The SUMC congregation, with help from some community members, provided 78 coats along with some cold weather accessories for the City of Pittsburgh Police distribution in Northview Heights Housing. Visit https://www.facebook.com/UnitedMethodistChurchUnion for pictures of the December 22nd distribution at Church of Our Savior UMC, at which Bethany House Academy is now located.
Additionally, gifts were purchased for 20 residents of The Bradley Center, a residential mental health treatment facility for children age 6 to 21 located in Robinson Township. Besides the wonderful, personalized gifts provided by congregants and friends, each of the 20 children received a plush throw blanket.
Lastly, SUMC, along with community partners, provided bagged meals on December 21st and 23rd to the nurses of the Heritage Valley Sewickley COVID and ICU units. On December 21st, Subway (Leetsdale) provided subs at reduced cost, which were then packed with water, chips, fruit, and Hostess holiday snack cakes. On December 23rd, Safran’s provided sandwiches, also at reduced cost, which were then sent along with Smiley Christmas Tree Cookies donated by Eat’n Park (Sewickley), chips, water, and fruit. Every meal bag contained at least one note of appreciation, thanks to the congregants who provided those well wishes. Not long after the December 21st meals were taken to the hospital, a member of the respiratory care team called the church to express appreciation for the meal provided. Funding for this project was primarily provided through Miracle Sunday. In such difficult times, it was a blessing to be able to work along side others in the Sewickley community.
While a third Christmas week meal was planned for the nurses, SUMC was asked to postpone that until January, when it is expected that the COVID unit will have even more patients. Outreach decided that not only will SUMC provide that meal but will plan for two additional bagged meals in mid- to late-January. If you did not have the opportunity to write a note of appreciation and well-wishes for the nurses in December, you are welcome to drop off notes in early January to be included with meals sent to the nurses.