City Mission is all set to open its very own thrift store for masses.

City Mission Thrift Stores were Closed for Retail Shopping for over Two Months during the COVID Quarantine - Reopened on May 22.

City Mission Thrift Stores were closed for retail shopping for over two months during the COVID quarantine, but they never completely closed during that time. All of City Mission’s seven thrift stores remained open to accept donations, and five of them were used as Pop-up Pantry sites to distribute food bags to those in need during the crisis. The Pop-up Pantry program gave away over 4,000 bags of food in eight weeks.

During that time, the stores were also cleaned, organized, and disinfected to ensure the safety of customers upon reopening.

“The shelves, the floors, the products were all cleaned and disinfected. Everything in the store was sanitized,” said Monongahela Store Manager Charmaine Benton.

In addition to cleaning and sanitizing, the stores were also busy processing donations. “We were overflowing with donations during the time we were closed,” Benton said. “I’ll bet they went up fifty percent.”

The stores reopened for retail shopping on May 22. “The first day we opened, we saw great support from the community,” said Benton. “Everybody was ecstatic! They missed their treasures.”

accumulation of donated goods at the Belle Vernon Thrift Store

Many safety measures have been implemented, since the reopening, to ensure the health and safety of staff and customers. “The whole staff wears masks from open to close,” Benton explained. Masks are also required of customers. At the Monongahela location, a complementary mask will be provided if you do not have one. Sanitizer stations are mounted at the front and back of the stores for convenience. At the registers, plexiglass sneeze guards have been installed and floor markers have been placed every six feet to encourage social distancing within the store.

Additionally, the staff cleans and disinfects high traffic areas throughout the day. “We wipe down anything customers touch,” explained Rita Conti, Store Manager at the Belle Vernon location. “We wipe down carts, door handles, and counters all throughout the day.”

Many safety measures have been implemented, since the reopening, to ensure the health and safety of staff and customers. “The whole staff wears masks from open to close,” Benton explained. Masks are also required of customers. At the Monongahela location, a complementary mask will be provided if you do not have one. Sanitizer stations are mounted at the front and back of the stores for convenience.

Logan and Bev Ausburn of Elizabeth go to City Mission Thrift Stores two or three times per week. Typically, they shop at the Rostraver or Belle Vernon locations. They even came on the very first day the stores were open.

“We do like coming here,” Bev said. “It’s good just to get out and walk around, and there’s a variety of stuff to look at here.”

Their best find at the Rostraver City Mission Thrift Store was a pair of crystal lamps that they still use in their home. They both feel extremely safe while shopping at the stores.

“We’re trying to keep an upbeat, Christian attitude in our stores during these trying times,” said Benton. She also wanted to remind everyone that, “Your purchase supports the homeless, the hungry, and our veterans in need.”

Visit www.citymission.org/stores for store hours and locations.

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June 12, 2020

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

Donor-Advised Funds

September 13, 2024

Donor-Advised Funds are the fastest growing charitable vehicle in the United States, because they are one of the easiest and most tax advantageous ways to give to the charities you care about. A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is an investment account dedicated to your philanthropic causes, or a fund that serves as your own personal foundation. DAFs are managed by sponsoring organizations, which are themselves tax-exempt organizations. DAFs provide donors with long-term, strategic options for planning their philanthropy.Here’s how a DAF works:• A donor makes an irrevocable gift to a DAF and takes an immediate tax deduction. The charitable assets now legally belong to that DAF’s sponsoring organization. The donor (you), and other named individuals, become DAF advisors.• The DAF advisors (you) recommend how the assets are invested, and the assets continue to grow tax-free. You can donate ash, stocks, or non-publicly traded assets.• The DAF Advisors (you) also recommend grants to the non-profits they wish to support.• The sponsoring organization confirms that these non-profits are eligible, then issue grants to the recommended charities.All DAFs require a minimum balance to open the account, which can be as low as $5,000. Specific policies vary by sponsoring organizations---most donors weigh their options before deciding whether they want to enter a community foundation, a single-issue organization, or a national organization, such as Vanguard Charitable to sponsor their investments.

Roots of Recovery

September 13, 2024

Please check out our new Podcast episode, “Addiction or Disease? Pt. 2,” which released this past week. In this episode, our President Emeritus, Dean Gartland, along with co-host Leah Dietrich, our Director of Residential Programs, discuss the roots of recovery. There are many different paths that can lead to homelessness. Every single person we serve has a unique story; however, nearly 85% of our residents struggle with some form of addiction. One crucial step that we at City Mission take alongside those we serve is helping them to identify all of the factors that led them down the road to addiction so that they can move forward in their recovery with confidence. “You have to discover the origins of the problem first,” said Dietrich. “Then you can create a strategy for doing things differently and making different choices.” Gartland explained that the cycle of addiction almost always starts with some kind of pain or trauma, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or any other type of pain. “To make the pain go away,” said Gartland, “they will reach out for an addictive agent. It might be work or food or sex or drugs or alcohol or dependent relationships. These addictive agents can make you feel a little bit better for a moment, but they usually end up producing negative consequences, which leads to shame and guilt, which results in more pain and low self-esteem, which leads right back to reaching out for that addictive agent again. And the cycle just goes on and on and on.” Most of the residents we serve at City Mission are in the process of understanding how to get off of that cycle. Many of them have lost absolutely everything in their lives that they love through their addiction. They’ve lost all hope and motivation, they’ve lost their homes, jobs, clothes, relationships, and even identification forms like birth certificates and drivers licenses. “These are things they wouldn’t normally leave behind,” explained Dietrich. “But holding onto things is no longer their focus. They are in survival mode.” Their addictions have left them in such a state that they struggle from desperate moment to desperate moment, forced over and over again to make impossible decisions, which can lead them to more shame and guilt and right back into their addiction to help them mask their pain. At City Mission, we help those who are trapped in addiction to find glimmers of hope and to build structures in their lives to make recovery sustainable. “We help them to build relationships that can help guide them out of that cycle of addiction,” Dietrich explained. “Those might be physical relationships with friends and mentors who encourage and uplift them or it could be a spiritual relationship with Christ, whose love can truly transform lives. Introducing them to Christ can often be the turning point in their lives.” But life transformation doesn’t happen overnight. “It can take years and years for someone’s life to fall into addiction and homelessness,” Dietrich said. “So it takes time to pull things back together. That can be overwhelming. You don’t know where to start. You don’t know what to say. You might need someone to hold your hand and walk through those situations with you at first.” And that’s exactly where City Mission comes in. We provide love and support and acceptance during the most difficult and vulnerable times in someone’s life – reflecting the love and mercy that Christ has shown to each and every one of us in our darkest moments when we cry out to Him. You can help change lives by partnering with us to reach out to those who are hurting and have lost all hope. Visit www.citymission.org for more information about how you can help.

Extending Hope

August 29, 2024

Our outreach programs are designed to provide immediate assistance and long-term support, reflecting our commitment to uplift our community members. What is Community Outreach? The focus of community outreach is to connect with the broader community and provide support to as many people and in as many ways as possible. These initiatives aim to extend the reach of our services, bringing aid, education, and support directly to those who need it most. Community outreach helps us build a network of support for those in need and to connect them with services and resources they need to maintain their independence and avoid falling into homelessness or addiction. City Mission’s Community Outreach Services Meals Every day, we provide nutritious meals to anyone experiencing hardship in the region. This foundational support addresses immediate needs that often prevent individuals from overcoming personal crises. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a person must have confidence that their basic needs will be met before they can begin to work on higher order tasks like finding employment or rebuilding relationships. Ensuring that basic needs are met lays the groundwork for individuals to focus on recovery and stability. Samaritan Care Food Pantry Center Located at 84 W. Wheeling Street, our Samaritan Care Food Pantry Center is a vital resource for low-income individuals and families. Here, food assistance is provided once a week per family, allowing them to shop with a volunteer in a dignified manner. The center operates every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, ensuring families have regular access to essential food items, clothing, and hygiene products. For more information, community members can contact the center at (724) 222-8530 ext. 266. WeCare Street Outreach Program Led by Dr. Monica Speicher and a dedicated team of healthcare professionals, our WeCare Street Outreach Program provides medical care to the unsheltered homeless in the community. Services include chronic disease management, care for acute bacterial and viral illnesses, flu shots, diabetes care, education, and more. Additionally, supplies such as food, clean socks, blankets, and clothing are distributed, along with medications for the uninsured and underinsured. This program exemplifies our commitment to comprehensive care, addressing the homeless's physical and emotional needs. The Importance of Community Outreach Community outreach is crucial for several reasons: • Raising Awareness: Through outreach, we help community members connect to services and resources that they would otherwise never knew existed. Service providers like Gateway Health, Dress for Success, Blueprints, and Washington County Human Services among others often come to our campus during our Samaritan Care hours to connect with those who use our services and help them understand the options that are available to them. • Reaching the Unreachable: Outreach programs are crucial for reaching individuals who might not seek help due to barriers like stigma, lack of awareness, or logistical challenges. By taking services to them, we ensure that assistance reaches those most reluctant or unable to come forward. • Building Community Ties: Outreach strengthens community ties and builds networks of support that can lead to innovative solutions for complex social issues. By involving local businesses, government agencies, other nonprofits, and citizens in our efforts, we create a collaborative environment that promotes shared responsibility for community welfare. This collective approach enhances the effectiveness of individual programs and contributes to a healthier, more resilient community. Biblical Foundations of Outreach Our outreach philosophy at City Mission is deeply rooted in the teachings of Christianity, reflecting the call to serve and uplift the most vulnerable in our society. The Bible encourages believers to act as stewards of compassion and love, emphasizing the importance of helping those in need. In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus teaches, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." These verses highlight the Christian duty to care for the less fortunate, viewing such acts of kindness as service to Christ Himself. Support Our Outreach The success of City Mission's outreach programs relies on the generous support of the community. Here's how you can make a difference: • Volunteer: Your time and skills are invaluable. Join us in our dining hall, medical clinic, or at the Samaritan Care Food Pantry to offer direct assistance to those in need. • Donate: Contributions of food, clothing, hygiene products, and financial donations are crucial to sustaining our programs. Every donation, big or small, helps us continue our mission. • Participate: Engage with City Mission by attending community events and fundraisers. Your participation supports our efforts and helps raise awareness about the issues we address. City Mission's outreach programs are vital to the Washington community, providing essential services that meet immediate needs and foster long-term stability and health.

Staff Spotlight

July 31, 2024

I’d like to introduce you to our new Childcare Coordinator, Vic Schalk. Vic has a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern Maine. She grew up in rural Maine and was very close to her family. In March of this past year, she made the choice to move to our area. “It was a leap of faith,” she explained. “It was a difficult choice, but it was the right thing. Everyone here at the Mission has been so supportive, helpful, and welcoming. And I really needed that support. It’s made a big difference to me.” When she first moved here, she was applying for jobs in the Occupational Therapy field, but she wasn’t getting any callbacks. As she was sitting in the Canonsburg Library one day, trying to figure out what she was going to do for work, she watched a group of little kids walk by in their tiny backpacks, and she suddenly realized that working with our kids here at City Mission was right where she needed to be. “I think it was the tiny backpacks that got me,” she laughed. She had previously worked with kids at a Day Care and Pre-school when she was in college, and she said, “Ok, let’s give this another try. I prayed, the door opened, and I walked through. Our life sometimes comes as a surprise to us, but it never comes as a surprise to the Lord.” In her previous jobs as an Occupational Therapist, she was doing a lot of good work, working with adults with disabilities who want to continue living at home instead of moving into an assisted living facility. She would create home care programs for them and manage their supports in order to keep them in their homes. “There were people who had so many problems,” she said of her previous jobs, “and I would offer solutions, but in my role, I wasn’t really allowed to offer them Jesus. There are lots of short-term solutions, but ultimately Jesus is the only way we can overcome our problems. And here at City Mission it literally says, ‘Jesus Saves’ on the front of the building. It’s pretty amazing what the Mission does, sharing Jesus as the cornerstone of recovery. As long as we continue to put Jesus first, it will continue to bear fruit in people’s lives.” As City Mission’s Childcare Coordinator, Vic watches the children who live in our Women with Children shelter while their moms are working on their recovery: taking classes, going to appointments or meetings, participating in recovery programs, looking for work, or just taking time to work on themselves. “I’m enabling the moms to focus on what they need to do to get stable, so they can be in a better place for themselves and their kids,” Vic explained. But she’s also ministering to the children. “I try to create a safe and stable place for the kids,” she said. “I try to model calmness and consistency for them. I try to teach them to be kind and to be good friends to each other and to treat others the way they want to be treated. I try to instill those things into them.” It’s important to Vic to be in constant communication with the moms about what happens in the childcare area. “At lunchtime, I go and sit with the moms and connect with them. I need to be accountable to them about what’s going on here,” she said. “I try to keep an open communication with them and keep expectations for their kids consistent. I really listen to what the moms have to say, and I’m very open to what they tell me about what works for their kids and what doesn’t work.” It's also really important to Vic to use local resources to help give the kids meaningful and memorable experiences. Recently, she has started taking the kids down the street to Firefly Gardens, a small green space located in the heart of downtown Washington. It provides an opportunity for our kids to get out in the sun and play in the dirt and the grass. “There are spaces out in the community that can be enriching for our kids in ways that we don’t have for them here on campus,” Vic said. Her favorite thing about her job is all the growth that she gets to see every day – the growth in all the little kids that come to City Mission’s childcare area, but also growth within herself. Some Fast Facts about Vic Hobbies Reading, writing, paddleboarding at Peters Lake, and sewing. She recently pulled her sewing machine out of storage, and she’s ready to get to work. Favorite Books Persuasion by Jane Austen Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott Favorite Kids Book The Mysterious Benedict Society (she used to work in the Children’s section at the library) Favorite movies Star Wars – all the Star Wars movies and tv shows Favorite tv shows Great British Baking Show Favorite Vacations Weekend trips to Acadia National Park A family vacation to Singapore

Making a Difference

July 24, 2024

5 Ways to Impact Homelessness in Washington, PA Homelessness remains a pressing issue here in Southwestern Pennsylvania, as it does in many communities across the nation. Addressing this issue effectively requires the effort and compassion of the entire community. Here are five ways you can contribute to meaningful change and help those in need right here in Washington, PA. Immediate Actions to Take These actions can provide direct and immediate help to those affected by homelessness in our community: Donating to Local Homeless Shelters When you donate to a local homeless shelter like City Mission, you're making a direct, immediate, and meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and families struggling with homelessness right now. Every contribution, whether it's money, clothing, blankets, hygiene products, or non-perishable food, helps our organization provide the immediate support needed by those facing desperate situations. Volunteer Your Time and Skills Lending your time and skills to local shelters or organizations that assist the homeless is a powerful way to make a direct difference. By engaging in activities such as serving meals, teaching classes or Bible Studies, painting, landscaping, stuffing envelopes, or organizing donations, you not only contribute to the immediate needs of the homeless, but you also provide a sense of community, love, and support. Your involvement helps bring essential services to life, ensuring that those who are struggling receive both the tangible help and the human kindness they need. Whether it’s a few hours a month or a more regular commitment, your volunteering can transform lives in profound ways. One small and simple kindness can mean so much more to those in vulnerable situations than you can ever imagine. Support Local Affordable Housing Initiatives Local affordable housing initiatives, like the Washington County Housing Authority, partner with private and public agencies to develop and manage affordable housing opportunities for low-income families and individuals. By advocating for zoning changes, securing funding for new housing projects, refurbishing existing buildings, and other creative approaches, these initiatives work to increase the housing supply for those in greatest need. Long-term Solutions Contributing to these efforts can help support a cooperative and ongoing fight against homelessness: Educational Resources Increase your understanding and ability to help through these educational actions: Enhance Your Understanding of Homelessness Educating yourself about the challenges of homelessness, particularly in Washington, PA, is crucial for several reasons. A deeper understanding helps in developing empathy, promoting informed advocacy, and contributing effectively to solutions. Why It's Important: • Informed Advocacy: Knowledgeable individuals can advocate more effectively for necessary changes in policies and services. • Effective Volunteering: Understanding the complexities of homelessness allows volunteers to offer more sensitive and compassionate assistance. • Community Awareness: Raising awareness about the specific challenges faced by homeless individuals helps to reduce stigma and foster a supportive community environment. Specific Ways to Enhance Your Understanding: • Volunteer: Direct engagement through volunteering offers a hands-on way to understand the needs and daily challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness. • Follow Local Nonprofits on Social Media: Many organizations like City Mission post educational content on social media platforms, youtube, and email newsletters. This is an easy way to stay informed about local efforts and needs. • Attend Local and/or Remote Workshops and Seminars: Participate in events focused on homelessness to learn from experts and practitioners in the field. These can provide current statistics, trends, and discussions on effective interventions. • Read Relevant Literature: Seek out books, articles, and reports that discuss the causes and effects of homelessness, as well as successful strategies for addressing it. Local libraries or community centers often have resources curated to give insights into regional issues. • Join Community Discussions: Engage in or organize public forums and discussion groups that bring together community members to talk about homelessness. This can lead to shared understanding and collective action. Join Our Community Effort Tackling homelessness in Washington, PA, requires a concerted effort from all of us. By engaging in these immediate actions, supporting long-term solutions, and educating ourselves and others, we can make a significant difference. Let’s unite to create a supportive and inclusive environment for everyone in our community.

A Community Working Together

City Mission President/CEO, Diana Irey Vaughan, with Washington Mayor, Jojo Burgess

July 16, 2024

Recently, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which determined that the City of Grants Pass’s enforcement of criminal punishments against homeless individuals for sleeping and living outside within the city limits did not violate the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause of the Eighth Amendment. Previous courts have used the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause to prohibit such bans, so the Supreme Court’s recent decision gives more decision-making power to local communities regarding how they choose to address homelessness.For 83 years, we at City Mission have experienced our local community truly coming together to support the homeless. The City of Washington and the surrounding communities have not only supported our ministry for more than eight decades, but countless other meetings, resources, and services have been created by local agencies to help restore the homeless and those living on the brink of homelessness. And local government officials support these causes, provide additional services, and help facilitate connections among the local agencies. Homelessness is a very complex issue. There is no quick fix. It takes communities working together in lockstep to provide shelter, food, services, resources, help, and safe loving spaces where people can heal. And the Supreme Court’s recent acknowledgement that local agencies and communities are the right places to combat homelessness, doesn’t dissuade us at all from our calling to bring hope to the homeless. We have seen this community in action and that gives us faith that homeless individuals and families in Southwestern Pennsylvania can transform their lives and be restored to dignity, purpose, and independence.

City Mission Thrift Stores Reopen