 Serving the downtown community
Walk-in ministry – our food pantry
Need help? For emergency food, please call the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank "Get Help" line at 412-460-FOOD, ext 456 (412-460-3663 ext 456) At noon on December 17th our Food Bank neighbors gathered in the Smithfield Church gymnasium for a Christmas dinner annually provided by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Volunteer association members served up the meal. On the menu: chicken breasts, green beans, potatoes, a selection of juices, and holiday cookies.  
  In 2010 the Allegheny County Bar Foundation supported the Smithfield Church food pantry with a grant of $3,315.96.  In all of 2010 we purchased 1,023 cases of food from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank at a cash cost to us of $483.28. Our Food Pantry received a total of $9,069.27 in donations and grants with $5,759.36 covering the remainder of the purchase cost. The total of donations to this program from 2001 – 2010 is $54,061.31. 
During the August 1 - 5 Help week, pantry administrator Rena Thomas provided the following to each of the households served: 2 lb. cheese, 2 large boxes of cold cereal, 1 can Green beans, 3 cans milk, 2 cans corn, 4 cans assorted fruits, 1 canned beef, 1 jar strawberry jelly, 1 lb. margarine, 1 can Cheesy Burger Macaroni, 1 dozen eggs, 4 qts. milk, 2 bottles of juice, 1 can potatoes, 1 can ravioli, 2 jars spaghetti sauce, 1 bag prunes, 2 lbs, spaghetti noodles, 1 jar peanut butter, 1 bag bagels and danish, 1 can pinto beans, 1 can beef stew, 2 cans tuna, 1 can baked beans, 2 cans soup, 2 packs of steak and ground beef, 1 pack pork, 1 bag salmon steaks, 1 bag halibut steaks, 1 pack breakfast sausage, 2 frozen dinners, 2 lb. lunch meat and 1 pack bacon. Distributed to residents of Wood Street Commons who have no cooking facilities: 4 cans fruit, powdered milk, bagels and danish, 2 cans beef ravioli, 1 box cereal, 1 lb. cheese, 1 can Cheesy Burger Macaroni, 6 bottles of juice, 1 jar peanut butter, 2 qts. milk, 2 cans tuna, 1 can baked beans, 2 packs lunch meat, and as many Nutri-System Microwave meals cups and dinners as wanted. As always, other items were given in response to special requests. Referrals were made to Travelers Aid and Job Search Transportation. Under the able direction and unswerving commitment of Rena Thomas, our congregation’s business administrator, Smithfield Church stocks the food pantry and hosts the Walk-in Ministry every fifth week on a rotating basis with other churches in the Downtown Ministerium. During the 8/1 - 8/5 Help Week Distribution," at Smithfield Church, 64 individuals (14 of whom were first-time clients) representing 53 "families" were served. The Ministerium's primary area of service is Downtown Pittsburgh: Wood Street Commons (shelter/individual rooms), three rent subsidized apartment buildings (Penn Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and Liberty Avenue, and the YMCA shelter on W. North Avenue). Rena regularly refers clients to agencies that can address their needs. In June some clients were referred to Travelers Aid, Jubilee Kitchen (for clothing), and the Urban League (for rent and utilities assistance). Rena also helps people receive assistance from the "On-Site Pharmacy," a free service of the Program for Health Care to Underserved Populations available through the Division of General Internal Medicine at Montefiore Hospital as well as the "Gift of Sight" program offered by Lenscrafters and Home Area Pantry. "We do what we can to ensure that the people who come through our doors receive the help needed to enhance their lives," Rena says. People often ask, "Can we contribute food and supplies for the Smithfield Church food pantry." The pantry is stocked with packaged food, frozen foods, health and beauty supplies, and household cleaning products purchased from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Rena orders the supplies she anticipates will be needed for the month, basing her decisions on what is on hand, what is likely to be wanted by those coming to the pantry, and the storage space available. The Food Bank's pricing means that she can get the supplies at the lowest cost possible. The answer then to the question is, "We welcome and very much appreciate cash donations." Donations to the ministry can be made directly to Smithfield Church and designated for the Walk-in Ministry. Another way to support the Smithfield Walk-in Ministry, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and food banks across the state of Pennsylvania is to volunteer with GPCFB, keep informed of the issues, and register to receive the GPCFB's monthly e-mailed newsletter. Since taking on the administration of this vital ministry in 2001 and through December 2008, Rena has acquired $41,181 in grant monies and donations to help support it. In 2008, of the $5984.22 in donations received only $500 (8%) came from FEMA. To date in 2009, she has received grants and donations totaling $12,933.56. "Kudos to Rena!" for her work in helping Smithfield respond to the very real day-to-day needs of our downtown Pittsburgh neighbors. [The Walk-in Ministry is a program of the Downtown Ministerium. Participating members are the five downtown Pittsburgh churches: Smithfield United Church of Christ, First Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. Mary of Mercy Roman Catholic Church, and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Donations in support of the Ministerium's help week program should be addressed to the Downtown Ministerium, c/o First Lutheran Church, 615 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.] Severe Weather Emergency Shelter (SWES)
Curious about how the shelter operates and who it serves? See this Q and A with Linda Sheets, program director for Operation Safety Net. Quoting from the Allegheny County Bureau of Hunger and Homeless: SWES are in operation between the hours of 7:00 p.m. through 7:00 a.m. when the following conditions exist between November 15 and March 15:
Between November 2010 and March 2011, the shelter was fully operational for a record 64 nights, up from 63 in the winter of 2009-10, with an average of 88 people served nightly - 76 men and 12 women. The average age of men served was 45, for women 39. 50 people were 25 and younger and 40 were 60 and older. 116 were served on the highest census night. 265 people stayed only one or two nights and 70 stayed 20+ nights. The unduplicated client count was 568. 135 of those who came to the Severe Weather Emergency Shelter during this period were connected to ongoing case management. 22 were placed in year round shelter and 65 were housed. The medical clinic was fully operational and was able to connect many back to the office for medical case management and ongoing care. "The Severe Weather Emergency Shelter (SWES) program is operated by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Office of Community Services, in conjunction with Operation Safety Net. During periods of excessively severe weather conditions, SWES provides shelter to the homeless population who normally live on the streets and do not use one of the 12 existing emergency shelters. SWES provides food, clothing, counseling, and warmth for homeless individuals. . . . "Operation Safety Net provides physical health care services to homeless consumers at the shelter. Mental health services and referrals are provided on site by a psychiatric nurse and social worker from the Bethlehem Haven's 902 Clinic. There is often a psychiatrist on site as well. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank provides nutritious food throughout the winter season. Operation Safety Net – an innovative, award-winning program of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy – coordinates staffing at the shelter, including outreach workers and volunteers. "The 11,500 square feet of space in the basement of the church comprises a kitchen area, showers, restrooms and a gym floor for the purpose of providing severe weather emergency shelter for adult homeless men and women. The downtown Pittsburgh location also has a private entrance and a central location making it accessible for police and fire departments and outreach workers from other homeless shelters to bring in individuals." Festivals  Every year Smithfield United Church of Christ offers a mid-day June Strawberry Festival and a September Apple Festival (both on Strawberry Way, weather permitting), and a December German Christmas Markt (in the Social Hall). All welcome shoppers, passers-by, and area business folks for an inexpensive meal and a time to step aside from the busy-ness of the day. A gathering place A number of community organizations use the Smithfield UCC's facilities. Among them are:
If your group is looking for a downtown meeting space, call us at 412-281-1811. A place of respite and "extravagant hospitality" Bike & Build team respite stop-over each summer for 3 years
7/24/11 Copyright © 2000-2011, Smithfield United Church of Christ. All rights reserved. |
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– through you and me!