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Mission Highlights Articles

Sweet Sunday is Back, Live and In-person

February 11, 2022

City Mission is excited to return to the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe on Sunday, February 27 for the 28th Annual Sweet Sunday Dessert Festival presented by MPLX. This year’s in-person event will feature 20 local dessert vendors, beautiful auction baskets, top-notch entertainment, and kids’ games and activities throughout the day from 12-5pm. Sweet Sunday is City Mission’s largest annual fundraiser, with all proceeds going to support the Mission’s life-changing programs and services for the homeless. And the event just seems to get bigger and better every year. “My favorite part of Sweet Sunday is seeing the entire community come together to sponsor, provide sweets, share their talents, contribute auction items, volunteer, and enjoy the festivities—all to help our homeless neighbors! It never ceases to amaze me how wonderfully generous the people, corporations, churches, and civic groups in this region really are,” said City Mission’s Chief Development Officer, Dr. Sally Mounts. The event will start at noon. The incomparable Pat O’Brien will once again emcee. Entertainment is booked through 5pm, culminating with a performance from Scott Blasey, lead singer of The Clarks, which starts at 4pm. Sweets will be available all day, as supplies last, from various local dessert vendors in three categories: professional, amateur, and youth. Celebrity judges will select their favorite sweet in each category, and you will get to vote on your favorite as well for the people’s choice award. Wonderful auction baskets will be available at the event to bid on, and the café will be on-site for you to purchase food, drinks, and snacks. Admission tickets can be purchased at the door. They are $5 apiece or $20 for a family of four or more. Sweet Sunday Dough, which can be used to purchase the desserts, and auction tickets, which can be used to bid on auction items, can also be purchased at the door. There are also plenty of new and exciting things in store for this year’s event. “What’s new this year is that the major event will be held in person,” explained Dr. Mounts. “But we still have a limited number of things available online—Sweets Sampler boxes and Auction baskets—for those who want to stay home. 200 sweets boxes will be reserved for pick-up orders and can be ordered online now through Friday, February 25. And 45 auction items are available for bidding online now through the 25th as well and can be picked up by auction winners the day of the event at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe. Spots in the parking lot will be marked-off for pick-up. You can access these online options at our website: https://www.citymission.org/support/sweet-sunday. COVID precautions will also be in place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe to ensure the health and safety of all guests, volunteers, and staff. “We are taking all necessary precautions to make this a safe event,” said City Mission’s new Event Manager, Chris Rogers. “All volunteers and staff will be wearing masks. Vendors will be wearing masks as well as gloves. Hand sanitizer will be readily available throughout the event at various locations.” “We are also spreading out the layout to provide more social distancing and providing clear 2’ by 4’ shields for each Sweets vendor, and encouraging everyone to wear masks,” added Mounts. So be a smart cookie and donut miss out on this flan-tastic opportunity for you and your whole family to have a fun Sunday afternoon while supporting the work of City Mission. Go to: https://www.citymission.org/support/sweet-sunday for more information.

A Slice of Compassion

January 27, 2022

Recently, Harry’s Pizza in McMurray, made a monetary donation to City Mission, and they also donated pizzas for our residents to enjoy for dinner. The donation came one month to the day after Dave Auld, one of the co-owners of Harry’s Pizza, passed away suddenly, and it was made in his honor as a symbol that the restaurant intends to carry on his passion and commitment for supporting those in need in the community. “Harry’s Pizza has changed so many lives in the past 10+ years that they have partnered with the Mission, by not only providing pizza, a place for donation drop-offs, and communicating our needs to their generous customers, but they have also spread the word about who we are at the City Mission,” said Shelley Kubincanek, City Mission’s Manager of Church and Community Engagement, who was a close personal friend to Dave and the Auld family. “We are so grateful for their compassion for our residents.” More than ten years ago, Stacey French-Finnegan, who has worked for Harry’s Pizza for 18 years, organized their first donation drive for the Mission. And ever since then, Harry’s Pizza has been actively supporting the ministry of City Mission. About 5 or 6 times a year, they would call us up and let us know that they want to donate pizzas for our residents. And then at the beginning of COVID, the restaurant decided to make themselves available as a permanent donation drop-off site for the Mission, where people in the community, including their customers, could drop-off clothes, shoes, blankets, canned food items, hygiene products, blankets, and more. “No matter when we are in need of meals, Harry’s Pizza always delivers us delicious pizza,” added Kubincanek. “Their customers will always answer the call as well, with donations for our residents, and we are so blessed by each and every one of them. This business is so much more than a business, it is family to City Mission and we cannot say thank you enough to all of them for continuing this relationship and their generosity to help make a difference in our community.” Now that Dave Auld’s nephew, Dan Auld, has taken over operations at Harry’s Pizza, he along with Robin Auld (Dave’s sister-in-law and majority owner), Nate Auld (Dave’s nephew), and the rest of the family, are carrying on Dave’s passion for food and for people. “Everyone wanted the pizza shop to continue in Dave’s memory and to continue his legacy,” Kubincanek explained. “Dan is there every day to make the pizzas and make sure that everything is going just as it did when Dave was still with us. Dan’s commitment to make Harry’s Pizza now his passion is so admirable. Seeing Dan’s hard work and dedication is heartwarming, because it is just what Dave would have wanted, if he couldn’t be here himself.” Your business can also partner with City Mission to provide hope for the homeless and hurting in our community. Contact Corporate Relations Manager, Eric Smith, at esmith@citymission.org to get your business involved. You can contact Harry’s Pizza at (724) 969-0444 or info@harrys-pizza.com

Finding Ways to Help

January 13, 2022

Finding Ways to Help Although rising Covid numbers in our area along with some positive cases among our staff and resident population have caused us to temporarily close our Warming Center and Cold Weather Shelter, we are still finding ways to help those in need during these, cold, winter months. "No one is going to get turned away," said City Mission President/CEO, Dean Gartland. “We’re working diligently to keep people safe and warm.” For those in need of emergency shelter in the cold weather, we work to find alternative solutions. We refer them to county agencies and other shelters, make phone calls on their behalf, purchase bus tickets, and offer transportation for those we cannot keep in our shelters overnight. We also contact other local agencies who may be able to help, and when necessary, we secure hotel rooms for those in need until a long-term solution can be found. “But if it’s the end of the day, or the weekend, and they can’t connect with the county resources, we are the people who bridge that gap,” said Gartland. In addition to these resources, we also offer hot meals, warm clothes, blankets, toiletries, canned food, and possibly even medical care to those who come to us for help. The safety of everyone in the community is our top priority, and we are working hard to help those in need while also doing our very best to keep staff, residents, volunteers, and the community healthy and safe. “Unfortunately, the cold weather came at the same time Covid is spiking,” said Gartland. “But we’re still going to make sure that everyone’s needs are met.” If you or anyone you know need help to stay out of the cold this winter, please continue to reach out to us at 724-222-8530. We are here to help during this difficult time.

Brentwood Bank Pledges $25,000 to Finish Strong Campaign

October 29, 2021

Brentwood Bank, a community bank headquartered in Bethel Park, PA, has proudly announced its pledge to donate $25,000 over the course of the next three years to City Mission’s Finish Strong Campaign. City Mission has been committed to shelter, heal, and restore the homeless to independent living through comprehensive programs that address short-term and long-term needs for over 80 years. “As a community-focused business, we are always looking for ways to help those who are struggling in our communities,” said Carrie Havas, Senior Vice President and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of Brentwood Bank. “We hope our donation will help City Mission to continue its mission and positively transform the lives of our neighbors in need.” City Mission will persist in supporting the homeless and credits initiatives like the Finish Strong Campaign with improving program outcomes, meeting the growing needs in the area, and providing a safe haven for those who are struggling. As a part of the City Mission’s Career Training and Education Center, a classroom will be named in Brentwood Bank’s honor. The center provides vocational services to all City Mission residents as well as an on-site computer lab, classrooms, and study areas. “We are so grateful for the partnership of Brentwood Bank and their commitment to the homeless and needy of our community and to City Mission,” said Dean Gartland, President and Chief Executive officer of City Mission. “Their contribution will go a long way in helping us achieve our goal of paying off our current mortgage and begin the process of focusing on our new Women’s shelter which is so critically needed.” Donations made to the Finish Strong Campaign support life-changing efforts including growing the Vocational Training Center, starting the early stages of development for a new 50 bed women’s shelter, and continuing to identify new and cutting-edge methods to address the increasing problem of homelessness. “City Mission’s work in prioritizing an individual’s dignity while helping them get back onto their feet is a truly honorable cause,” said Clayton Kinlan, AVP and Relationship Banker for Brentwood Bank “We hope to propel a successful Finish Strong Campaign and in turn help to meet the ever-growing needs of those plagued with homelessness.” “We thank Brentwood Bank and their generous gift, which is another example of their consistent commitment to our cause and it’s goal of giving hope to the homeless,” said Dr. Sally Mounts, the Chief Development Officer of City Mission. For more information, please visit www.brentwoodbank.com or www.citymission.org. About Brentwood Bank Brentwood Bank has proudly served the South Hills region of Pittsburgh since 1922. Since then, we've maintained our local roots while growing the bank to five locations: Beaver; Bethel Park, Brentwood, South Fayette, South Park. We offer a full range of financial products and services and are committed to providing exceptional service and value to our customers and our communities throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area. About City Mission For 80 years, City Mission has sheltered, healed, and restored the homeless to independent living—without discrimination. City Mission’s comprehensive program addresses both short-term needs like food and shelter, and long-term needs, including drug and alcohol counseling, mental health and medical treatment, legal aid, and employment training. City Mission’s goal is to help each man, woman, mother with children, or veteran who walks through our doors to become a healthy, productive member of society. With your help, we can help our residents renew their lives.

Common Ailments Among the Homeless

September 30, 2021

The homeless population in Pennsylvania is recorded to be over 13,000 people. This includes families, veterans, young adults (aged 18 to 24), and those experiencing chronic homelessness. These are people who may be experiencing problems like lack of affordable housing and poverty, among other things. This is a serious problem, but you can help. Homelessness also brings about serious consequences to overall health and well-being. And as it is very likely that those who are experiencing homelessness would not be able to afford healthcare, the smallest gestures and assistance can go a long way. As Director of Residential Programs Leah Dietrich explains, "One of the largest challenges is access. Homeless individuals are often transient and can't consistently access healthcare and mental health treatment. It takes time and resources like insurance and transportation. Many times, individuals will feel they have no options beyond emergency care, which doesn't allow for underlying concerns to be addressed as would be covered in a PCP or counseling appointment." One way you can help is by learning about the pervasive health issues among the homeless and understanding what you can do. Common Ailments It is very common for people experiencing homelessness to fall ill as they are exposed to increased stress, have unstable sources for food, and stay in unsanitary living conditions – all with limited access to healthcare. Here are the common ailments for those experiencing homelessness: Wounds and Skin Infections This can happen to people who have no homes because they are often outdoors and exposed to the elements. In turn, this leaves them vulnerable to wounds which can lead to infections if not cleaned and treated properly. Malnutrition When someone is homeless, they might not have a steady source of food. This can lead to them not eating enough or having access to food with enough nutrients to keep them healthy. That is why they are more susceptible to malnutrition. This problem can lead to more (chronic) health issues, such as liver disease, heart disease, and secondary malnutrition in the long run if not addressed. Hepatitis People experiencing homelessness who contract hepatitis tend to struggle to get the right treatment. "Hepatitis C cases occur consistently in our population. Lack of access to testing can often lead to positive cases going untreated. Individuals with hepatitis C can develop cirrhosis or scarring of the liver over time. As a part of our intake, we screen for Hepatitis C and connect anyone with a positive test to Central Outreach for treatment. This partnership also provides us with the testing supplies for HIB testing," Dietrich says. The CDC also recommends greater access to vaccines to control hepatitis from spreading. Mental Health Problems Homelessness can also cause extreme stress, trauma, anxiety, and depression. These are serious mental conditions that, if not tended to, can cause physical manifestations. Another way mental health struggles are apparent in those who experience homelessness is when substance abuse enters the equation. Dietrich explained how addiction can develop in our residents: "Self-medication often occurs unintentionally as substances seem to take pain away or give a leveling-out effect, and then the addiction takes off. Other times, our residents are introduced to medications that become habit-forming after surgery, and then the addiction grows." In many cases, seeking psychiatric care might be difficult due to reasons like cost, stigma, and inaccessibility. How You Can Help Give Donations Community lawyer Diane O'Connell says that donations allow the homeless to maintain their autonomy, and that providing them with living essentials preserves their dignity. Because people experiencing homelessness often lack a steady source of income, they may not be able to acquire essentials like food, clothes, or medicine. Being able to supply these basic needs may be able to tide them through tough times. These donations may seem like a simple act, but they make a huge difference, especially since the transportation to acquire such resources may be difficult to find. Connect them to a Medical Professional Being able to give medical care to the homeless is another way you can assist them. Though healthcare can be expensive, some places and people offer their services pro bono or at discounted rates. There are many resources on the internet to be able to find these services too. Most people who experience homelessness can have access to the internet via community resources such as libraries, shelters, and charities. They can go online and contact these health professionals found by you. Online, they can consult with nurses with doctorate degrees who are specially trained in advanced medical issues. More importantly, these nurses have adequate public health experience, so they not only treat ailments at a surface level but also address the health implications of homelessness. Similarly, they can also consult with a charity physician if their sickness requires more complicated treatments like surgery. In order to help them, you will have to set up the online meeting and guide them through it. But by simply giving them the chance to speak to a medical professional you will be offering a great service. Specifically, people who are homeless can get in touch with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). Dietrich highlights how these centers are "federally funded to allow for an access point for the uninsured and underinsured in the community. They serve as a bridge from homelessness and other underserved individuals to the health care system. Because of the transient nature of the homeless, medical providers can become frustrated with the lack of follow-up from the patient, but FQHCs and their providers are more flexible and understanding. Our relationship with Centerville Clinics has allowed our residents to build their comfort with medical providers and discover and address underlying conditions in a safe environment." Doing Volunteer Work If you are looking for ways to be proactive in helping those who are homeless, volunteering is a great way to do so. You can volunteer for organizations like City Mission whose main goal is to care for homeless people as they aim to make a real difference in their lives. These organizations may do different things like offer shelter, have soup kitchens, and hold fundraisers intended to help those in need. By joining, you can assist them in these charitable efforts and initiatives in your community. Helping out those who are affected by homelessness is extremely important and necessary. These are people whose circumstances may be dire and the little bit of assistance you give can go a long way. Written exclusively for citymission.org Written by Jessie Calix

Up and Running - Wayne Runs Marathon for City Mission

September 29, 2021

"Nobody runs a marathon without a good reason, because it's 26.2 miles, and who would do that," said Wayne Heckman, the Manager of Clinical Services for City Mission. For months, Wayne has been a training for the Detroit Free Press Marathon, which will be run on Sunday, October 17. He has been a runner since he was a kid and has already completed seven full marathons. He explains his reason for running. "I like to run marathons, because it's a way to test myself and push the boundaries of my physical fitness, and it also brings peace to my mind." Wayne also has another reason for running. He is working to raise support for City Mission, an organization that he knows is doing good in the world, because he works there every day, and he sees lives being transformed. Last year, he ran a virtual marathon to support City Mission. He mapped out his own route starting and ending at the Mission, and his co-workers ran water stations for him all the way out to Canonsburg and back. He was able to raise over $1,000 for the Mission. This year, the Pittsburgh Marathon was again run virtually, so he decided to run in the Detroit marathon, which will be run in person. He previously completed the Detroit marathon once before and is excited for the opportunity to go back. He is also excited for the opportunity to fundraise for City Mission, a cause that is near and dear to his heart. “City Mission does really important work,” he said. “A lot of times, when people come to the Mission, this is the last place. They’re at the end of their rope. They have nowhere else to go. And City Mission provides them not only with food, housing, and clothing but also with educational opportunities, employment opportunities, 12-step recovery training, spiritual training, and all different types of training and skills to help them be able to leave here successfully and then not end up back here again.” “When someone gives to City Mission, it’s really going to people who are in the most need,” he added. “I promise you that your donations will go to a good cause and really make a difference in people’s lives.” Please support his incredible efforts and the life-changing work of the Mission at Wayne’s fundraising page: https://bit.ly/2W4YpQu

"A Firm Place to Stand"

City Mission Chief Operating Officer, Brian Johansson

September 15, 2021

On Monday at City Mission’s weekly chapel service, Chief Operating Officer, Brian Johansson, paid tribute to the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center first by honoring the veterans in our residential program who have faithfully served to protect our nation and then by telling the story of his own personal encounters in New York City on that day. On September 11, 2001, Johansson was the Director of the Bowery Mission, the third oldest Christian rescue mission in the US, just 10 blocks from the site of the World Trade Center. He was commuting to work that day, but the subways stopped running, all the bridges into the city shut down, and the traffic backed up for miles. Determined to help during the crisis, he found a place to park his car, and he walked over the 59th Street Bridge from Queens into the city while most New Yorkers were scrambling to get out. It took him nearly 4 hours to walk to work through all the chaos in the aftermath of the attack. When he finally made it to the Bowery that day, there were 50 people, covered in dirt, praying and crying inside the Mission’s historic chapel. He and the staff at the Bowery Mission ministered to and prayed with the victims, survivors, and the loved ones of those who were lost. Johansson, a native New Yorker, grew up the son of a pastor in a blue-collar neighborhood, playing stickball in the street with his friends. “We played stickball games where the manhole cover was first base,” he said, recalling those times in his life for the Mission’s residents and staff. “The Twin Towers were part of my childhood,” he added. “I saw them every day.” Many of those friends he played stickball with grew up to be New York City policemen and fire fighters who have their own firsthand accounts of that day. But Johansson’s story is a little different. He dreamed of becoming a New York City police officer, and after college, he even applied for entrance into the academy, but around that same time, he and his wife, Peggy, began to feel a calling to help the homeless. Every Wednesday, they would pack up some food and drive around New York City ministering to the street homeless. “In 1992, I got a letter of acceptance into the police academy – something I had been dreaming about ever since I was a kid,” Johansson remembered. But that very same week, he also received a letter from the Bowery Mission asking him to be the Director of their Transitional Center, which offers transitional housing for men who have graduated the Mission’s residential recovery program. After much prayer and soul-searching, he decided to follow God’s calling to serve the homeless at the Bowery Mission. By September of 2001, he had been promoted to the Director of the Bowery Mission, the position he held at the time of the attacks. In addition to his duties as the Director of the Mission, Johansson also volunteered as a New York state chaplain, a role he performed for 15 years. As a chaplain, he helped at both Ground Zero and the Park Avenue Armory. At the Armory, he prayed with families who desperately waited for news of their missing loved ones as the search for victims continued. Johansson recalled the despair and confusion of those days just after the attack. “Where there once was a straight and square building, there was now nothing but chaos and rubble. When you were standing at Ground Zero, you couldn’t tell east from west or north from south or up from down.” But he also remembered a message of hope from Psalm 40 that helped bring peace to many grieving families in the midst of all that chaos and suffering. “I cried out to the Lord, and He heard my cry. He lifted me out of the miry pit and set my feet on a rock. He gave me a firm place to stand.” And he encouraged the staff and residents of City Mission with that same passage. “We’ve all had little 9/11’s in our own lives,” he said. “We’ve all had tragedies, challenges, difficulties – whether it’s losing a loved one or struggling with addiction. We’ve all had something. Our response in those situations must be to draw nearer to God. It’s an opportunity for us to come to know Him more deeply. Don’t miss that opportunity.” “You may be in the midst of it right now,” he added. “You can’t tell left from right or up from down. The glass is broken all around. The beams are melting. Your world is turned upside-down. But if you just cry out to God. He will hear your prayer.” There are men, women, children, and veterans at City Mission right now who are hurting. Find out what you can do to help them today at www.citymission.org.

A Passion in My Heart

Sherry Rorison, Manager of Women with Children Services

August 13, 2021

“I want the women and children in our program to know that they are loved,” said Sherry Rorison, City Mission’s new Manager of Women with Children Services. “We’re probably one of the first safe places that they can come and can be unconditionally loved and cared for.” Sherry has only been at the Mission for about two weeks, but she already has big plans. “I’d like to develop a strong program that is catered to their specific needs and that creates hope and healing for not only the mother and not only the child but as a family to strengthen the family bond. I really believe in my heart that the stronger the family, the more people individually think about how their behaviors effect the other members in the family.” For 30 years, Sherry worked with women and children at Light of Life Rescue Mission in Pittsburgh, and before that, she worked for the Salvation Army’s shelter for homeless women and children, so she brings both experience and passion to her role here at the Mission. “God has placed a passion in my heart for homeless women and children,” she explained. “And I can’t see me doing anything else.” Sherry knows that the residents living in our shelters have some kind of trauma in their past, and the first key to unlocking hope and healing in their lives is to confront that trauma head on. ”The only way to achieve transformation is for them to understand why they do the things that they do,” she said. “I’m not going to say you broke a rule so you’re on restriction. I’m going to say, ‘ok can we talk about why you chose that behavior.’ And to really dive into why they did what they did. I’m not saying there’s no consequences, but it’s having those hard conversations that is so important. Once they start to realize why they do what they do, then we’re able to work on a different way of learning.” But it’s not just about healing the mothers. The Mission’s Women with Children program is also about strengthening families. “We want to be able to focus on the family as a whole too,” Sherry noted. “So we’re going to work on family traditions, ways that they can bond as families, and family communication…And maybe that’s being able to go to the pumpkin patch or go to the swimming pool or have a picnic in the park.” “If the mom’s healing and the child is healing, then they’re healing as a family. That’s going to create transformation.” And since women with children are the fastest-growing homeless population in the US, we can really use your help to serve the families in our programs. Visit www.citymission.org and volunteer or donate today. Our women and children need your help!

Open For Business

July 22, 2021

“We’re very very pleased to be back in Monongahela,” said City Mission President/CEO Dean Gartland at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, July 19 for their new City Mission Thrift Store. Last summer, the building they were leasing for their store, just a few blocks away from their current location, was sold, so a new location was needed. “We didn’t intend on leaving,” explained Mark Vinoverski, City Mission’s Director of Hope Enterprises. “We have great relationships with everyone here in Monongahela, and the question we heard so often was when are you going to come back.” Ever since then, the Mission had been looking to find a new location in town. In February, they purchased the old McCrory’s building at 211 West Main Street in Monongahela and began the renovations to convert the space into a thrift store. It marks the first building the Mission has ever purchased for the purpose of opening a thrift store. With the support of countless donors, volunteers, and local churches, businesses, and organizations, the Mission was finally able to open the doors to their seventh Thrift Store and Donation Center on Monday, July 19. Christine Somales of Monongahela was the very first customer at the new store. “I shopped regularly at the old store,” she said. “I’m just so happy that you guys are back. The store looks awesome!” Somales was able to find a set of tea cups she plans to use for decorating tables at an upcoming Monessen Library function in October. “I live in Monongahela,” she added, “and I was watching the construction every day. It’s amazing how it just fits in with all the other buildings…I’m so happy to have the Mission back in Monongahela. We missed you so much.” All proceeds from the sale of items at City Mission Thrift Stores, support the Mission’s life-changing programs and services to reach the homeless and needy in our community. “We want people to ‘Thrift with a Purpose,’” said Gartland. “And our purpose is make sure that people’s needs are being met in our community and our county.” “We are the sustaining arm of the Mission,” explained Vinoverski, who runs City Mission’s Thrift Store organization. “Truly, the money we make here goes to support the programs at the Mission. We love what we do. We love the purpose of the Mission.” This is the seventh thrift store for the Mission, and according to Vinoverski, they are hoping to open an eighth store by the end of the year to bring even more revenue to the Mission’s programs and services. But for now, it was just an exciting day for everyone involved in the Grand Opening! There was cake and hourly give-aways, and a K-Love booth on-site with contemporary Christian music playing throughout the day. There was a steady stream of customers and a constant line at the cash register. “It’s a blessing to be here in Monongahela,” said Vinoverski, “and we’re looking forward to serving the community.” So come on out and shop, donate, or volunteer at one of the Mission’s seven thrift stores to help support this vital part of their ministry. Visit www.citymission.org/stores for more information.

Mission Highlights

Real Information

City Mission looks to stay on top of the latest information regarding the stories of Residents, Donors & Events inside City Mission as well as homelessness and poverty both here in our area and nationally. We would love to share some of this with you!