What's a Mystery Box?

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

I know I left you hanging after the silent auction post a couple weeks ago, where I ended with a teaser about Mystery Boxes. So, without further ado, in addition to the Silent Auction at EECM's annual fundraising event, A Flavor of the East End, attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase Mystery Boxes.

A Mystery Box is sort of like a raffle -- only better! We will have for sale 200 brightly colored round boxes. Inside each box will be a poker chip with a number which enters you in the raffle for the Grand Prize (two round-trip tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies -- increasingly valuable given the rising cost of gas this summer!). Simple enough. You buy a box; you drop your chip in the grab bag; if we pull it out, you win.

But wait...that's not all. It gets better. In addition to a raffle chip, some of the Mystery Boxes will also contain smaller prizes (or vouchers for them -- don't think that a bigger box is necessarily a better bet) that are yours immediately. Things like CDs or drink tickets or gift certificate to local stores. At the moment, we are offering a 1 in 4 chance of winning a secondary prize, but we're hoping to increase that to 1 in 3, depending on what other donations come in.

But wait...that's not all! It gets better again. (Hard to believe, I know). Not only do you have a chance to win the grand prize -- not only do you have a chance to win a smaller cool prize -- but the value of your donation to EECM is doubled when you buy a Mystery Box.

Say what? That's right!

The proceeds from our Mystery Box sales will go to benefit EECM's Reach Out to City Kids (ROCK) campaign. Thanks to an anonymous friend, all donations to EECM's Children & Youth programs -- including the Mystery Boxes -- made between May 15 and June 30th will be matched, up to $10,000.

This means that when you buy a $20 Mystery Box, you're actually donating $40 to EECM. Wow. I don't think it gets any better than that!

Do I hear $100?

Written by: Kate Snyder


It's that time again...EECM's annual fundraising event, A Flavor of the East End is just over a month away and the plans that have been under way since December are swinging into high gear. I got my introduction to silent auctions last year and discovered that door to door begging isn't so bad. This year we've been at it again.


It's fun to watch the lineup for the silent auction take shape. We get a lot of miscellaneous donations and then slowly they start to sort of group together and make sense. It goes something like: "Hmm...let's see. We have two kids dinosaur books compliments of Borders. Oh! And Babyland donated a rattle. And that blanket from Feathers is soft enough to be used for a little kid...I see a baby-centric basket in our future. Huzzah!"


My favorite item on the auction table is BIG, gorgeous, so-smooth-you-want-to-rub-your-cheek-against-it, carved cherry wooden bowl from a very funky shop on Walnut St. called Toad Flax (if you've never been, I suggest you go -- it's part garden shop part home decor). Sadly I fear that many other event-goers will also take a shine to it and my chances of coming out victorious after the bidding frenzy settles are slim to none. Sad for me. Good for EECM, so I can't complain.


In addition to the silent auction, we've been collecting goodies for our Mystery Boxes. What's a Mystery Box, you ask? Well, you'll have to stay tuned...

Hoop It Up

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

It's Spring so that means it must be time for basketball! No, I'm not talking about March Madness and the NCAA. I'm sure college basketball is all well and good but what has really caught our attention here at EECM is the annual Hoop It Up Basketball Tournament organized by our dedicated Children & Youth staff.

Each year, EECM works hard to organize a three-weekend basketball tournament for youth. The participants range from third grade through twelfth -- this year there are 19 teams taking part in the tournament. The first weekend of play was last weekend, there's a qualifying round this weekend, and the finals will be April 12th.

As with all of our youth programming, the Hoop It Up Tournament combines learning and fun. The tournament has an educational focus as well as a recreational one -- this year, the staff are emphasizing violence and drug-use prevention. They distribute literature to the players and encourage them to sign pledges, asserting their desire to remain drug-free.

Good luck to all the players!

Love Walk 2008

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

The freezing cold temperatures of early February weren’t enough to deter the hundreds of young people who turned out to tromp through the streets of East Liberty on Sunday February 10th. These dedicated young people were participating in the 18th Annual Love Walk for the Poor.

The Love Walk is an annual event of the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Catholic Dioceses of Pittsburgh. Each year, youth groups and young adult programs from Catholic parishes around Pittsburgh join together to celebrate mass and participate in the charity walk. Mass is held at Sacred Heart Parish on Shady Ave. and then the participants hike one mile through the heart of Shadyside to the East End Cooperative Ministry Food Pantry (located in East Liberty Presbyterian Church.)

The really cool thing is, everyone carries boxes and bags of non-perishable food items that are donated to the EECM Food Pantry. By carrying their donations with them from Sacred Heart to EECM, the participants simulate what it would be like to have to carry all of your possessions with you, as our homeless clients do daily.

The 2008 Love Walk for the Poor was the most successful yet -- these dedicated young philanthropists donated more than 1,000 pounds of much-needed food to the Pantry. This event is the annual kick-off to EECM's Have a Heart for Hunger Campaign. What a great start! Thanks to everyone who participated.

Celebrating Martin Luther King

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

As an interfaith organization, EECM seeks to find opportunities for our various supporting congregations to come together. One of our most longstanding traditions of interfaith celebration is the annual Martin Luther King Celebration Service. Each year on the Sunday before MLK Day, we host an interfaith worship event, celebrating the life and ministry of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It’s a neat service because it really does bring together a broad range of people. Borrowing from an article in Monday’s Post-Gazette: Ladies in mink hats mingled with those in Muslim head scarves. Men in sweater vests and borrowed yarmulkes talked to others in suits with shiny shoes. This year, our 24th, the service was held at the Jewish congregation, Tree of Life, and co-hosted by Lincoln Avenue Church of God.

Altogether, representatives from more than a dozen congregations and community organizations participated in the service. There were musical performances, scripture passages on the theme of justice, readings from speeches by Rev. Dr. King, and liturgical dance. My favorite performance was by the VoKols – a Jewish youth a cappella group that performed two fabulous pieces in Hebrew. They were great!

Our keynote speaker this year was the Rev. Dr. Ronald Peters, a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, director of the Metro Urban Institute, and member of EECM’s Board of Directors. He spoke on the theme of the “Beloved Community” and reminded us that we still have work to do to make Rev. Dr. King’s dream a reality.

We ended the service by singing “We Shall Overcome.” The much-loved hymn was given a new feel by a cantorial soloist from Congregation Rodef Shalom who sang the first verse in Hebrew before we all joined in in English.

Hanukkah at the Orr Center

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

Being an interfaith organization has its challenges, especially around this time of year. Is a picture of pine trees on a thank-you card appropriate or is it too indicative of a Christmas tree? Which is the better well-wishing phrase: Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings?

But then there are days when you realize that being sensitive to multiple faith traditions doesn’t have to be all that hard.

Last night, there was a special holiday dinner at the Orr Center. Let me set the scene for you. The Orr Center has a cozy, home-like feel. There’s a communal dining room with seating for 12 attached to a comfy living room with couches and a television. When I walked into the room last night, I was greeted by a Christmas tree glittering warmly in one corner of the living room, while at the head of the dining table stood a man wearing a yarmulke.

We were celebrating the second night of Hanukkah with the guests of the Orr Center – none of whom, to the best of my knowledge, are Jewish. But that didn’t slow them down a bit.

Our Executive Director, Myrna, and her husband Allan had agree to provide a special dinner for the guests and to share with them some of the history and significance of Hanukkah. The table was bedecked with a blue cloth and sprinkled with chocolate Hanukkah gelt and small dreidels. We all sat together as Allan explained the historical context of the holiday and the famous story of the miraculously long-lasting oil (if you don’t know the story, click here. It’s cool).

Allan lit two blue candles in the menorah and said a blessing, and we shared wine (well, grape juice) and bread. Then came dinner of matzo ball soup, chicken, and potato pancakes with apple sauce. For dessert – donuts! Hanukkah meals traditionally include fried foods, to commemorate the oil in the story.

It was fun for me to watch the guests of the Orr Center as they shared in this celebration. Some were hesitant at first, a bit bemused by the Hebrew words, the unfamiliar story, and the new foods. But they got into it quickly. After a bit of glancing around to see who would go first, they were soon all enjoying the sparkling grape juice, heading back for seconds on the matzo ball soup, and dexterously spinning their dreidels.

It was a beautiful evening. A sharing of tradition and food and fellowship. And that’s what being interfaith is all about – sharing traditions, learning new ones, and above all, joining together in fellowship regardless of our varied backgrounds.

Sacred Spaces

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

People flock to the cathedrals of Europe for a reason – big old churches are truly awe-inspiring. I love everything about them, especially the way they impact all of your senses. The rich colors in the stained glass windows dazzle your eyes, while sweeping pillars draw them to the heavens. Whenever I wander through a sanctuary, I run my hands along the wood smoothed by generations of congregants. I listen to the way that sound is muffled by the great expanses and I breathe in the soft smells of stone and age, and savor the memories those smells evoke. The builders of the great churches did their job well – there is something indescribably holy about being inside.

This year, EECM will again be celebrating the beauty of Pittsburgh’s own sacred spaces by hosting the Fourth Annual Houses of Worship Architectural Tour.

Sunday, November 4, 2007
1 PM to 5 PM

This year’s Tour will showcase Church of the Ascension, the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh, Community of Reconciliation, and Heinz Chapel and will include an optional visit to the Babcock Room in the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning (it’s on the top floor and you can get a 365 degree view of the city. I hear it’s awesome). Following the Tour, there will be a reception at the Cathedral Views Gallery of Alumni Hall.

The Tour kicks off promptly at 1pm from Church of the Ascension. Tickets are $25 in advance or at the door. Checks made payable to EECM may be mailed to 250 N. Highland Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Tickets may also be purchased via credit card by calling 412-361-5549.

We’ll see you there!

Celebrating Our Volunteers

A Recipe for A Lovely Evening

Take 50 EECM volunteers (any age, size, shape or color will work fine).

Add a dozen staff members and a beautiful September evening. Mix in several talented local musicians and a mouth-watering variety of sweets. Stir and enjoy!

Yield: One perfect Volunteer Celebration Gathering

Last Thursday evening was devoted to showing our deep and abiding appreciation for the many volunteers whose generous donations of time allow us to do all that we do. Most of EECM’s programs benefit from the help of volunteers. Some, like Meals on Wheels or our Men’s Emergency Shelter meals, literally could not function without them. Throughout our program areas we have many hundreds of dedicated volunteers who spend anywhere from an hour or two a year to many hours a day, lending a helping hand. They interview clients at the Food Pantry. They play games with guests at the Orr Center. They do yard work for our elderly Meals on Wheels clients. They tutor struggling students. They do whatever is needed.

And so we wanted to say a huge and heartfelt Thank You. The event was hosted at one of EECM's Member Congregations, Calvary Episcopal Church, with food inside and seating spilling out onto a beautiful stone patio. Several local musicians, including the coordinators of our ExtraOrdinary tutoring program, provided background music and even inspired several attendees to get up and dance.

The food for the evening was an array of sweets from Oakmont Bakery (home of some of the most wickedly delicious treats you will ever taste) and an irresistible fruit salad. Vases of flowers – in EECM’s colors of course – adorned tables lit by candlelight and decorated with coordinating cloths. Programming was minimal – our Executive Director, a Board Member, and our Volunteer Coordinator all said a few words, but the focus of the evening was on companionship and fellowship amongst the volunteers and staff members.

All the volunteers wore a name tag, and in addition to listing their name, the tag also indicated how many years of service they have given to EECM. The numbers ranged from only a few months to more than 33 years.

One of my favorite things about the evening was a brief session of Volunteer Open Mic when volunteers were encouraged to say a few words about their experiences with EECM. One woman told us about how she had briefly been a Meals on Wheels client herself before deciding to volunteer with the program. A young man shared that he came to EECM’s volunteer program as part of a rehab program after suffering a brain-damaging car accident. Many of our Bridge Housing clients are also volunteers and they are always ready to share. Theirs was perhaps the most touching testimony, as they spoke of how they volunteered out of a desire to give back, after having received so much from EECM.

It’s all too easy to take for granted the amazing gift given by these volunteers. And we don’t want to do that. And so we will continue to host Volunteer Celebration Gatherings in years to come, as just one small way for us to show our gratitude.

A Joyful Reunion

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

About a week ago, I had the opportunity to attend a very special EECM event, the 12th annual Bridge/PennFree Alumni Celebration. Appropriately titled The Journey Continues, this annual reunion is a chance for alumni of two of our transitional housing programs to get together, share their stories, reconnect with friends they made in the programs, and eat good food.

Bridge is a one-year residential housing program for men moving from shelter living to independent housing and PennFree offers rent assistance to both men and women (including single parents). Most of the participants in both programs have histories of substance abuse and an important component to both is engagement in recovery programs.

All of EECM’s staff were invited to attend the reunion to show our support for the amazing men and women who have worked so hard to turn their lives around. I was honored to do so.

The reunion is a popular event and I think there must have been a hundred people there. Each new arrival was greeted with shouts of welcome, many hugs, and exclamations about how good everyone looked and how big their children had grown. Stories were shared and successes rejoiced over – one PennFree alumni recently moved into a better apartment in a nicer neighborhoo. Another now runs her own business.

At one point, I found myself munching on potato chips and chatting amiably with a middle-aged man named Nathaniel. He was telling me about a former acquaintance of his named Nate. Nate was bad news – they’d lived together for a number of years but ultimately parted company because Nate was trouble and did drugs. And after I few minutes, I realized that “Nate” was Nathaniel’s way of talking about his own struggles with addiction. Nate was Nathaniel’s past, the person he used to be, the self he had managed to finally leave behind, due in large part to his participation in EECM’s housing programs.

Similar themes surfaced again and again as the alumni told their tales. There were jubilant stories of celebrating another year of sobriety; stories of discovering faith in the midst of adversity and of finding light within the darkness. Each alum who spoke expressed gratitude to the EECM staff for their unwavering support, and our PennFree and Bridge staff glowed with the joy of seeing their clients and friends standing before them sober, confident, and happy.

Throughout the evening, I also felt undercurrents of sadness in the references to alumni not present. Not everyone’s story ends happily and there were painful stories, too. The friend who had fallen back into addiction. The mother unable to regain custody of her children. The young man who was back in jail after violating his parole.

But despite these moments of sorrow, the tone for the evening was one of celebration. The men and women present that evening had come a long way on their personal journeys and although there are certain to be further obstacles ahead, they feel ready to face them, one day at a time.

A Day at the Zoo

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! A couple weeks back, a group of EECM staff and clients followed the grey asphalt road in search of adventure and close encounters of the mammalian kind. Their destination? The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, of course!

The Pittsburgh Zoo really is one of the treasures of the city. It boasts a wide variety of animals and excellent habitat landscaping. The Zoo is buried in the heart of the city, just a few blocks from EECM (you can actually catch an occasional glimpse of the snow leopard from the road – a fact that I am positive is going to cause me to wreck my car some day), but you’d never know it once you get inside. You are instantly transported to the African Savannah or an Asian rainforest. Right now, the Zoo is particularly popular as people flock to see our tiger cubs and new polar bear exhibit.

The Pittsburgh Zoo is not only a great educational complex, it is very community-friendly. The nice people in the public relations department readily donate admission passes to worthy causes…like us! Which is how it came to pass that 12 residents and guests of Safe Haven and the Orr Compassionate Care Center, along with two adventure-loving staff members, spent a fun-filled afternoon on safari at the zoo. Wild times!

Summer Day Camp Final Production

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

I have to say that, as a general rule, I don’t find random kids all that cute. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against them – I don’t loathe them in a mean, Hansel and Gretel, fairy-tale-witch kind of way. I just don’t swoon every time I’m faced with a child, like some people do. (Quite frankly, I find those Anne Geddes pictures with the babies in flowerpots a little bit unsettling.) All of this to say that I walked into the final production of Summer Day Camp last night with some trepidation – the prospect of two hours spent watching a bunch of kids I didn’t know marching around on stage did not fill me with unabashed glee.

But that was before I knew there was dancing. Because I think we can all agree that the universal exception to the “other people’s kids aren’t that cute” rule is when they’re dancing. The first act up was a bunch of six to eight year olds rocking out to a very upbeat song and I just about died. It was fabulous! And let me tell you – those kids had moves. They were up there doing complicated choreography, and doing it well.

And the show just go better from there. The campers and counselors had worked hard and pulled together a very impressive performance in five short weeks and it was a joy to witness. The theme of Camp this year was “God is Good” and all the songs, poems, dances, and skits revolved around this theme. The dance and song numbers were interspersed with an on-going drama about several teens and their families who were learning to appreciate, in their own awkward ways, the goodness of God.

For me, though, the most touching moment of the night came just before intermission when we took up a collection from the audience to support the Day Camp program. Our associate director, who has been working with this program for 25 years, is an ordained minister and a dynamic preacher. He said a few words about the history and importance of Day Camp and then we passed around collection plates. And everyone gave. I’m serious. I was helping with the offering and I did not see a single family skip the plate. These families are almost entirely low income – that’s just the demographic that we work with. Many of them only had a dollar or two to give, and yet their generosity and their obvious love for this program and its staff was really overwhelming.

So I’ll be there in the audience again next year, cheering on the children of strangers and reveling in the amazing things that can be accomplished by dedicated and caring people.

Kidz E-Fest 2007

Written By: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

When I arrived at the Peabody High School field last Saturday, the first thing that caught my eye was the giant inflatable jungle, complete with marauding dinosaur. Nearby was a group of young girls doing gymnastics, a crowd of high school boys painting a brightly colored mural, and a Christian rap group warming up their act. In and around the games and performers thronged hundreds of kids, towing good-natured adults through the crowd. Welcome to the 2007 Kidz E-Fest!

Kidz E-Fest is an annual, free to the public, fabulous, super-cool, and (dare I say?) awesome festival for the kids of our community. It might even be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.* Kidz E-Fest is the culmination of an eight-month internship for high school students – the Youth Business Initiative. The YBI is another of EECM’s many programs that benefit our community's Children & Youth.

Each year, under the careful direction of Muzz Meyers, an accomplished former East End businessman, 10 young people from a variety of East End high schools plan, raise funds for, and produce this great festival for the community. The purpose of the program is to help at-risk youth discover and develop skills that will make them employable and that can be utilized to better their future. Kidz E-Fest was chosen as the end product of the YBI program, because a creative endeavor like the youth festival captures young people’s energy and enthusiasm more than a traditional business might, and also allows them to do something wonderful for the East End community.

During their internship, the members of the YBI are entirely responsible for the production of Kidz E-Fest. They give presentations to potential funders, create marketing materials, develop (and then must stick to!) a budget for the event, design a program, secure permits for the site, negotiate contracts for equipment rentals and line up entertainment. Each participant is also responsible for recruiting 10 peer volunteers to work at the festival. This team is called the Make A Difference (MAD) Crew and their title emphasizes one of the most important goals of the project. The students of the YBI are committed to highlighting the positive aspects of their neighborhood and showcasing the great things that young people can accomplish. It gives them a welcome opportunity to give back to their community.

At the end of the program, the YBI kids all filled out evaluation forms, telling what they had learned and giving feedback about the program. Here’s a sampling of what they had to say:

“I’ve learned to voice my opinion and to listen to others, even if I still feel strongly about my view. I’ve learned that it is okay to aim high but in order to reach the goal you gotta start at the bottom.” -- Larry

“Thanks for giving me the opportunity to show what I am capable of.” -- Kionna

“It is a great experience and it will help you learn about running your own business.” -- Philip

*and if that word is unfamiliar to you, turn off your computer this instant and go rent Mary Poppins.

A Victorian Sunday Afternoon

Written by: Phil Hallen, Vice President, EECM Board of Directors

On a superb sunny Sunday afternoon, members of EECM's Council of Congregations and Board of Directors gathered in the newly restored Victorian Gate House at Chatham College to celebrate the creation of a new Council and Board structure as a way of marking a forward step for EECM toward the challenges awaiting us as we enter the 36th year of service to the East End community. Mark Bibro, President of the Board, and Myrna Zelenitz, Executive Director, welcomed the group, and commented on the new energy generated by this reorganization (which took place in 2005), as well as the expanded role of the member congregations in planning and carrying out new programs and ideas for service to the neighbors we care for (blog to follow).

Pam Smith, a former client and present coordinator of EECM's PennFree program, spoke on the meaning of EECM’s program throughout her life and struggle with addiction, and how becoming a staff member has changed her life journey into one of hope and service to others. Her moving comments captured the history and the promise of our work, and the new beginnings being celebrated daily.

I likened the gathering and the location to what was a well-known part of Victorian family life at the turn of the century - visiting friends on Sunday afternoons to share conversation and refreshments. The fifty people gathered did just that, renewing friendships, sharing stories of the early days of EECM, remembering past volunteers and staff. I closed the afternoon with a toast, asking the gathering to join me in a poem used by fellow Pittsburgher, Larry Mellon, founder of Hopital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti, as a reflection on the way EECM could live out its vision of "United by Faith. Dedicated to Service.”

Go to the people
Live among them
Learn from them
Serve them
Plan with them
Start with what they know
Build on what they have

Hoop It Up

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

The sea of young people wore t-shirts in an array of bright colors but they all proudly announced the same slogan in triumphant golden letters: “Kickin’ Butts Smoke-Free in 2007!” Welcome to the first weekend of the 2007 Hoop It Up Tournament.

Each spring, the EECM Children and Youth program staff host a three-weekend basketball tournament for local teams, with players from grades 3 through 12. This year, 16 teams and approximately 172 young people are taking part in the Hoop It Up Tournament. The teams are divided by school level (elementary, middle, high) and by gender. EECM staff coach six of the teams (including the Fulton Wildcats) which are comprised entirely of students enrolled in EECM after-school recreation programs. The remaining 10 teams are primarily formed through local schools, with a few community teams added for good measure. Many of the players on these teams are also involved in EECM programs, but are coached by non-staff members.

The games played this past weekend were preliminary match-ups to determine the tournament seeding. Play-off games will take place on April 14th and the championship will be April 21st.

As the t-shirts indicate, the Hoop It Up Tournament has an ulterior motive beyond simple recreational enjoyment: it’s part of a larger healthy lifestyles curriculum that is woven into all of EECM’s recreational programs. The tournament focuses specifically on preventing tobacco use. All participants are given handouts about the risks of smoking as well as smoking cessation information. Additionally, there are educational presentations interspersed with the games throughout the day. The goal of the program is to encourage students to establish healthy behaviors in their daily routines.

If you would like to get involved in the Hoop It Up Tournament, volunteers are needed to sell concessions, referee and help with scoring. Please call our volunteer coordinator Emily Huck (412-361-5549 ext. 403) if you’d like to help!

The 5th Dimension

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

Mark your calendars! Clear your schedule! Cancel your trip to Disney World!

June 21

8pm

Heinz Hall

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is bringing the 5th Dimension to Pittsburgh for a benefit concert for non-profit agencies.

Here’s how it works – you buy tickets to the concert, either through us (412-361-5549) or directly through the orchestra website. Indicate that East End Cooperative Ministry is your charity of choice, and they will donate the revenue from the concert back to us! Tickets range in cost from $19 to $110.

Now, I am going to confess that I have absolutely no idea who the 5th Dimension are. Nada. Zip. Apparently this is because I am 25 years old. However, my co-workers who lived through (and still remember) the 60's assure me that they are a fabulous and fun band and that there’s a song about a balloon that is not to be missed. Therefore, I’ll be there with bells on and I hope you will too!

Casbah Benefit Dinner Success!

Written by: Suzan Krauland, Community Relations Director

Each month, Casbah Mediterranean Kitchen & Wine Bar and parent Big Burrito Restaurant Group hold a charity benefit dinner at their 229 S. Highland Avenue restaurant. March 22, EECM was the charity fortunate enough to benefit from their generosity. Thirty-six of our most loyal supporters attended this particular evening and it was amazing.

Those in attendance were able to enjoy a relaxed evening in a comfortable private room, view slides of EECM programs and experience the amazing culinary achievements of Casbah.

The evening started with passed hors’ d’oeuvres that included: wild mushroom bruschetta with melted Juliana goat cheese, lamb belly quince crostini, Moroccan spiced shrimp (with a great little kick), and organic polenta with walnut-roasted red pepper puree. This was accompanied by a fruity glass of Rumball Sparkling Shiraz.

The first seated course was a white bean puree with cubes of rutabaga and butternut squash, garnished with shaved parmesan and fried baby spinach leaves. This soup course was accompanied by Shooting Star “Blue Franc”.

The salad course was winter greens, with beets, pistachios and a sherry vinaigrette. The wine served was a Sauvion Vouray Demi-Sec. Next, red snapper was served on a bed of rapini, mounded on celeriac puree, in a pool of saffron and fennel broth. The fish course came with Pietra Santa Chardonnay.

The lamb loin (yes there was more!) was served alongside two eggplant ravioli, served on a thin slice of grilled zucchini, and dressed with natural jus. This course was served with a full-bodied red, Sipranillo.

And finally, to finish the evening, there was a round cut of Meyer Lemon Custard Cake plated with raspberry sorbet and drizzled with vanilla passion fruit syrup. This came with a cordial of La Casa Narcisi Blueberry Brillante. All this was completed with coffee for those of us who were headed off to watch, sadly, Pitt’s defeat in the Sweet Sixteen—the only blemish on what otherwise was a wonderful evening!

And the best part is, we were able to enjoy this feast knowing our dinner benefited EECM food programs.

How to Have a Heart #4

#4 Take your sweetie out for dinner

No, seriously! A great way to support the Have a Heart for Hunger campaign is to participate in A Night at Casbah – a benefit dinner for EECM.

Casbah: Mediterranean Kitchen and Wine Bar
March 22, 2007
6:30 – 9:00 PM
Suggested donation $126.00 (includes dinner, drinks and gratuities)

** 100% of proceeds benefit EECM Food Programs

So there you have it – support EECM and win brownie points with that special someone in your life. Does it get any better than that?

To reserve tickets call 412.361.5549 ext 411

Freedom House Part 2

Written by Mr. Aims Coney, EECM Meals on Wheels volunteer

In the late 1960’s, two current EECM volunteers, Phil Hallen and Aims Coney, were among the half dozen founders of the Freedom House Ambulance Service, which introduced caring and professional emergency medical transportation to the Hill District. Freedom House recruited and trained approximately 50 unemployed and marginally employed Hill District residents, mostly young, in advanced emergency techniques new to the United States. It was an extraordinary partnership between the Chief of Anesthesiology at Presbyterian Hospital and inner-city activists concerned about the socially and economically deprived—the kind of endeavor with EECM initiates in its neighborhoods.

It was Phil, then Director of the Falk Medical Fund, who conceived the combination and convinced the leaders of Freedom House and pioneering anesthesiologist Peter Safar to launch the program. Aims, then a young lawyer, developed the funding, consisting largely of foundation and government grants, and arranged the governance and operational plans. Numerous others took part as volunteer.

In the early 1970’s, the territory served by the Freedom House technicians expanded into downtown, Oakland and Shadyside. But the program ended abruptly in 1975, when the City created its own city-wide emergency transportation system, choosing not to work with Freedom House or with Dr. Safar.

Freedom House

Written by: Phil Hallen, Vice-President, EECM Board of Directors

TWO EECM REGULARS HONORED FOR PIONEERING WORK IN EMERGENCY CARE

Phil Hallen, an EECM Board member and Aims Coney, a regular Meals on Wheels volunteer were honored at a University of Pittsburgh premier screening of a documentary about Freedom House Ambulance Service, a history-making medical program in Pittsburgh's Hill District and the national model for EMS systems nationwide.

In 1965 Phil, President Emeritus of The Falk Foundation, who had worked his way through college as an ambulance attendant, conceived the idea of an ambulance service to meet the needs of Hill District residents suffering from massive discrimination and neglect in their health care. He enlisted Freedom House Enterprises, a Hill District job training program, and Dr. Peter Safar, Chief of Anesthesiology at Pitt (known internationally as the "father of CPR"), to create a program which provided career training for 40 Hill District residents in emergency medical care. These men and women became the national model as the most extensively trained, hospital-based, paramedics in the nation and set standards still in place today.

Aims Coney, a respected Kirkpatrick and Lockhart attorney with a long history of involvement in social justice issues, became a founding board member and remained a steadfast worker, and advocate throughout the history of Freedom House Ambulance. His contribution was one of expertise, commitment, and longevity.

In 1975, the City of Pittsburgh began its own EMS system, eliminating Freedom House. But its legacy, is not only Pittsburgh's present system--one of the nation's finest--but international recognition as the seed bed of training, design and management for every EMS service in the country. And its place in the history of Black Pittsburgh is now fully on view through this new documentary film.

For more information, please click here or here

Have a Heart Showcase Part 1

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

This is the first of several postings showcasing how EECM friends and supporters are Having a Heart for Hunger.

If you happened to be traveling through Shadyside/East Liberty on Sunday afternoon, you would have seen an unusual sight – more than 1,000 individuals trekking along Highland Avenue, brightly bundled against the cold, chatting amicably, and toting plastic grocery bags. No, there wasn’t an unbeatable sale on frozen pizzas at Giant Eagle. It was the 17th annual Love Walk for the Poor in action.

The Love Walk is an annual event of the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Catholic Dioceses of Pittsburgh. Each year, youth groups and young adult programs from Catholic parishes around Pittsburgh join together to celebrate mass and participate in the charity walk. Mass is held at Sacred Heart Parish on Shady Ave. and then the participants hike one mile through the heart of Shadyside to the East End Cooperative Ministry Food Pantry (located in East Liberty Presbyterian Church.) And they don’t walk empty-handed – these kids go further. They carry bags of nonperishable food items to donate to the pantry; the act of carrying their donation in the dead of winter allows them to experience in a small way what it would be like to be homeless and to carry all your belongings with you, no matter the weather.

The Love Walk is the single largest food drive that benefits EECM – we received nearly 1,000 pounds of food this year.

Thank you, Love Walk participants, for Having a Heart for Hunger!