the needy. Students of Greater Latrobe High School par�cipated in a 15-week program with Kennametal Inc. employees that was an invaluable opportunity to experience the world of engineering, In addi�on to their learning experience, students and their advisors donated their �me at our Delmont Warehouse bagging hundreds of bags of pretzels for those in need. The Kennametal Founda- �on, who sponsors the program donated $1000 to WCFB. Twice a year, Sherry Stahl at ABB, Inc, kicks into gear food drives at ABB’s facili�es throughout Westmoreland County. The food donated is matched pound for dollar by the ABB Founda�on. Their recent match was $1794. We appreciate ABB’s ongoing support. Levin Furniture opened its 7th furniture loca�on in Southwestern PA in mid- September; the store is located behind Westmoreland Mall, Levin’s Greensburg new loca�on is a 53,000 square foot showroom that features the latest styles in home furnishings. A ribbon cu�ng ceremony was held on Thursday, September 15th and at that �me a check for $5,000 was presented to Westmoreland County Food Bank. Our sincerest thanks to Levin’s for all that it does for our community and thank you for your con- �nued generosity! 11
Page 1 and 2: WCFB Announces PANO Cer�fica�on
Page 3 and 4: STAFF PROFILE TRAVIS HORNE Travis H
Page 5 and 6: More WCFB Program Updates FEEDING M
Page 7 and 8: In Other News... FRANKLIN REGIONAL
Page 9: Food Drives FALL FOODSHARE FOOD DRI
Page 13 and 14: We Couldn’t Do It Without YOU! Br

Second Helpings Newsletter - Westmoreland County Food Bank

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