Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator
It started as a trickle. A penny here, a penny there. But before long, it became a copper tidal wave. The final result? $1,347.78.
The Penny War -- organized by the fraternities and sororities of Carnegie Mellon University -- surprised everyone with its success. "I've never seen it do what it did this year," mused Dominick Williams, the Grad Assistant for Frat and Sorority Life on campus.
Dominick helped the Greeks organize the project during their first-ever "Greek Week" this fall. The campus boasts sixteen Interfraternity Council fraternities and sororities as well as four multi-cultural groups. Greek Week included fun events like flag football and tug-o-war, as well as a focus on philanthropy.
In addition to the Penny War, the Greeks collected hundreds of cans of food for EECM's Food Pantry.
When searching for an organization to focus their efforts on, Dominick gave the Greek leaders this directive: "Find a cause that you can believe in – that you think is worth it." Someone suggested EECM, and they were off and rolling.
Many thanks to everyone who helped to make the CMU Penny War and Food Drive a smashing success!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
A Food Pantry Story
Thanks to, Morgan -- EECM's fabulous PULSE intern -- for this story from our Food Pantry.
East End Cooperative Ministry is an approved Dollar Energy partner organization. The Dollar Energy Fund provides financial assistance low-income families who have fallen behind in their utility payments and are in immediate danger of service termination, or have already had their services shut off.
For some people, the lack of utility service is not just an inconvenience, but a matter of life and death. This was the case for Margo, a recent visitor to EECM’s Food Pantry. Margo came to the Pantry to receive groceries, and shared with our volunteers that her electricity had been shut off.
Margo has several serious medical conditions that require her to use an electric oxygen machine. Without her electricity, her life was literally at risk. We immediately helped her file the necessary paperwork to connect with Dollar Energy and her electricity was restored.
While the electric company was doing their job by turning off the electricity since it had been unpaid, little did they know the high cost it would come to this woman, in terms of her health!
East End Cooperative Ministry is an approved Dollar Energy partner organization. The Dollar Energy Fund provides financial assistance low-income families who have fallen behind in their utility payments and are in immediate danger of service termination, or have already had their services shut off.
For some people, the lack of utility service is not just an inconvenience, but a matter of life and death. This was the case for Margo, a recent visitor to EECM’s Food Pantry. Margo came to the Pantry to receive groceries, and shared with our volunteers that her electricity had been shut off.
Margo has several serious medical conditions that require her to use an electric oxygen machine. Without her electricity, her life was literally at risk. We immediately helped her file the necessary paperwork to connect with Dollar Energy and her electricity was restored.
While the electric company was doing their job by turning off the electricity since it had been unpaid, little did they know the high cost it would come to this woman, in terms of her health!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Shelter Experiences
Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator
I had the opportunity to serve dinner at our Men's Shelter on Monday. I welcome these glimpses into the "front line" of our services, as I spend the vast majority of my time in the office or meeting with donors -- very rarely do I have a chance to really dig in and get dirt under my fingernails.
I always find these experiences simultaneously encouraging and heartbreaking. On the one hand, hearing (and telling) the success stories of our agency is one of the greatest joys of my work. But on the other, coming up close and personal with the incredible challenges that our clients face is sometimes enough to make you sit down and weep.
It had been about a month since I last served dinner at the Shelter and I was encouraged by how few faces I recognized. For example, Jerome* was gone, and I took that as a good sign. When I met him last month, he was staying at the Shelter following an explosive breakup with his girlfriend. He had a steady job as a cook at a local restaurant and was hoping to soon have enough money saved up to get his own place.
But Jon was still there, and that made me sad. Last month, he'd been brand new to the Shelter, fresh from Arizona. A specialty construction worker (I think he does tile), the lack of jobs in Arizona had driven him out and his love of the Steelers brought him to Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, there wasn't much work here, either, and he found his way to EECM.
Since we last connected, he'd moved out of the Shelter into an apartment with a roommate, only to return when the housing situation didn't work out. He eagerly told me about a new job he'd just landed, doing renovations on a house in Fox Chapel. He was confident this would provide employment for at least a month, and that might be enough for a security deposit. I hope so!
It's always good to be reminded of who we serve and why those services are so important.
*These aren't their real names.
I had the opportunity to serve dinner at our Men's Shelter on Monday. I welcome these glimpses into the "front line" of our services, as I spend the vast majority of my time in the office or meeting with donors -- very rarely do I have a chance to really dig in and get dirt under my fingernails.
I always find these experiences simultaneously encouraging and heartbreaking. On the one hand, hearing (and telling) the success stories of our agency is one of the greatest joys of my work. But on the other, coming up close and personal with the incredible challenges that our clients face is sometimes enough to make you sit down and weep.
It had been about a month since I last served dinner at the Shelter and I was encouraged by how few faces I recognized. For example, Jerome* was gone, and I took that as a good sign. When I met him last month, he was staying at the Shelter following an explosive breakup with his girlfriend. He had a steady job as a cook at a local restaurant and was hoping to soon have enough money saved up to get his own place.
But Jon was still there, and that made me sad. Last month, he'd been brand new to the Shelter, fresh from Arizona. A specialty construction worker (I think he does tile), the lack of jobs in Arizona had driven him out and his love of the Steelers brought him to Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, there wasn't much work here, either, and he found his way to EECM.
Since we last connected, he'd moved out of the Shelter into an apartment with a roommate, only to return when the housing situation didn't work out. He eagerly told me about a new job he'd just landed, doing renovations on a house in Fox Chapel. He was confident this would provide employment for at least a month, and that might be enough for a security deposit. I hope so!
It's always good to be reminded of who we serve and why those services are so important.
*These aren't their real names.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
FedEx Cares Video
Written by: Kate Snyder, Development & Donor Communications Coordinator
Back in September, we were fortunate enough to have a group of more than 30 volunteers from FedEx Ground spend the day with EECM as part of the company's Day of Caring.
Among the participants was one volunteer armed with a video camera, who captured their efforts on film. Check out the edited project for a good window into the projects the group undertook for EECM.
You can also read about their experience in the EECM Fall Newsletter.
Back in September, we were fortunate enough to have a group of more than 30 volunteers from FedEx Ground spend the day with EECM as part of the company's Day of Caring.
Among the participants was one volunteer armed with a video camera, who captured their efforts on film. Check out the edited project for a good window into the projects the group undertook for EECM.
You can also read about their experience in the EECM Fall Newsletter.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Out of the Cornfields
Last Sunday, East End Cooperative Ministry hosted its Sixth Annual Houses of Worship Architectural Tour. We enjoyed a wonderful stroll through Squirrel Hill as we visited Church of the Redeemer, Sixth Presbyterian Church, and Temple Sinai.
Before the Tour, some friends of EECM gathered for a reception and a lecture by local architectural historian Eliza Smith Brown. She provided context for the tour by filling us in on what was happening in Pittsburgh and the East End at the time our congregations were constructed.
Pictures of the Tour are on the EECM website, here.
A transcript of Eliza's lecture is available here.
Enjoy and we'll see you next year at the 7th Annual Houses of Worship Architectural Tour!
Before the Tour, some friends of EECM gathered for a reception and a lecture by local architectural historian Eliza Smith Brown. She provided context for the tour by filling us in on what was happening in Pittsburgh and the East End at the time our congregations were constructed.
Pictures of the Tour are on the EECM website, here.
A transcript of Eliza's lecture is available here.
Enjoy and we'll see you next year at the 7th Annual Houses of Worship Architectural Tour!
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