City Mission Chapel Gets a New Name

Dr. Crabtree and Mary Pillow

"The Porter Pillow and Peggie Beaver-Pillow Chapel"

“I can’t sleep at night if I know someone is outside in the cold,” said Mary Pillow, a clinical social worker in Washington.  “That was instilled in me by my parents when I was very young.  They taught me to never walk by anyone in need, and my sister and I still live by that to this day.”

In that spirit, Pillow and her husband, Dr. Michael Crabtree, a clinical Psychologist and Psychology professor at Washington and Jefferson College, recently made a very kind and generous donation to City Mission.  In honor of their gift, the iconic City Mission Chapel will be named after Pillow’s parents.  

“Mary’s parents really embodied the spirit of giving throughout their entire lives,” said Dr. Crabtree, explaining why he and his wife decided to name the chapel after her parents.  “They would never want to be applauded.  They would want to be humbled.  But they represent the spirit of giving that matches the Christ-centered work of the City Mission.”

The newly-christened “Porter Pillow and Peggie Beaver-Pillow Chapel,” the “Pillow Chapel” for short, will be dedicated with a special ceremony on Tuesday, April 12 in the chapel, located at 84 West Wheeling Street.

“The chapel is the cornerstone of the work of the Mission,” added Dr. Crabtree, who is also the Vice President of City Mission’s Board of Directors.  “It was the only building left standing after the fire that devastated the Mission in 2015.  And I think the symbolism of that building on that street is powerful, because it shows that the Mission is putting Christ at the forefront of all the good work they do in the community.”

Mary Pillow and Dr. Michael Crabtree

Mary Pillow was born in Tennessee, but her father, who was an engineer for Procter & Gamble, moved the family to Tunkhannock in northeastern PA for his work. Pillow was raised in Tunkhannock and still returns every year for their annual carnival, because she still feels such a connection to the place.  “It was a beautiful place to grow up,” she said of her childhood home.  “It was idyllic.  I had the best childhood.”

She has vivid memories of going to church with her parents when she was a child. “I was a little kid,” she remembered, “and I would stand next to my dad at church.  He loved to sing.  He was a very big, tall man.  And he would always sway when he sang.”  The first time Dr. Crabtree and Mary Pillow attended church together, he asked her, “Why are you swaying?”  And they both laughed.  

The lessons our parents teach us in childhood are incredibly powerful and impact us as adults in ways that we do not even understand.  The most important lesson Mary Pillow learned from her parents is to help those in need.  It is that spirit that inspires her and Dr. Crabtree to support City Mission and the hungry and hurting in our community.  

“I know of no two people more willing to invest in the future of City Mission than Dr. Mike Crabtree and Mary Pillow,” said City Mission’s Chief Development Officer, Dr. Sally Mounts.  “Their unwavering generosity will impact the lives of thousands of homeless men and women for decades to come. We’re incredibly blessed to have their support.”

Dr. Crabtree and Mary Pillow have supported City Mission since 1995.  “City Mission really hits the mark of the work of Christ in this world,” Dr. Crabtree said, explaining why he and his wife have continued to give to the Mission.  “And the whole staff really embodies that spirit.”  

“From top to bottom,” Mary Pillow added, “this place is the authentic, real, spiritual deal.  The people who work here are the best people in the world.”  

They give, because they want to support the work of the Mission and to carry on the legacy of Pillow’s parents to help those in need, but they also give to encourage and inspire others to support the Mission as well.

“This is a great time to get involved with City Mission,” said Dr. Crabtree. “The Mission works hard to serve the entire community, but right now there is a growing need in our area for homeless women.  And the Mission is currently working to address that need.”

You too can support City Mission at www.citymission.org.  Your gift can transform the lives of those in our community who are homeless, hungry, and hurting.        

March 25, 2022
Gary Porter - Communications Manager
Gary Porter
Communications Manager
Gary has been with the mission since 2017. He writes many of our resident stories, getting to know many of them and seeing their transformations at the mission from the start.
gporter@citymission.org

Recent Articles

Running For the Mission

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"Play Ball!"

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September 15, 2023

After a weeklong rain delay, the fifth annual Range Resources vs City Mission Hits for the Homeless charity softball game resumed at North Strabane Park last Wednesday. "It's so nice to see our residents go out and play a game and have fun," said City Mission President/CEO, Dean Gartland. "We just can't thank Range Resources enough for putting together this event." For the past five years, each September, Range Resources has hosted a softball game with their employees taking on City Mission residents. Leading up to the game, the Range Resources team also supplied lunch for our residents and served in our dining hall to build anticipation for the upcoming contest and build camaraderie with the City Mission team. After the game, Range Resources presented City Mission with a generous check. This past Wednesday, the two teams came to the field ready to play, resuming in the middle of the second inning with the City Mission team leading 2-1. In the bottom of the second inning, City Mission scored another run, giving them a 3-1 lead. But in the top of the third, the Range Resources’ bats came alive, knocking in five runs. This gave Range their first lead of the game, one they would never relinquish as they went on to capture a 17-12 win, making the series record between the two teams 3-2 in favor of Range and bringing the trophy back to their offices for the first time in three years. "It's really good to see the camaraderie that develops between the residents out here on the field," said City Mission's Men’s Intake Coordinator/Softball Coach, Dave Green. "We see them when they first come to us broken. And then to bring them out here and see their talents start to shine through -- it's really something special to watch." The game is a special event for the residents of City Mission. It’s something that they all look forward to and a memory they will cherish long after they leave the Mission. Each City Mission player, no matter their level of experience or athleticism, plays the game hard and plays to win. Many of them come to us in a very vulnerable state and have suffered through difficult even traumatic events recently in their lives. And at the Mission, they are doing serious and soul-searching work on themselves. This annual softball game is an important opportunity for them to let loose, have fun, and support each other. It’s hard to put into words exactly what it means to them. “I just love playing ball,” one City Mission resident said in the middle of the game. “I just feel free.” “This is what life recovery is all about,” added Green. “It teaches these guys how to live and how to have fun without drugs and alcohol. I mean, they’re having a blast.” So thank you, Range Resources, for making such a meaningful impact on our residents and for engaging with the Mission in such a thoughtful and genuine way. Your business or organization can also make an impact on your community by partnering with City Mission. Contact Corporate Relations Manager, Eric Smith, at esmith@citymission.org or visit www.citymission.org for more information.

A Legacy of Giving

The Smydo family in front of the treehouse playset they donated.
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Giving an Unforgettable Easter

Natalie Grasso, age 7, prepares an Easter basket for a child in our Women with Children Shelter
April 6, 2023

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A Night Out at the Movies

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