Hats 'n At

All of East End Cooperative Ministry's programs are heavily dependent on a cadre of dedicated volunteers. From tutoring students to packing bags at the Food Pantry to organizing activities at the Drop-In Center, volunteers are at the heart of our work.

Nowhere is this more true than at EECM's Men's Emergency Shelter. The Shelter is open 365 nights a year, and every night, a group from the community prepares and serves the evening meal to the men staying at the Shelter. Many groups -- especially those organized by our Council of Congregations -- serve in a regular rotation. So, if it's the fourth Friday of the month, you can expect a team from St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Second Thursday? That'll be Temple Sinai.

It's a great system. And as if bringing dinner weren't enough, sometimes these groups go above and beyond to provide "extras" for the men in the Shelter. Donations of socks. Themed meals and activities for special occasions. That sort of thing.

Last night, the volunteers from the Pittsburgh Friends Meeting showed up armed with a supply of Steelers' hats and scarves! One of the volunteers in the group had purchased the gear from Yinzers in the Strip to bring as a gift for the men. When the store realized why she was buying the apparel, they gave her an additional box of kids hats, gloves, and scarves which will be distributed via our Food Pantry today.

Here we go, Pittsburgh, here we go!