Outreach and Support Through COVID-19

​Becoming a distribution point for more than food, FTS has been handing out information on gun safety and other food assistance programs offered by Westmoreland County Food Bank and Otterbein United Methodist Church, just to name a few.   Over these past few weeks, we’ve seen a lot of new faces through car windows and on park amphitheater seats as folks come through the drive-in or walk up distribution lines.  This speaks powerfully to the emerging and real needs that we are working to address.  

​HOUSING STABILIZATION THROUGH RENT ASSISTANCE

Over the years, FTS has established and grown our collaborative relationships with local human service and community benefit organizations.  This is best demonstrated in the Rent Assistance program, where we partner with such agencies and groups to provide financial assistance to individuals and families seeking to prevent eviction or secure new long-term housing.  In the early weeks of the coronavirus mitigation shutdown, most of these partnerships were disrupted.  Agencies restricted or temporarily ceased operations as they transitioned to working remotely, as did churches and religious-affiliated groups.  Referrals to FTS for rent assistance decreased.  Additionally, Pennsylvania issued a moratorium on evictions. In March and April, cases decreased by nearly half.   However, because so many other sources of rent support were unavailable, the cost per case to FTS has increased. As the end of the eviction moratorium approaches, we anticipate a significant uptick in calls for rent assistance.
 
At present, this program is funded primarily through grants from the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Foundation and the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County.

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GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT @ FEEDING THE SPIRI

One week, a young couple came with cases of bottled water to share.  A local business owner brought washed and individually bagged fresh apples on another. For the weekend of Mother’s Day, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art made Mother’s Day cards and a Greensburg artist created flower pins to be given to the moms who came for meals.  Gifts of spirit, one and all, shared with our neighbors on a Saturday in the park.  We are continually honored and humbled by these gifts.

TEMPORARY EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR HOMELESS

As the social service system-wide ramifications of ‘stay at home’ orders developed, calls to Feeding the Spirit for emergency shelter markedly increased. Admissions to county shelters stopped for some time as these providers worked to devise and implement COVID-19 management protocols.  Fortunately, the local hotels with which FTS works to place folks in a housing crisis have remained open throughout.  From March 16 - April 30th, FTS provided safe shelter for 66 individuals and families for 95 nights. 
 
Funding for Feeding the Spirit’s Crisis Placement program comes from The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and the Lulu A. Poole Charitable Trust.

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RANDOM ACTS OF …. COOKIES!​

How fortunate could an organization be, to have a dedicated volunteer who loves to bake?  That organization would be Feeding the Spirit, and THAT volunteer would be Shirley McDowell, baker extraordinaire!  For years, Shirley has coordinated provision of a Thursday evening meal each month, working with members of her congregation at Life Church in Greensburg.  And she bakes.  Since our transition to meal distribution at St. Clair Park, Shirley has been arriving with pans full of yummy cookies, two zipped into each bag and ready to include with the food that folks are taking home for their families. What a perfect way to add a touch of love!