The East End Edition

What's a Trekker?

2009-07-09T14:09:00.000-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Last Thursday, I heard an unusual phrase repeated several times around the office: "The Trekkers are here. The Trekkers are here." At first I envisioned a bunch of sci-fi fanatics visiting our fair organization, but I was wrong.

It turns out that the Trekkers were a volunteer group from Maine,* visiting Pittsburgh for a few days on a service project. Trekkers is a very cool outdoor-based mentoring program that pair small-town Maine youth with adult mentors who take them on a variety of adventures.

Our Trekkers were mostly 8th graders and they spent the day working in several of EECM's programs -- some packed bags at the Pantry and served lunch in the Soup Kitchen. Others spent time at Safe Haven and the Drop-In Center.

*And how does a group from Maine make its way to EECM? Pittsburgh exerts its own gravitational field on people. Former Burghers always seem to have a soft spot for our fair city. And the Executive Directors of Trekkers just happens to be from Pittsburgh...

EECM and the Knights of Columbus

2009-07-06T08:21:00.001-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Do you know about the Knights of Columbus? They're a Catholic fraternal benefit society, which basically means they do good work in the community. Our local KofC Council is a good friend to East End Cooperative Ministry's Food Pantry.

One of their members is a Heinz retiree, which allows him access to whole-sale Heinz/Del Monte products on the cheap. They collect financial donations from their members and then they stock up on basics and deliver 19-20 cases of food to our Pantry.

Having the staples is great -- things like canned fruits and vegetables, soups and chicken broth. They're all items our clients are eager to receive and we go through a lot of them every month.

Throughout the course of last year, the KofC made 22 donations for a total of 8,640 pounds of food with a retail value of more than $12,000! Wow.

Good Luck in College from Fox Chapel Youth

2009-07-01T07:54:00.004-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Heading off to college can be tough. You're leaving home for the first time. Maybe you don't know anyone at the school. What if your roommate is totally bizarre? Will the classes be way harder than high school? You mean I have to share a shower?!?

There's a lot on your mind.

It's good to have some reassuring words and well wishes as you embark on this new journey. And, thanks to the vacation Bible school kids from Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, several of EECM's college-bound students will have just that.

Fox Chapel participated in EECM's annual Off to College Supply Drive, where local congregations put together college care kits for our students. The kits include necessities for dorm life like sheets and towels, school supplies, and miscellaneous items from microwave popcorn to rolls of quarters. The VBS kids also created hand-made cards for our kids that are immeasurably cute.

Many thanks to everyone who participated -- thanks for helping to send our students off right!

Another Side of East: A New Community House for East Liberty

2009-06-24T13:05:00.002-04:00

Written by: Philip Hallen and Mark Bibro*

The recent Post Gazette article on East Liberty’s renewal is a welcome notice to the larger Pittsburgh community about the transformation and continuing innovation of the area. This transformation is a model of public private partnership which has been the hallmark of so much of Pittsburgh’s progress over the last several decades.

The forward-looking collaboration between ELDI and East Liberty Presbyterian Church in developing East Liberty Town Square is another example of how the spirit and culture of a neighborhood, decimated by an ill-conceived sixties renewal effort, can be recaptured, recreated and realized in new forms, based on neighborhood need and sound planning ideas.

There is another sector which increasingly takes a role in this remarkable renewal and it represents a large and viable – and almost invisible – piece of what is happening in East Liberty. The approximately 50 non profit organizations based in the 15206 zip code account for an aggregate payroll of almost $95 million dollars. When viewed from an economic impact perspective, this group of human service and educational organizations contributes in a major way to the vitality of East Liberty.

One of these non profits, East End Cooperative Ministry, an inter-faith, multi-program, social and human service agency, is joining the new physical face of East Liberty by building Community House, a new 58,000 square foot neighborhood center at the corner of Penn Circle East and Penn Circle North. This building joins the green infrastructure initiative of the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development and is planned as a Platinum Level LEED certified addition to East Liberty’s array of new buildings.

Settlement houses or neighborhood centers have been a part of Pittsburgh’s history for decades, as its immigrant populations, both individuals and families, adjusted to the new industrial society of the day. Sarah Heinz House, Hill House, Kingsley House, and Hosanna House are some of the historic examples of how the non profit sector rallied to solve educational and family problems in the racially and culturally diverse neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. In these welcoming places, people learned languages, found new job skills, learned how government systems worked, found cultural enrichment through music and theater and learned to strengthen family ties and relationships.

Now East End Cooperative Ministry will add a similar space to the East End. EECM’s 14 program locations will be centralized in a physical and cultural community center designed to compliment the growing renewal efforts in the neighborhood. After 40 years of service to the homeless, the hungry, distressed children and families, EECM will be able to provide a new level of dignity, compassion and efficiency to its long record of service to East Liberty.

We proudly join with the enlightened retail and business community, the dozens of non-profit organizations, the hundreds of homeless and hungry, the countless children and families, and the thousands of volunteers, each doing a special task, each making a special contribution to the larger renewal. East Liberty is not only “becoming a vibrant community” as the Post Gazette says; it always has been one, in spite of hard times. These new times are full of hope – built on mutual commitment, sound planning, and community support rich with promise.

*Philip Hallen is President Emeritus of the Falk Foundation. Mark Bibro is Executive Director of the Birmingham Foundation. They are, respectively, President and Vice President of East End Cooperative Ministry’s Board of Directors.

Food of the Month with Edward Jones

2009-06-18T10:02:00.000-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Supporting East End Cooperative Ministry doesn't have to be complicated. It can be as simple as collecting one particular food item for EECM's Pantry each month.

That's exactly the approach being taken by Deborah Hughes and the Regent Square Edward Jones office. They decided they wanted to do their part for the hungry in the community by hosting an ongoing "Food of the Month" food drive in their office.

Each month, they focus on one particular EECM Food Pantry staple -- like rice or pasta. They encourage their clients to donate and hope to involve the large community in their drives.

If you would like to host a community food drive, we are happy to help! We can help you brainstorm creative approaches and provide fliers and lists of much-needed items. To get involved, contact Tim Brown, Community Relations Coordinator, at 412.361.5549 ext. 411 or timb@eecm.org.

*

Good Samaritan Service

2009-06-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

I had the honor of being asked to speak at East Liberty Presbyterian Church's Good Samaritan Service this past Sunday.

But what's this? You don't know about the Good Samaritan Service? Then you are missing out!

At 8am each Sunday, an eclectic mix of people gather for a time of spiritual reflection in the small dining room at ELPC (also known as East End Cooperative Ministry's Soup Kitchen). Worshippers usually include current guests of EECM's Men's Shelter, former shelter guests, and a varied bunch of other folk from the community, including a contingent of loyal EECM volunteers.

It's by far the most diverse worship service I've ever attended. And the most accepting. There are no barriers at the Good Samaritan Service. Wealthy and poor mingle and sing together. White and black chat over coffee and donuts. Attire ranges from suits and ties to jeans and t-shirts, and both ends of the spectrum are considered "appropriate." When it's time to "pass the peace" and greet one another, it takes 10 minutes because every single person greets every other person in the room with a smile, a few words, and a handshake or hug.

The order of service is informal and flexible. There are some hymns, a time of prayer, and a message by the speaker of the day. The messages are as varied as the people providing them. From text-based sermons, to personal testimonies, to reflections on the journey of faith. The act of sharing is much more important than the words being spoken.

To me, the Good Samaritan Service epitomizes the type of community we are trying to create here at EECM. It is welcoming, respectful and deeply caring, and its power lies in the shared gifts and talents of its members.

If you're ever in the neighborhood, feel free to stop by! You are always welcome.

Birthday in a Bag

2009-06-12T11:33:00.000-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

If you're ever looking for a fun philanthropic project to do with a group of kids, here's a terrific idea, brought to you by the middle school students of Sacred Heart Elementary School:

Birthday in a Bag Kits

The Student Council at Sacred Heart organized the collection of "birthday essentials" like birthday cake mix, cans of frosting, and candles. They packed them into individual bags, which will be distributed to food pantry clients with children.

If you need inspiration for easy group activities to benefit EECM, don't hesitate to give us a call! 412.361.5549.

Fantastic Flavor

2009-06-09T12:21:00.006-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Arg! It just hit me that the last post on the East End Cooperative Ministry blog was several weeks ago. For shame. You'd think we were spending our days watching the paint dry, with nothing to report from the EECM trenches. But you'd be wrong!

First and foremost, I'm pleased to report that the annual EECM fundraiser -- A Flavor of the East End -- was a smashing success. Our best ever, if I might be so bold. In case you missed the action, here are some highlights:

Over 200 guests – from friends new and old to staff and board members to longtime volunteers to members of local media and representatives from our sponsors – gathered to support our mission of building a community of opportunity in Pittsburgh’s East End.

Restaurant group big Burrito whipped up some truly phenomenal culinary delights, from asparagus maki rolls to chicken and greens. The spicy lo-mein was the most popular dish, in part because it was served in little take-out containers, which attracted a lot of attention. Boyd & Blair, local purveyors of home-made vodka, provided tastings and won over many new converts.

There was fierce competition for nearly two dozen Silent Auction items, including a great Steelers package (including not only tickets, but other essential paraphernalia including Steeler wrapping paper) and a chance to play hoops 3 on 3 with Pitt Women's Basketball Coach Agnus Berenato.

And let's not forget the popular Restaurant Raffle, which provided guests with the opportunity to win one of 30 gift cards to eateries throughout Pittsburgh.

At the Build It Now: Wall of Community, guests were able to sponsor vital EECM services, from groceries for our Food Pantry clients, to Summer Day Camp for local youth, to breakfast for the homeless men at EECM's shelter.

We were lucky enough to have local Pittsburgh artist Daviea Davis join us the night of the event. Ms. Davis has a marvelous mosaic exhibit on display at the Pittsburgh Glass Center right now. During the event, she created a unique mosaic of EECM's distinctive logo -- with help from event attendees!

Thanks to everyone who attended A Flavor of the East End this year, and we look forward to seeing you (yes, I mean YOU -- the person reading this post!) next year.

An Ode to Rummage Sales

2009-05-19T09:15:00.000-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

There's something very comforting and ubiquitously American about church rummage sales. They're just so classic.

And, as it turns out, they can also be a perfect charitable operation. A well-planned rummage sale -- like the one held by Third Presbyterian Church a couple weeks ago -- can actually result in a trifecta of good deeds.

Good Thing #1
Church members get a bunch of unwanted stuff out of their homes and closets without those items winding up in a landfill.

Good Thing #2
Members of the community with limited income are provided a source of good-quality clothing and household goods at minimal cost.

Good Thing #3
The proceeds from the rummage sale can be donated to an organization like East End Cooperative Ministry, thereby benefiting the most vulnerable members of our community.

Third Presbyterian Church raised $1,000 from their rummage sale, which they designated for EECM's Orr Compassionate Care Center. The Orr Center provides a safe refuge for men and women (many of them homeless) to recover from illness or injury. Thanks to everyone who organized, donated, and shopped!

Partners in Philanthropy

2009-05-15T14:22:00.000-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Hats off to a new group of friends of East End Cooperative Ministry -- the Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners. PSVP is a partnership of philanthropic-minded individuals who invest their time, expertise and capital in innovative nonprofits serving at-risk youth.

The PSVP team recently served dinner at EECM's Men's Emergency Shelter. Here are some reflections from one of the women who participated in that event.

“It was a pleasure being part of yesterday’s feeding the poor event. It opened my eyes to a new reality in Pittsburgh and USA. Living in a country, which is consider the richest country, still there are many men going to bed in shelters, depending on volunteers to feed them. I wished we had more food to feed them not only once but until they were satisfied.

It makes me thankful to the Lord God for his provisions in my life. What has opened your eyes lately?"

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

2009-05-13T07:51:00.004-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood..."

When I start with that line, you immediately have a picture in mind, right? Friendly middle aged guy in a button up sweater... Ahhh. I heart Mr. Rogers (don't we all?).

Each spring, Pittsburgh honors Fred Rogers on "Won't You Be My Neighbor Day." Everyone is encouraged to don a favorite sweater and a variety of Pittsburgh organizations host events focused on the idea of what it means to be a neighbor.

This year, the Squirrel Hill Library organized a diaper drive to help out their neighbors unable to afford this basic baby necessity. The donated diapers made their way to East End Cooperative Ministry's Food Pantry. Thanks very much to everyone who participated. We like having you as our neighbors!

Mt. Union Cares!

2009-04-30T16:09:00.005-04:00

Written by: Heidi Bartholomew, Mt. Union Alum, loyal EECM friend, and member of the EECM Young Professionals

Mount Union College National Day of Service -- April 25, 2009

As a graduate of Mount Union College and a member of its Alumni Council, I was thrilled to coordinate the Mount Union College National Day of Service for Mount Union alumni living in the Pittsburgh area. My husband, Tim Brown, has been an active volunteer for East End Cooperative Ministry over the last two years and I hoped to leverage the energy and talent of our local Mount Union alumni for the benefit of EECM.

Our service project was a top-to-bottom cleaning of the EECM soup kitchen and dining area. We assembled a group of 12 dedicated Mount Union alumni who arrived at the soup kitchen bright and early on Saturday morning to begin the deep cleaning. I passed out the official "MUC - Mount Union Cares" t-shirts and we split up the job duties.

The volunteer project included a thorough cleaning of the commercial refrigerators, cooking area, food serving area and dining area. The group used an impressive amount of Mr. Clean, buckets, rags and brillo pads and when the project was finished, the soup kitchen was sparkling clean!

Tim gave an eye-opening overview of the important hunger services delivered by EECM from the kitchen in the basement of East Liberty Presbyterian. Behind the scenes work, like cleaning the soup kitchen and dining area, supports EECM's mission to deliver the highest quality service to the needy in the East End. Volunteering as a group was a great way to connect alumni and we enjoyed discussing ideas for next year's service project. I will be sure to talk to Tracy Hudson, EECM Volunteer Coordinator, about service projects for the 2010 Mount Union College National Day of Service!

Easter Lilies Help the Hungry

2009-04-27T07:19:00.004-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

The great fundraising ideas just keep coming! Today our thanks and appreciation goes to the members of East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

Lilies are a ubiquitous visual representation of the Easter holiday in most churches -- on Easter morning, sanctuaries overflow with beautiful flowers and the scent is enough to give you a head rush. But this year, ELPC decided to give their members an option: purchase a lily for the Easter worship service or donate a comparable amount to East End Cooperative Ministry's Food Pantry.

The response was terrific! Altogether, the Easter Lily fundraiser raised $2,244.00 for the Pantry. That's enough to provide groceries to 56 hungry families. Wow! Thanks to all the members of ELPC who participated in this terrific project.

A Lenten Fundraiser

2009-04-20T11:19:00.000-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

The stories from the 2009 Have a Heart for Hunger campaign are still rolling in! Here's a great one from the students of St. Bede School.

This year, the student council at St. Bede decided to host a Lenten fundraiser for East End Cooperative Ministry's Have a Heart for Hunger campaign. The organizers staked out the school cafeteria at lunch-time and encouraged students to donate the money they would have spent on snacks or lunch add-ons to EECM instead!

It was a very appropriate fundraiser for the pre-Easter season, as Lent is supposed to be a time of sacrifice and reflection. Having the students help the hungry instead of buying snacks was the perfect manifestation of that!

The Lenten fundraiser was a big success. The students raised $281.22 (mostly in change!) for EECM's important Hunger Programs.

Hoop It Up 2009

2009-04-09T09:30:00.004-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

The annual madness of March is slowly ebbing nationwide. Here at EECM we've also wrapped up our annual Hoop It Up basketball tournament and it was, as always, a great success!

Each year, our Children & Youth staff organize and host a youth basketball tournament in March. EECM-coached teams comprised of participants in our after-school youth programs are joined by community teams from a variety of local organizations and schools. This year, there were 20 different teams with students in elementary school through high school.

In addition to promoting exercise and healthy competition, the Hoop It Up program has a "healthy living" component that includes anti-smoking information. At the tournament, there were posters and fliers promoting healthy lifestyles and educating participants on the dangers of smoking.

Thanks to all participants and volunteers!

Super Soap!

2009-04-07T08:37:00.005-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Did you know that food stamps don't cover soap? When Ilana -- a thirteen year old attendee of Rodef Shalom Congregation -- learned this fact on a tour of East End Cooperative Ministry, she decided to take action.

Community service is frequently a component to Jewish Bat Mitzvah festivities, and Ilana used her coming of age celebration as an opportunity to help the clients of EECM. She set a goal of collecting 250 bars of soap and advertised her collection at Temple and in her Bat Mitzvah announcements.

The project snowballed wonderfully and Ilana ended up with almost 1,200 bars of soap. She donated 600 to EECM and the other half to the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry. Thanks, Ilana!

Canstruction

2009-04-06T15:08:00.007-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

The students at Chatham University really know how to make a food drive fun!

As part of their annual Res Life House Olympics, students participated in a "Canstruction" food collection challenge. Students organized a food drive for non-perishable groceries and then used the items collected to build architectural structures (including a model of the Eiffel Tower) as part of a fun competition to raise awareness about the problem of hunger.

City Reformed Food Drive

2009-03-31T08:18:00.002-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Hats off today to our friends at City Reformed Presbyterian Church. Thanks to EECM's Super-Admin (who just happens to be a member of City Reformed) the congregation hosted a month-long food drive benefiting EECM's Have a Heart for Hunger campaign.

The response was terrific. They collected more than 100 food items as well as some baby necessities like diapers and baby shampoo. Here's a partial list:

9 boxes of cereal
13 boxes of Mac and Cheese
16 cans of soup
6 cans of fruit
17 cans of veggies
8 jars of pasta sauce
2 jars of peanut butter
2 jars of jelly
4 boxes of pasta
6 boxes of raisins
3 cans of salmon
2 cans of chicken
3 packages of rice
4 cans of tuna
3 jars of applesauce
2 cans of pasta
3 boxes of Jello/pudding
2 boxes of stuffing

What's particularly great about this food drive is that it targeted "food of the month" items -- those foods that we use (and need) all the time at the Pantry. Everything in red above is a food of the month item. Each of the more than 400 families that comes through the Pantry each month receives these items, so food drives focusing on these much-needed things are extra helpful!*

*Of course, we happily accept and use donations of all types of non-perishable food items. Click here for more information on donating food to the Pantry.

Bank Buddy

2009-03-27T08:12:00.007-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Back in July, I blogged about a terrific urban gardening project being organized by Allegheny Valley Bank. Well, they're back (although minus the gardening shears this time)! Our friends at AVB are once again partnering with EECM, this time for our Have a Heart for Hunger campaign.

These guys are terrific. They are hosting a six-week long food drive at all six of their Pittsburgh branches, collecting non-perishable food items for our Food Pantry.

It's particularly great to see the company-wide support of this project. Pictured in the snapshot below you'll see Andrew W. Hasley, President & CEO of Allegheny Valley Bank, and Gregory J. Saxon, Chairman of the Board. Both donated personally to the drive and were big promoters of the effort.

So far, the employees and patrons of AVB have collected well over a hundred pounds of food and $237 in cash donations. Thank You!!

Sixburgh

2009-03-18T22:36:00.002-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Here's another cool Have a Heart for Hunger fundraising idea -- The Sixburgh Challenge.* This bit of creativity comes compliments of one of EECM's terrific Board members. The basic premise is simple: she sent out an email with information about the campaign to her friends, challenging them to donate $6 and forward the email on to 6 people.

Yup, it's a pyramid scheme -- but with a higher purpose.

The Sixburgh Challenge has the benefit of being both quick and easy. The email comes in, you click on the "donate now" link, you forward the message on. You're done! You've fed the hungry and made a difference in the community and it only took two minutes. Not too shabby.

So far, The Sixburgh Challenge has raised more than $600 for the Have a Heart for Hunger campaign. Woo hoo!

*In honor of the Steelers six Superbowl wins. And if you didn't know that, you're clearly not from around here...

Pancakes in the P.M.

2009-03-13T12:44:00.006-04:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Who knew that eating pancakes could make the world a better place? I think that deep down inside, many of us always suspected this was true, but now we have empirical proof. I give you the first annual Pancakes in the P.M. benefit dinner with East End Cooperative Ministry's Young Professionals!

Last night, approximately eighty friends of EECM gathered at P&G Pamela's Diner in the Strip to mingle, chat, feverishly devour caramel French toast casserole, and support EECM's Have a Heart for Hunger campaign.

I'd like to say first (and then repeatedly and loudly) that this event was only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of the good people of Pamela's who donated the food, space and even staff for the evening.

When guests were able to tear themselves away from the homefries and "build your own pancake" bar, they browsed pamphlets of information about EECM and had a chance to sign up to volunteer in a variety of EECM programs, from serving dinner in the homeless shelter to keeping score at an upcoming youth basketball tournament.

It was a terrific evening, supporting a terrific cause: EECM's Hunger Programs (soup kitchen, meals on wheels, and food pantry). The event raised nearly $2,500 for these important programs and, thanks to the campaign's matching gift challenge, that amount will also be donated by an anonymous friend of EECM.

Calvary's Lenten Food Drive Challenge

2009-03-05T08:41:00.000-05:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

"This is a serious need, but we don't have to solemn about it -- even in Lent!"

That's the tag line for Calvary Episcopal Church's highly competitive Lenten Food Drive to benefit East End Cooperative Ministry's Have a Heart for Hunger campaign. The three clergy leaders of the congregation have divided their parishioners into teams by last name.

The teams -- Harold's Helping Hands, Leslie's Lifelines, and Nate's Natural Givers -- will compete to see which group can bring in the most bags of non-perishable food items during the six week drive.

To provide direction to the participants, each week focuses on different food items:

Week 1 -- peanut butter, jelly and jam, pancake mix and syrup

Week 2 -- canned tuna, spaghetti sauce, soup

Week 3 -- canned fruit, canned vegetables

Week 4 -- rice, dried beans and peas, coffee

Week 5 -- pasta, hamburger helper, instant mashed potatoes

Week 6 -- dry cereal, powdered milk, instant pudding

All the food pictured here was collected during week one! Wow. I'll keep you posted as to the results of the Food Drive. No matter which team comes out ahead in the competition, the clear winners are the clients of EECM's Food Pantry.

Baby Shower at the Food Pantry

2009-03-03T10:12:00.003-05:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

At East End Cooperative Ministry's Food Pantry, we are seeing an increasing number of families with young children coming to us for help. And, as any parent knows, the cost of providing for a baby is high -- diapers, wipes, formula, clothes -- it adds up to a whole lot really fast. When you're struggling to get by, $25 a week for a can of baby formula takes a gigantic bite out of your household budget. And these expenses aren't optional.

In response to this growing need among our Food Pantry clients, EECM hosted a Baby Shower on Saturday. We publicized a list of much-needed baby basics, then invited our supporting congregations to come by with donations and enjoy a slice of cake when they dropped them off.

The results were terrific! We've received literally thousands of items to date and the donations are still coming in. Here's a partial list:

3,355 diapers

31 large cans of formula

63 packages of wipes

141 bottles

20 tubes of baby butt products

11 bottles of baby wash

42 jars of baby food

14 baby blankets

More than 150 items of baby apparel (onesies, sleepers, hats, booties, etc.)

3 laundry baskets

A host of baby accessories, from binkies to bottle brushes to a bouncy chair

(...and a partridge in a pair tree!)

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Food Pantry Baby Shower.

A Non-Violent Dining Experience

2009-03-02T12:43:00.002-05:00

“Ugh. It tastes like cardboard!” That was Cheyenne’s reaction to her first taste of a Costa Rican red banana. Her sentiments were echoed by most of the other elementary school students in the room. The humble tropical fruit was met with near-universal disgust.

The pomegranate fared much better. “This is 100% good,” announced one boy, his surprise at this discovery clear on his face.

And so it continued. Cajun jambalaya, egg rolls, enchiladas, Asian pears, mangoes, coconuts, star fruit, pluots, and a host of other exotic produce each made an appearance and were duly sampled by the twenty elementary students assembled for East End Cooperative Ministry’s Cultural Food Day.

Before each taste test, EECM staff spoke for a minute or two about the food about to be eaten – its origins, special qualities, and preparation requirements. There were also guest speakers who explained some of the cultural aspects of the foods being sampled. Mr. and Mrs. Brown, who originally hailed from New Orleans, brought the jambalaya. They talked about the history of Mardis Gras food and the difference between Cajun and Creole. A bit later, an Italian-American teacher from the students’ school shared her culture while everyone enjoyed lasagna.

Cultural Food Day isn’t just about good eating; it’s an important and carefully planned component of EECM’s violence prevention curriculum, funded by The Pittsburgh Foundation. The take-away message is simple and subtle: different doesn’t mean bad. Trying new and unfamiliar things is a positive experience, even if you don’t end up loving that new thing.

Lack of respect for the “other” is often at the root of human violence and the misunderstandings begin early. EECM seeks to combat violence at its root, by promoting acceptance of difference among our youngest students.

After all, if food from other people's cultures turns out to be delicious, maybe the people aren’t so bad themselves.

Hunger Fighting Flowers

2009-02-26T12:26:00.006-05:00

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

I am wowed by the enthusiastic response we've gotten to the Have a Heart for Hunger campaign from the students of the Pittsburgh area. Nearly a dozen schools -- from elementary through college -- have signed on to participate in the campaign this year. Their efforts include a variety of food drives and creative fundraisers (stay tuned for more stories).

Today's spotlight shines on Catherine, a junior at Saint Joseph High School. Catherine represents the youth of her school on the Diocesan Youth Council of the Pittsburgh Diocese (the same people who bring us the Love Walk each year). She organized a Carnation Sale fundraiser at her school to benefit EECM and raised $100 - which becomes $200 for EECM, thanks to our matching gift.

Catherine says: "I wanted to donate this money especially to you at the EECM food bank because I wanted to give back what I could to you. You offer such wonderful works to the community and I wanted to help. I wanted to give back any way I could to show how much we appreciate your hard work and generosity. Thank you for all that you do and may God bless!"

Our hats are off to Catherine and the students of St. Joseph High School for their great hearts for hunger.