DONATIONS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Donated Coats from AIG Arrive at CHS!
 Brand new and slightly worn coats were donated to Community Human Services (CHS) over the holidays thanks to the dedicated efforts of local American Insurance Group staff. The coats were distributed to very low income residents at CHS’s Wood Street Commons’ housing program and to children living in their Families United housing program for formerly homeless families. CHS extends a very special thanks to Brenna Maier and Phyllis Jones, from AIG, for coordinating this heart-warming project.
Brenna of AIG said, "We started the coat drive as an AIG corporate initiative throughout the U.S. With so many people affected by the current state of the economy, we wanted to reach out to those people in need and make a difference in our communities. We collected over 1,800 coats nationwide, including 71 here in our Pittsburgh office."
Diane McMahon of Community Human Services (CHS) said, “At CHS we work with many families and individuals that are struggling to survive on very low incomes. Many are homeless and others are just getting back on their feet after experiencing homelessness, so many are facing economic challenges that place them in a position where they have to choose between buying food for the month or paying their rent. These donated coats had a great impact in the lives of the people we serve. We can’t thank AIG staff enough for their concern and compassion for others in the community!”
Diane adds, “We would also like to thank Pittsburgh Cares for reaching out into the community to link volunteers with the people that so desperately need their support. Pittsburgh Cares has made great strides through a leadership process and strategy that strongly connects the people who need our support in the community to volunteers who can help them succeed. Thank you Pittsburgh Cares for making this possible.”
– story submitted by Diane McMahon of CHS
WESCO Brightens the Holiday for a Family of Six
 We are living in challenging economic times and many families grappled with the fact that Santa may not visit this past holiday season. For a single mom with five children, this was even more of a reality. Luckily, there are people like those from the Supplier Relations Team at WESCO who wanted to make sure these children would wake up to gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.
Employees came up with the idea to adopt a family at their monthly meeting after discussing how blessed they are to have such good jobs and families. Over 20 employees pitched in to make Christmas special for the family of six served by Rainbow Kitchen Community Services, who since 1984 has focused on helping individuals and families of the Steel Valley area cope with inadequate incomes by providing the basic stepping stones needed to work towards independence.
The five children received numerous gifts including clothing for school and play, wrestling action figures with wrestling ring, gift cards to purchase CDs, hats and gloves, and even a Hanna Montana guitar and hair accessories! Employees from WESCO were so thoughtful that they purchased a robe, matching pajamas and an outfit for this mother of five, though they knew she would be concerned about her children first.
Gashaw Abebe, Director of Supplier Relations, said, “I told everyone it had nothing to do with religion or anything else…just human compassion. I believe the only way to touch people is one at a time and we are making an impact on a deserving family this holiday season. That is how it all starts and we will go from there.”
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