Winter 2012

United by Faith. Dedicated to Service. eeCMImpactRecently, EECM lost a member of its family; struggling residents of the East End lost a faithful ally; and we all lost a friend when Paul DeWalt, EECM’s Hunger and Homeless Programs Director, passed away suddenly on November 16, 2011. Paul served at EECM for more than ten years, during which he constantly strove to improve our programs for the benefit of our clients. Paul was never satisfied with “good” service; he always wanted “better”. He listened to clients’ struggles, treating each individual with respect and working tirelessly to secure resources to help improve their circumstances.

Genuinely understanding the needs of our clients, Paul saw how the quality and growth of our programs was becoming increasingly limited by their scattered-site operation. For this reason, he was eagerly anticipating the construction of our new facility, Community House. Paul knew that Community House would benefit our clients by improving the quality of our services and heightening the level of dignity with which they are served.

Although Paul will not get to see his clients move into Community House, his legacy of service and dedication will live on in its walls for years to come. The Residence Hall in Community House -- which will house 36 homeless men and women in double-occupancy rooms, with a private bathroom for every four people -- will be named in Paul’s memory. Paul would have been proud to see his vision for Community House come true, and we are proud to continue the work that was so close to his heart.

Paul, you are deeply missed.

In Loving Memory of Paul DeWalt

One day, Paul jotted down the following list of how he envisioned Community House making a difference, both in the lives of our clients and the efficiency of our programs:

~We won’t have to ask men to leave the shelter each morning by 8:00 AM. ~The men staying in the shelter will not have to share a single bathroom and an overheated, overcrowded sleeping room with two dozen other men. ~We won’t have to turn away women in need of emergency shelter. ~Because our Hunger Programs will not have to compete for space, the hours of operation for the Food Pantry, Soup Kitchen, and Meals on Wheels will be able to expand, resulting in more people being served. ~We will have sufficient storage space to better manage our in-kind donations, allowing us to strategically distribute items where they are needed most. ~Our goal will no longer be client survival, but client growth.

East End Cooperative Ministry

EECM is constantly blessed by the time, talents, and generosity of our volunteers and donors. One such individual is Valerie Calderone, a high school senior who saw the opportunity to use a school assignment to help the disadvantaged people of Pittsburgh. Many years ago, through the Girl Scouts, Valerie learned to knit, and she decided to use those skills to knit hats and scarves to help those in need stay a little warmer this winter. Over her summer break, Valerie knitted 46 hats and 38 scarves -- nearly 300 hours of labor! In late November, she distributed them to the homeless and other residents of the East End at EECM’s Drop-In Center.

Valerie first learned of EECM through her senior project mentor, Rose Fanous. Rose volunteers weekly at our Soup Kitchen and, as an employee of East Liberty Family Health Care Center, frequently coordinates the weekly medical clinic at the Drop-In Center. When Valerie approached her with her project idea, Rose knew just the place where her creations could be put to good use, and contacted EECM to make arrangements.

“I think the work being done at EECM is really important, and wanted to help out with my skills,” Valerie said. Our clients appreciated her work, and enjoyed choosing from the colorful selection of winter wear.

We are thankful for dedicated youth like Valerie and positive role models like Rose, who help young people see beyond their own backyards into the communities that surround them. Because of Valerie’s time and generosity, more than 40 people will be warmer this winter!

A small sample of Valerie’s colorful handiwork

Giving Back: Jeremy’s Story

Jeremy (not his real name) was always proud of his self-sufficiency, but in 2000, he broke his hip in a work accident. Although for many years, Jeremy had been a dedicated employee at a local construction company, his injury prevented him from working, and he soon found himself without a place to stay.

After being released from the hospital, Jeremy turned to the Orr Compassionate Care Center, where he was able to recover from his injury in a caring environment while working with case managers to develop a plan to return to independence. Although his injury left him unable to return to the construction business -- the only vocation he had ever known -- Jeremy did qualify for EECM’s Bridge Housing Program, which helps homeless men transition to independent living. There, he was able to start putting his plan into action.

While at Bridge, Jeremy discovered an interest in computers and technology. He enrolled in a program at the International Academy of Design and Technology, and graduated in 2002 with his associate’s degree in Computer Information Management. Afterwards, he got a job in a bank, where he has had a chance to put his degree to work. Next fall, Jeremy plans to continue his information technology studies at the Pittsburgh Technical Institute.

“Bridge was such a great experience for me,” Jeremy says. “I was able to work on myself as a person, figure out a plan for my life, stay clean and sober, and surround myself with other supportive men from different backgrounds, all going through a similar situation.” In fact, all these years later, Jeremy is still close with many of his former housemates at Bridge.

Jeremy was so moved by his experience at Bridge that he recently made a gracious monetary donation to assist in making repairs to the program building. We at EECM are proud to see our clients succeed as Jeremy has, and we are touched by his generosity in reaching out to help others find the purpose and self-sufficiency he now enjoys.

Knitting for the Needy: Volunteer/Donor Spotlight

Thanks to Rodef Shalom Congregation for providing this profile!

Located in the Oakland/Shadyside area, Rodef Shalom Congregation has been a beacon in the Reform Jewish community for more than 150 years. Guided by rabbis and lay leaders, Rodef Shalom has advocated for the modernization of Jewish thought and practice. The congregation’s members have debated Reform Jewish platforms and principles, leading to decisions that have resulted in widely accepted changes to the practice of Reform Judaism.

Rodef Shalom is a diverse congregation that includes both new members and families who trace their congregational involvement back through generations. Many members were raised as Jews, while others have come to the congregation through other faiths and traditions. The Rodef Shalom community welcomes all who espouse Reform Judaism and the values it represents.

Today, Rodef Shalom continues to hew to the values that guided its founding a century and a half ago, including: life based on serious and thoughtful engagement with sacred texts; meaningful and inclusive worship; and a deep and abiding involvement with the wider Jewish and secular communities. The congregation believes and does these things so that its members might have a hand in repairing the fractured world.

Rodef Shalom has a strong commitment to social justice, and its members frequently come together to address local, national, and international concerns. The congregation is especially proud of its relationship with EECM. In addition to providing regular monetary support, Rodef Shalom members serve in leadership roles at EECM, volunteer in the Soup Kitchen (as pictured at right), hold an annual coat and shoe drive for EECM, and support the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Through the generosity of its members, Rodef Shalom has supplied the Soup Kitchen and the Food Pantry with weekly meat donations for more than twenty years. The congregation also recently made a substantial contribution to the Campaign for Community House.

Council of Congregations Spotlight: Rodef Shalom Congregation

Highland Ave. PartnersFedEx Ground ~ P&G Pamela’s Diner

Centre Ave. PartnersCommunity Care Behavioral Health ~ Dollar Bank

Baum Blvd. PartnersElliott S. Oshry, Fund Raising Counsel ~ FHL Bank of Pittsburgh ~ Gateway Health Plan ~

IngMar Medical, Ltd. ~ Jewish Healthcare Foundation ~ Keystone Metals, Inc. ~ Levin Furniture ~ Pollock Begg Komar Glasser LLC ~ Trust-Franklin Press Co. ~

West Penn Allegheny Health System ~ William Penn Tavern

EECM would like to thank our corporate partners:

Penn Circle Partners

up 13%

Have a Heart for HungerFebruary 12 - March 31, 2012

Did you know...? There are thousands of men, women, and children in our community who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. EECM is working hard to address this epidemic -- last year alone, our Hunger Programs provided meals and groceries to more than 4,000 individuals.

We are committed to providing food and resources to every single person who comes to us for help, but we can’t do it without YOU!

Join us for EECM’s annual Have a Heart for Hunger campaign and make a difference. Each year, from mid-February until March 31st, we invite the community to make a special effort to combat hunger in the East End.

There are lots of ways that you can participate:

Host a Food Drive Contact Sarah Villafuerte (412.361.5549, x422 or sarahv@eecm.org) for details.

Take a WalkJoin us for the 22nd Annual LoveWalk for the Poor, an annual charity walk and food drive organized by the youth of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. On Sunday, February 12, participants of all ages are invited to bring a non-perishable food item and join in a one-mile walk to East Liberty Presbyterian Church, location of EECM’s Hunger Programs. The walk kicks off at 3:00pm from Sacred Heart Church on Shady Avenue.

Volunteer in EECM’s Hunger ProgramsVolunteers are especially needed in our Meals on Wheels program and our Food Pantry. Contact Tracy Hudson (412.361.5549, x403 or tracyh@eecm.org) to get involved.

Make a Financial ContributionAll financial contributions to EECM’s Hunger Programs made betweenFebruary 14th and March 31st will be matched by an anonymous donor, up to $30,000.Keep your eyes on your mailbox for more information, coming soon!

Attend Pancakes in the PMJoin us for this annual benefit dinner at P&G Pamela’s Diner in the Strip District on Thursday, March 1 from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. More details can be found on the back page of this newsletter.

Come to the Soup Kitchen to celebrate St. Patrick’s DayStay tuned for details about our annual St. Patrick’s Day lunch at the Soup Kitchen, to be held in mid-March. We’ll celebrate with seasonal music and a special meal -- all are warmly invited to attend.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day CelebrationOn Sunday, January 15, EECM and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will join together to hold the 28th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and Kelso Lecture in Honor of Dr. King. The event will be hosted by Temple Sinai Congregation, located at 5505 Forbes Ave. in Squirrel Hill, and co-hosted by the Religious Society of Friends and the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ. Music will begin at 3:30 PM, with the main service following at 4:00. The keynote speaker will be Dr. John Jackson, President of The Schott Foundation for Public Education in Cambridge, MA. Refreshments and a question-and-answer session with Dr. Jackson will follow the celebration service.

The event is free and open to the public. Donations of non-perishable food items for EECM’s Food Pantry are encouraged. We hope to see you there!

Feed the ChildrenOn November 30, EECMpartnered with Feed the Children -- a non-profi t organization fi ghting hunger in the United States and around the world -- to provide 1,200 East End families with essential food and household supplies. South Whitfi eld Street was closed for the day as three semi-trailers unloaded more than 65,000 pounds of food and supplies, enough to last each family one week.

Prior to the event, vouchers were distributed to families through EECM’s programs. On the day of the event, these families brought their vouchers and braved the freezing rain to receive their supplies. We extend a special thanks to the nearly 100 volunteers who weathered the cold, directed traffi c, handed out provisions, and were essential to the success of this event!

Holiday Wrap-UpThanks to all those who helped make the season brighter, warmer, and more joyful for our clients by participating in one of our recent holiday giving opportunities. Because of your generosity...

...more than 200 coats were collected during our Coat Drive, and were distributed just in time for winter.

...hundreds of additional pounds of food, including festive holiday favorites like stuffi ng and sweet potatoes, were donated to the Food Pantry.

...more than 3200 gifts were distributed to nearly 800 clients through our Holiday Gift-Giving Program.

Yes! I want to make an impact!

Looking back... Looking ahead...

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WIN12

I wish to desginate my gift for the following program(s):

___ Hunger Services

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January - Rice-A-Roni

February - Tuna

March - Instant Mashed Potatoes

April - Peanut Butter

May - Rice

Each month, we make a special appeal for a particular food

pantry staple; however, donations of all non-perishable foods

are always welcome!

NonProfit Org.U S Postage

PAIDPittsburgh PAPermit No 1750

250 North Highland Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412.361.5549 www.eecm.org www.eecmblog.org United Way #325

Food Pantry “Food of the Month”

Looking to get more involved with EECM in the new year? We are currently seeking volunteers to serve in a variety of roles, including: tutors and mentors for our Children & Youth programs; drivers and visitors for Meals on Wheels, and helpers in our Food Pantry. For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact Tracy Hudson at 412.361.5549, x403 or tracyh@eecm.org.

Because calories don’t count when you’re eating for a good cause...

What: Pancakes in the PM, a benefit “breakfast” to support EECM. Come enjoy some of Pamela’s signature goodies, learn more about EECM, and mingle with other philanthropically-minded breakfast lovers.

When: Thursday, March 1, 5:30-8:00 PM (come for a few minutes or stay for the whole evening)

Where: P&G Pamela’s in the Strip District (60 21st St.)

Suggested donation: $25 per person, which will be applied to the 12th Annual Have a Heart for Hunger campaign to benefit EECM’s Hunger Programs (Food Pantry, Soup Kitchen, and Meals on Wheels).

RSVP: 412.361.5549 or eecm@eecm.org....or you can just show up!

EECM Board of Directors: Mark Bibro-President, Phil Hallen-Vice President, Walter Fowler-Treasurer, Rita Pollock-Secretary, Jonathan Sewall-President Council of Congregations, Eric Davis, Esq., Carla E. Frost, Florence Johnson, Stuart Miller, Elliott Oshry, Steven Reinsel, Esq., Emily J. Rosenthal, DeWayne W. Tuthill, Penina Lieber, Esq.-Solicitor, Myrna Zelenitz, CPA-Executive Director