Fall 2014

C O N N E C T O R

MUCH MORE THAN A R I D E

The

nhco.org North Hills Community Outreach, Open Your Heart to a Senior, and Rosalinda Sauro Sirianni Garden

@NHCOhelps, @NHCOgardens and @NHCOmmunityauto

After his wife passed on in 2006, John Rumesek, now 94, knew

he would need some help to live independently in his McCandless home. The hospital where his wife stayed gave him a list of organizations that could help. On that list was North Hills Community Outreach.

John mostly needed transportation, because he no longer drove and his eyesight was bad. Calling NHCO was a good decision for John; that’s how he met volunteer Eric Kofmehl in 2008.

“I was fortunate enough to get a ride from Eric, and ever since we’ve become very close friends,” John recalled while preparing a pot of water for tea. Eric, an NHCO board member, has volunteered for various

NHCO programs since 2006, including In Service of Seniors (formerly Faith in Action).

Eric lives a stone’s throw from John’s home and can be there quickly in case of an emergency. (Eric doesn’t mind, because John’s five children do not live in the area.) But for Eric, volunteering is much more than answering a call. It’s about forming relationships.

“When we provide a service that someone needs, we create a friendship.”

John’s home has a modest backyard surrounded by trees. Two paintings from one of his daughters grace the living room wall. A bowl of chocolates in the hallway invites visitors to enjoy a treat, and a jar of cookies make the kitchen table a welcoming spot to sit and chat. As the water for tea reached a boil, Eric searched through cabinets looking for cups and Earl Grey. “I am a very lucky guy,” John remarked.

Eric drives John to medical appointments and the grocery store, but notes that what makes him a better volunteer is being a friend to John. “I know exactly what he likes,” Eric says.

“We are close.” Eric knows that John loves sweets, and regularly brings him treats and surprises.

“It’s a privilege to be with John and with North Hills Community Outreach; it’s a great organization,” Eric continued as they sipped hot tea. “And because of the convenience, and because of John’s needs with his sight, we work it out. If John has an emergency, I can be there, and I can call his children,” he said. “I enjoy his company. We are able to figure out how to make his life be independent.”

“From my perspective,” John said, “that’s a lifesaver.”

- By Alexandra Setchenska, NHCO Communications InternVolunteers are needed to provide rides, visit, shovel snow and more!

Care receiver John Rumesek and volunteer Eric Kofmehl have been friends since 2008.

If you are a SENIOR SEEKING SERVICES

please contact NHCO:Cathy at 412-307-0069

or Kerry at 412-449-0151.

To VOLUNTEER, please contact Open Your Heart to a Senior at

412-307-0071 or visit

www.openyourhearttoasenior.org

Friendships form when volunteers help seniors

NHCO’s Programs and ServicesTwo food pantries and organic garden, utility assistance, emergency financial assistance for housing, WorkAble employment services, Smart Investments financial skills for women, budgeting, seasonal sharing projects, disaster relief, long-term case management, Community Auto low-income car ownership, college scholarships, Ask the Attorney, In Service of Seniors volunteer caregiving, Free Rides for Seniors, and more.

I have a question about:Financial Donations/FundraisingJennifer Drayton, jmdrayton@nhco.org412-408-3830 x 3210

VolunteeringLinda Robins, lkrobins@nhco.org412-408-3830 x 3215

Volunteering/GardenRosie Wise, rmwise@nhco.org412-307-0069 x 3311

Volunteering/Open Your Heart to a SeniorNancy Jones, nljones@nhco.org412-307-0071

Food PantryBrandi Rukovena, blrukovena@nhco.org412-487-6316 opt 1 x 3144

Sharing ProjectsVicki Burstynowicz, vdburst@nhco.org412-487-6316 opt 1 x 3143

Services and ProgramsCarolyn Pschirer, chpschirer@nhco.org412-487-6316 opt 1 x 3140

Community AutoBrady Riedel, briedel@nhco.org724-443-8300

NHCO Board Membersnhco.org/about-us/board-of-directors

Other Questionshelp@nhco.org or 412-487-6316 opt 1www.nhco.org

Sharon Wolf, Executive Director, scwolf@nhco.org

Want to help NHCO save on postage & printing? Email help@nhco.org and ask to get The Connector via email.

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Volunteer Opportunities

NHCO Main1975 Ferguson Rd.Allison Park, PA 15101412-487-6316 opt 1

NHCO Millvale416 Lincoln Ave.Pittsburgh, PA 15209412-408-3830

Community Auto11490 Perry Hwy, Ste 7Wexford, PA 15090724-443-8300

Free Rides for SeniorsUPMC Lighthouse Pointe500 Chapel Harbor Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15238412-449-0151

NHCO North BoroughsAGH-Suburban Campus100 S. Jackson Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15202412-307-0069

Learn about all volunteer opportunities at NHCO!Please register with Linda at 412-408-3830 x 3215.

Sep 11 NHCO Allison Park 10am-11amOct 9 NHCO Allison Park 10am-11am Nov 6 NHCO Millvale 10am-11am

Visit nhco.org and Facebook for more sessions

Here are just A FEW volunteer needs!

Contact Linda Robins, lkrobins@nhco.org412-408-3830 x 3215

•Garden harvesting & delivery through September: visit nhco. org/garden for open hours!•Free Rides for Seniors: Drivers, on-board dispatchers.•NHCO material distribution: Take newsletters/brochures to libraries & community centers.•Arrange a collection for food pantry or sharing project.•Leaf raking and snow shoveling for seniors.

Volunteer Orientation Sessions

Open Your Heart to a Senior Orientation & Information Sessions

Learn about helping seniors remain safe at home!Please register with Nancy at 412-307-0071.

Sep 23 EatnPark Southbound McKnight Road 2:30pm-4pmOct 14 Cooper Siegel Library 6:30pm-8pmNov 4 Shaler North Hills Library 6:30pm-8pmDec 2 Lighthouse Pointe 10:30am-noon Visit oyhs.org for more sessions

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just a few People Helping PeopleWhen life gave them lemons...they made

lemonade and raised funds to help neighbors in need!

Special Saturday Donation HoursCan’t make it to NHCO during regular office hours? NHCO Allison Park accepts food & sharing project items:

9:00am - noon, pantry behind main office: September 27, November 1, December 6

These are just a FEW of MANY people helping their neighbors.

Thanks to ALL who donate, including:

Tennant & Eberle cousins

Sophia Rodriguez and Faith and Jonathan Evans

- Kids from the Muslim Association of Pittsburgh for collecting $500 worth of school supplies during Ramadan

- Terri Orloski of beyond the office for setting up our new mobile-friendly websites, and Chris Lawton of we create for helping write content

- La Roche College, Robert Morris University and Community College of Allegheny County - North for hosting food truck rallies

- Shaler Area Garden Club for collecting food at monthly meetings for our pantries

- AAA for helping to develop our Car Care workshop curriculum for Community Auto

- Women for Wine Sense for collecting back-to-school supplies at their wine tasting

- Brother’s Keeper Tattoo Parlor for holding a tattoo event and raising $2,300

- Apoidea Apiary and Country Barn Farm for donating honey to the Garden Open House; Whole Foods Wexford for donating the refreshments

- Debbie and Joseph Julian for accepting food and financial donations at their 40th anniversary party

F ollow us on Facebook & Twitter to see more examples of People Helping People!

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Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPittsburgh, PA

Permit #952

1975 Ferguson RoadAllison Park, PA 15101-3235

Mission North Hills Community Outreach is an interfaith organization addressing the needs of people in crisis, hardship and poverty.

Vision Northern Allegheny County is a sharing community where no one is cold, hungry or alone.

NHCO... There’s an APP for that!“It is such a comforting and empowering

feeling to know that you are not stuck and there is a way out! I am becoming more productive and achieving my goals. Knowing you are there to encourage me, guide me and assist in my endeavors to become

independent is very valuable to me.”- Sara, a woman enrolled in Smart Investments

Smart Investments is a United Way-funded program of NHCO, South Hills Interfaith Ministries (SHIM), and NeighborWorks. Smart Investments targets women experiencing an event-induced financial crisis and offers free

workshops, budget counseling, savings incentives, a small grant and more.

Woman in crisis budgets, saves

Available for all devices on Google Play, Android and iOS Apple, the free North Hills Community Outreach APP features tap-to-call, maps, donation and volunteer needs, events, push notifications, web links and more!

Created by Shaler Area students Michael Bly, Caitlyn Mechenbier and Julianna Sciullo for a Junior Achievement project!

For info on

Smart Investments

or to volunteer, visit

www.nhco.org or call SHIM at

412-854-9120

CAREER FAIR October 22, 9am-noon, NHCO Millvale

Watch nhco.org & Facebook for details!

United Way Donor Code #2357 CFC #53330 SECA # 4601-0023