Your Support Provides

Your Support Provides

Thank you to everyone who has supported City Mission financially, through in-kind donations and prayerfully. In the last month, we have been able to provide the following:

• 8,771 meals
• 2,521 nights of shelter for men
• 1,028 nights of shelter for women and children
• 103 food bags
• 469 medical interventions

Through our programs, we see incredible life-change in our residents. This occurs because of your donations. We are very thankful for the opportunity to serve those who come through our doors. Thank you.

Avis Arbor

Avis Arbor

The shelter provides an environment that allows our residents to grow and to heal, thus leading them back to independent living. By focusing on the root problems that cause homelessness (lack of affordable housing, underdeveloped employment potential, lack of income, chronic substance abuse, mental health and medical problems and under-developed spirituality) City Mission provides a secure base for women who formerly lived on the streets or had less than ideal living situations.

Genevieve S, is one of the many smiling faces you'll find serving in Feed My Sheep Dining Room. She said her time at the Mission is "a new lease on life and a blessing."  When Genevieve got here she started classes that included Bible study. "It really brought my faith back," she said. "I had almost given up on God, but now I have a new outlook on life and my faith in God is stronger!"

It Gives Me Hope

Resident Merlin M. has been at City Mission for a month now and really likes it. "It's a great organization with great people," he said. "It gives me hope for humanity because the people who stay here ---and the people who run the Mission---have an abundance of love and understanding."

Birthdays for City Mission

Ten-year-old Oliva Vettorel, pictured here with her mother Kyra, recently had a birthday party and asked all of her friends to bring donations to City Mission instead of gifts. "Most people that come here to City Mission don't have much," she said. "And I already have lots of toys." She presented the Mission with a generous donation check.

"Olivia has a very generous heart," said mom Kyra. "She's always trying to find new ways to help people."  Thanks so much for helping City Mission, Olivia!

Hidden Treasures Grand Opening

On Tuesday, March 17 City Mission celebrated the grand re-opening of Hidden Treasures in Washington. Hidden Treasures was formally located on Jefferson Avenue but closed that location at the end of December 2014. Hidden Treasures can now be found at the corner of West Beau and Washington in the old Three Rivers Auction Building.

City Mission is very blessed to be serving in the community of Washington and wanted to invite everyone to join in this grand celebration. Over 75 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and heard remarks from Mayor Brenda Davis and State Senator Camera Bartolotta.

Thank you to County Commissioner Irey Vaughan, County Commissioner Maggi, Senator Bartolotta, Dean Gartland, Mayor Davis and County Commissioner Shober for coming to City Mission's Grand Re-opening of Hidden Treasures in Washington.

Freezing Temperatures

It's an understatement to say that it gets a little chilly in Western Pennsylvania in the winter. In the last week though, we've barely seen temperatures above freezing. In times like these, many individuals who normally don't have shelter come to City Mission's doors in hopes of a warm night of sleep. Thankfully, through your contributions, we have Emergency Cold Weather Shelter. Our cold weather shelter runs from mid-October to mid-April when the temperature drops below 32 degrees. 

Each evening, approximately 20 men help move the chairs from the chapel and line the room with mattresses. It's not an ideal sleeping situation, but it is warm and safe.

As City Mission seeks to expand our facilities, it is our prayer that we will be able to house more men, woman and children in our long-term program. But we will also continue to run our Emergency Cold Weather Shelter, offering "shelter from the storm" to those who need it.

If you'd like to make a financial contribution to this effort, please donate here.  

The Power of Prayer

As part of her work therapy program, Patty C. works in the Donation and Recycling Center. Patty was able to take a few moments from sorting donated books to talk to us about her experience as a resident at City Mission. As she spoke of her rehabilitation process, she talked about the power of prayer and how it changed her life. "When you pray it really works," she said. "At first it was chaotic [for me], then I started to pray. I really like it here now."

We are blessed to hear many stories like Patty's, where the power of prayer has changed his/her outlook on the situation. As a staff, we pray for our residents daily and have the opportunity to pray with our residents as well. We ask that you keep our residents and programming in your prayers, as we continue to seek God's Will at City Mission.

Sweet Sunday

Sweet Sunday was a huge success, as we reported last week. Through the fundraising efforts of a dedicated group of board members, sponsors, staff and volunteers, not to mention hundreds of generous attendees, City Mission's 21st Annual Sweet Sunday brought in the highest day-of-event total ever. This money will go to our life-changing programming, helping us to restore men and women from homelessness to independent living.

We couldn't have asked for a better day; with 50-degree weather in February, we had quite a turnout! Thank you to our volunteer photographer, Kevin Ramski, who helped capture the day through pictures. To see all the pictures from Sweet Sunday, please click this link. 

Sweet and Silly Fun with TBC and City Mission

Some of our friends at The Bible Chapel are getting excited about Sweet Sunday and decided to do some baking of their own! Check out these videos for some sweet fun! Please share with your friends!

Sweet Sunday Video 1 | Sweet Sunday Video 2 | Sweet Sunday Video 3

Sweet Sunday

We've been sharing a lot lately about Sweet Sunday. Many of you have been participating for a long time, and some may have never heard of this event until recently. Whatever the case may be, we invite you to join us for this wonderful event. 

Sweet Sunday is City Mission's largest fundraiser and one of the most talked about events of the year!

Please join us on February 8, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. It's an event for the whole family and people of all ages. Enjoy live entertainment all day while you snack on sweet treats from one of our 20 dessert vendors! When you've had enough of the sweets, head over to the Sweet Sunday Cafe for some lunch and don't forget to visit the Kid's Korner, Sweet Sunday auction baskets, silent auction items and of course the Wreath of Wealth!

With all these great activities, Sweet Sunday is definitely worth a visit. All proceeds benefit City Mission's programs and services ---and support our vision of ending homelessness one life at a time! 

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact Shelby Knapp for more information, sknapp@citymission.org, or (724) 222-8530 ext. 236.

Hope

We met Jacob K. in December while he was serving in the kitchen. He told us that he had only been at the Mission for about a week, but that he was already starting to feel good about himself --- and was learning a lot about faith. "I feel free here. I have a new life. It's given me a lot of hope," Jacob said.

One of our staff members prayed with Jacob and was privileged to be present when he accepted Christ as his personal Savior.

We praise God for using our staff to minister to those we serve and for your generous donations that allow us to continue this ministry!

Paying it Forward for Avis

Paying it forward for blessings received is a frequent conversation in the Gray household. Bria, Rian and Jenna are pictured here with care packages for our residents in Avis Arbor. The care package bags contain healthy snacks and fruit drinks, and the Gray family's hope is that these goodies will brighten someone's day. The girls also took the time to write encouraging messages and draw pictures on each bag. Thank you, Gray family, for being so generous!

Sweet Sunday

Sweet Sunday

City Mission's annual dessert festival, Sweet Sunday, will be held on February 8, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. The event has been going on for over 20 years now and this year is going to be even bigger and better than before! As City Mission's largest fundraiser and most anticipated event, all ages are invited to come for a very sweet day of fun and desserts. Dessert vendors range from youth, school and civic groups to professional bakeries and businesses. There are plenty of returning favorites and also some new groups. A special section called Kid's Korner, with entertainment, face painting and crafts, dedicated to kids. There are also regular and silent auction baskets and the ever-popular Wreath of Wealth. With live entertainment all day, desserts and lots of kid's activities, Sweet Sunday is definitely worth a visit. All proceeds benefit City Mission's programs and services ---and support our vision of ending homelessness one life at a time!  Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact Shelby Knapp for more information, sknapp@citymission.org, or (724) 222-8530 ext. 236.

Paying it Forward

Quenton D. came to City Mission when his apartment building transferred to new ownership and he lost his place to live. "I stayed with relatives and friends, but that wasn't great---one of them even stole money from me," he reported. He came to City Mission, and lived here for 6 months. "It helped me get back into Christianity," he said. "Now I go to several church services a week." Last week, Quenton moved to an apartment in Washington and plans to visit City Mission often. "God has been good to me," he said. "Now I want to pay it forward."

Have You Seen These Boxes?

Incoming donations are sorted and distributed to help clothe City Mission residents and the working poor of the community. They're also sold in Hidden Treasures Thrift Stores, where all proceeds benefit City Mission programs.

City Mission's donation boxes are located in various businesses, organizations and churches throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. By utilizing these boxes near your neighborhood, you can conveniently donate clothes and household items to City Mission.

Donation boxes are maintained and serviced by City Mission employees, residents and volunteers.

If you are interested in placing a donation box on your business or church property, please contact Director of Mission Initiatives, Jerry Oxford, joxford@citymission.org, (724) 222-8530 ext. 216.

4 Months Sober - Thanks to City Mission

James F, pictured here, has really turned his life around since coming to City Mission. He has 4 months of sobriety, is working on getting his driver's license back for the first time since 1988, and wants to go to school to be a Drug and Alcohol counselor. "God is the most awesome wonder I can picture," he told us. "He is patient and forgiving, and He gives us so many chances. I've turned my life over to Him 100%."

Cold Weather Shelter

Last week's weather was bitterly cold and most of us had warm houses or apartments in which to take shelter. Unfortunately, this isn't the case for everyone. City Mission is grateful for the opportunity to offer shelter to those in need on nights when the temperature drops below 32 degrees. This past week we housed up to 29 men per night in our emergency shelter area.

If you'd like to get involved with this City Mission ministry through volunteering, call (724) 222-8530 ext. 248 ---or for a list of items needed, call ext. 210.

Arbuckle Medical Clinic

The Arbuckle Medical Clinic provided 4,647 medical interventions in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. We are so grateful for our full-time nurse, Lynette Gregory, and the team of volunteers who serve in the clinic. Lynette is pictured here with resident Cary S.

Five physicians and several other medical professionals volunteer at Arbuckle Medical Clinic on a regular basis. 

If you'd like to get involved please contact Lynette Gregory, or (724) 222-8530 ext. 223.

Samaritan Care Christmas Meal Distribution

Through generous donations, City Mission was able to provide 50 full Christmas dinners to the working poor of the community on Thursday, December 18. Many families that we serve through Samaritan Care would not be able to provide a special Christmas dinner for their families otherwise. 

The spirit of joy definitely filled the air of Samaritan Care! Outreach Case Manager Paul Smith had the opportunity to pray with some of the guests, and various City Mission staff from different departments helped serve the community. 

It's a Safe Place to Get Help

Meet Charlie --he's a resident living in McCausland Shelter at City Mission. Through our programs and services, Charlie was able to get the assistance he needed to turn his life around, and he is grateful for each day of his rehabilitation journey.

"The Mission means help to me --that's the big thing," he said. "It's a safe place to get help. I had a year of bouncing from couch to couch, but my friends were doing alcohol and drugs. I've been clean one year on January 1."