What's Production?

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communication Coordinator

For five weeks each summer, much of the talk in EECM's Children & Youth Department revolves around "Production." There are meetings and plans and scripts and choreography. But what is this all-important event?

EECM's Summer Day Camp Final Production -- the culmination of our summer camp for kids ages 5-16. Throughout the five weeks of camp, our kids create a dramatic production. It includes song, dance, skits, mime, and any other kind of artistic expression that strikes their fancy. The campers plan out the production, design the skits, and practice like mad. Then, on the final night of camp, the perform the Production for friends and family.

Each year, Camp has a central theme -- this year it was "Fight the Good Fight and Keep the Faith." Each week of camp focused on a different topic that supported the overall theme. And the skits and dance numbers created by the campers were also designed to go with the theme.

Here's a behind the scenes look at a group of campers rehearsing their dance number for the final production...

12 Annual Bridge/PennFree Reunion

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

As a fundraiser, one of the questions I'm frequently asked to ponder is "how do you know your programs are working?" Whether stated explicitly or not, it's clearly a question on the minds of most people contemplating making a financial commitment to an organization like East End Cooperative Ministry.

We have lots of numbers that we use to answer that question -- statistics about meals served, individuals graduated from programs, and other metrics -- but my favorite way to share the impact of EECM is with stories.

And there's no better place to look for stories than at the annual Bridge & PennFree Housing Alumni Celebration. The 12th annual gathering took place on Friday night. Each year, the graduates and current program participants from EECM's two transitional housing programs get together to share food and fellowship and to celebrate how far they've come in their lives.


This year, we had about 40 alumni present, ranging from recent graduates who completed the program this year to long-time veterans. An informal poll identified our most senior alumni as an 18-year graduate, participating in the PennFree program in 1992.


The reunion is all about sharing and connecting. Alumni swap stories about what their families are doing and grouse good-naturedly about their work schedules. Though, as one alum put it -- "But I have a job...and grateful for it!"


Every man and woman present at the Alumni Celebration had overcome huge hurdles to be there. Each one battled past addiction, and all pulled themselves out of dependency and homelessness to achieve lives of independence and stability. A recurring theme throughout the night was one of gratitude to EECM for the role the Bridge and PennFree programs (and their amazing staff) played in the lives of our graduates. For most of our alumni, the time they spent in our programs was the turning point in their journeys. The period where they set their feet firmly on the path to a better life.


To read one Bridge Housing graduate's story (featured in our Fall 2008 newsletter), click here. I was thrilled to see Aaron at the reunion on Friday night and to learn that he is still doing great!

EECM Men's Shelter Calendar

Every night of the year, groups from the community prepare and serve the evening meal at EECM's Men's Emergency Shelter. Groups also occasionally serve breakfast at the Shelter and/or prepare bagged lunches to distribute to our shelter guests. We have a spiffy new calendar that displays the schedule of groups and also indicates where there are openings for which we need groups!

The calendar is color-coded:

Green = Dinner
Purple = Breakfast
Blue = Bagged Lunch

We're also working on including menu information on the calendar. By seeing what other groups have prepared recently (or are planning to prepare), groups can determine what meal they wish to make!

Day Camp Report: The Final Week!

Written by: Domonique Dobson, Children & Youth Department

This is the final week of East End Cooperative Ministry's Summer Day Camp and we are sad to see it come to an end!

During our final week, will reflect on how the media influences today’s children and youth. Our young people are bombarded by media images on a daily basis. It is these images and values that, for many of our youth, determine what they will wear, how they speak, what they purchase, and how they live their daily lives. Because of this, our youth need to understand the value that lies within themselves and the danger of allowing our media culture to determine self importance.

By the end of camp, campers should be able to use what they have learned throughout the summer to walk courageously in truth, wisdom, and confidence as they continue to Fight the Good Fight and Keep the Faith.

In-camp activities for this week include preparing for the end of camp production. Campers will perfect their songs, dances, and drama pieces.

Tonight at 6:00pm at Westinghouse High School, the entire camp will take the stage, performing all they have learned for their family and friends.

On Friday, Aug 6th, the final day of camp, all campers will travel to Romp and Roll for an all-camp skating extravaganza!

What a great summer this has been! As Day Camp comes to a close, we hope all of our campers enjoy the remainder of their summer and the upcoming school year!

Day Camp Report: Week Four

Written by: Dominique Dobson, Children & Youth Department

EECM's Summer Day Camp continues! Last week, we wrapped up the “positive and negative relationships” thematic and moved into bullying.

Today’s children and youth suffer from a tremendous amount of pressure, not only from their peers, but from society as a whole. Learning how to cope with negative peer pressure and bullying of all types will help our young people overcome negative temptation, stand up for what is right, and positively defend themselves.

It is also important for our kids to learn to better manage circumstances that provoke aggression and anger so as not to allow life situations to determine personal outcomes, such as becoming bullies themselves.

As for in-camp activities, campers continued working on production lines, dances, and music for the end of camp production next week.

This week’s trip schedule included:

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my! The 5-10 year olds went to the Zoo!

The 7/8’s enjoyed a movie at the South Side Works Movie Theatre.

5-8’s saw flowers they had never seen before at Phipps Conservatory. They potted and took home their very own tomato and blueberry plants, giving them the opportunity to use those “green thumbs” for the first time!

The 5-10 year olds finished off their week at Idlewild Park!

The 11/12’s went to Fun Fore All and finished their week at Kennywood Park!

Finally, the 13/16’s conquered the waves at the Wave Pool and completed their week at Cedar Point!

Only in Pgh

Check it out! EECM was recently profiled on onlyinpgh.com. And while you're there, enjoy the rest of the information on this great 'Burgh website!

www.onlyinpgh.com