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Mission Highlights Articles

"Hope is Contagious"

April 1, 2022

On Friday, April 1 from 10am-2pm at the City Mission Chapel, Senator Camera Bartolotta along with City Mission, Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid, and the Washington County Bar Association all came together to host a free legal clinic for City Mission residents and eligible community members. The purpose of the “Clean Slate Day” event was to help City Mission residents and eligible members of the community to obtain expungements or pardons for criminal records. “We need to put people on a path to get back to the workplace, back to their family, and back to life,” said Senator Bartolotta. “We need to remove barriers so people in our community can live happy and meaningful lives.” An expungement is a legal court order that removes a criminal record from public view when appropriate, which helps to give a second chance to those who have turned their lives around. Courts can also consider “limited access” requests to shield non-violent misdemeanor convictions from public view, so long as the person making the request has received no additional convictions for the past 10 years. At Friday’s Clean Slate Day event, there were volunteer attorneys on hand to work one-on-one with individuals to help them navigate the expungement process. “A criminal record is a very real barrier to employment for our residents,” said City Mission Manager of Career Services, Brianna Kadlecik. And sustainable employment is a vital piece of the puzzle for them to get back to independent living. But a clean slate does not just help with employment. Kadlecik has seen criminal records create barriers for our residents to obtain housing, financial aid for education, and even a driver’s license – all things that could help to clear a path for them to a better life. “It’s a beautiful thing,” Kadlecik said of the Clean Slate Day event. “We have 11 City Mission residents in attendance today. Residents who have attended in the past have been able to get answers to things they didn’t think they would ever be able to get answers to.” For Brian Gorman, the Executive Director of Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid, Clean Slate Day is about giving people a second chance. “Everybody who comes here is looking to better themselves in some way,” he explained. “They’re looking for a job or a higher-income job. They could also be trying to go to school or to obtain housing, and their criminal record is preventing them from achieving those goals. So it not only gives people hope and redemption, but it also gives them tangible things that can help them create a better life.” If those in attendance at the Clean Slate Day event were not eligible for expungements, there were also volunteer pardon coaches from the Washington County Pardon Project on hand to help walk them through the process for applying for a pardon with the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons at no cost. The process can take from one to three years to complete, but nonviolent misdemeanor and felony convictions can be pardoned if an applicant demonstrates a change in his or her life since the arrest along with an important need for the pardon, such as increasing employment opportunities. Governor Tom Wolf has pardoned nearly 2,000 applicants during his tenure as Governor of Pennsylvania. Kyle Duff is the Project Coordinator for the Washington County Pardon Project. He works to recruit applicants and team them up with volunteer coaches to guide them through the process. “The Pardon Project is a connection that helps people with criminal records overcome the barriers associated with their background,” he explained. “Hope is the most important part of this whole thing,” he added. “Hope is contagious. It can overcome fear and desperation.” Duff explained that the Pardon Project is such a vital part of Washington County life, because the county has become such a hub for the recovery community. “People come here from all over the state and all over the country for a chance at a new life. And many of them stay and build a life here. They get jobs and build careers and start families here. They’re become part of our community.” The Pardon Project helps to give them a chance at a better life, which benefits the whole community, because the better they do in their new lives here in Washington County, the more they invest back into our local economy. They buy homes and cars. They help create a reliable workforce. They volunteer. They go to church. And ultimately, they help to strengthen the fabric of our community. “It’s great to see so many volunteers here who really want to help,” said Senator Bartolotta at the Clean Slate Day event. “They know how cumbersome it can be, and they are here to help people stay on the right path, to stay focused on their goals.” She added, “There absolutely is hope! And there are lots of people who can help. Just pick up the phone.” For more information about getting your record expunged, applying for a pardon, or attending the next Clean Slate Day, you can contact Senator Bartolotta’s senate office in Washington at 724-225-4380 or the Pardon Project at pardonme@splas.org. You can also visit www.spla.org to learn more about how Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid can help you.

Clean Slate Day at City Mission

March 25, 2022

Sen. Camera Bartolotta, together with The City Mission in Washington, Pa., Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid, and the Washington County Bar Association will host a free clinic, “Clean Slate Day,” for expungements or pardons of criminal records on Friday, April 1, for residents of the City Mission homeless shelter and eligible members of the public. Clean Slate Day will take place at the City Mission from 10 a.m. to 2p.m. at the City Mission on 84 West Wheeling Street in Washington. City Mission residents and eligible members of the public can meet with the volunteers beginning at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is requested, but walk-ins will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. “People who have made mistakes but have worked to turn their lives around should not be penalized for the remainder of their lives because the expungement or pardon process can seem overwhelming or confusing. This event is about ensuring those individuals who have earned their second chance have the necessary resources to overcome barriers and achieve the greatest success legally possible. That is why I support initiatives like Clean Slate Day and have advocated for a number of criminal justice reform measures to streamline reentry to the workforce while protecting public safety,” said Sen. Bartolotta. An expungement is a legal court order that removes a criminal record from public view when appropriate. Courts can also consider “limited access” requests to shield from public view non-violent misdemeanor convictions, so long as the person making the request has received no additional convictions for the past 10 years. If someone is ineligible for expungement, they can submit a pardon application to the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons at no cost. Though it takes much longer for a pardon to be granted – one to three years – nonviolent misdemeanor and felony convictions can be pardoned if an applicant demonstrates a change in his or her life since the arrest along with an important need for the pardon, such as increasing employment opportunities. In 2021, a group of public officials, along with social and legal services leaders, formed the Pardon Project of Washington County to identify high quality pardon applicants and match them with “pardon coaches” to help them complete and submit applications. To date, the project has screened more than 80 candidates and has matched more than 20 of them with coaches. To be eligible for the project, one must have a Washington County record or be a county resident, and they must have completed probation or parole at least three years ago for a crime that is not a violent felony and does not involve sexual offender registration. Volunteers will have pardon applications on hand to help eligible attendees get the process started. More information about the pardon project can be found at https://spla.org/pardon. Brian Gorman, executive director of Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid, argues that expunging, sealing or pardoning a criminal record is a win-win for the individual and the community. “Removing the barrier of a criminal record for a reformed person increases their employment and income opportunities while boosting an employer’s workforce, providing multiple benefits to the public’s economy. Well over 90% of people who contact us about their prior record are looking for a job or a better job.” The City Mission’s Legal Clinic has joined with Legal Aid and the Bar Association for Expungement Days in 2017, 2019 and 2021, and approximately 60 people attended on average. In addition to residents of the City Mission, members of the public also are welcome to attend Clean Slate Day, and those with a total household income of 187.5% of the federal poverty guidelines or below are eligible for free legal aid. The Washington County Bar Association’s volunteer attorneys will be available at the event to discuss other legal resources and referral options for those who are not income-eligible for assistance. For information and to pre-register for April 1 Clean Slate Day, contact SW PA Legal Aid at 724-225-6170 or 800-846-0871. Information on removing criminal records also is available at https://spla.org or by contacting Southwestern PA Legal Aid by email at legalservices@splas.org.

City Mission Chapel Gets a New Name

March 25, 2022

“I can’t sleep at night if I know someone is outside in the cold,” said Mary Pillow, a clinical social worker in Washington. “That was instilled in me by my parents when I was very young. They taught me to never walk by anyone in need, and my sister and I still live by that to this day.” In that spirit, Pillow and her husband, Dr. Michael Crabtree, a clinical Psychologist and Psychology professor at Washington and Jefferson College, recently made a very kind and generous donation to City Mission. In honor of their gift, the iconic City Mission Chapel will be named after Pillow’s parents. “Mary’s parents really embodied the spirit of giving throughout their entire lives,” said Dr. Crabtree, explaining why he and his wife decided to name the chapel after her parents. “They would never want to be applauded. They would want to be humbled. But they represent the spirit of giving that matches the Christ-centered work of the City Mission.” The newly-christened “Porter Pillow and Peggie Beaver-Pillow Chapel,” the “Pillow Chapel” for short, will be dedicated with a special ceremony on Thursday, April 12 at 5pm in the chapel, located at 84 West Wheeling Street. “The chapel is the cornerstone of the work of the Mission,” added Dr. Crabtree, who is also the Vice President of City Mission’s Board of Directors. “It was the only building left standing after the fire that devastated the Mission in 2015. And I think the symbolism of that building on that street is powerful, because it shows that the Mission is putting Christ at the forefront of all the good work they do in the community.” Mary Pillow was born in Tennessee, but her father, who was an engineer for Procter & Gamble, moved the family to Tunkhannock in northeastern PA for his work. Pillow was raised in Tunkhannock and still returns every year for their annual carnival, because she still feels such a connection to the place. “It was a beautiful place to grow up,” she said of her childhood home. “It was idyllic. I had the best childhood.” She has vivid memories of going to church with her parents when she was a child. “I was a little kid,” she remembered, “and I would stand next to my dad at church. He loved to sing. He was a very big, tall man. And he would always sway when he sang.” The first time Dr. Crabtree and Mary Pillow attended church together, he asked her, “Why are you swaying?” And they both laughed. The lessons our parents teach us in childhood are incredibly powerful and impact us as adults in ways that we do not even understand. The most important lesson Mary Pillow learned from her parents is to help those in need. It is that spirit that inspires her and Dr. Crabtree to support City Mission and the hungry and hurting in our community. They have supported City Mission since 1995. “City Mission really hits the mark of the work of Christ in this world,” Dr. Crabtree said, explaining why he and his wife have continued to give to the Mission. “And the whole staff really embodies that spirit.” “From top to bottom,” Mary Pillow added, “this place is the authentic, real, spiritual deal. The people who work here are the best people in the world.” They give, because they want to support the work of the Mission and to carry on the legacy of Pillow’s parents to help those in need, but they also give to encourage and inspire others to support the Mission as well. “This is a great time to get involved with City Mission,” said Dr. Crabtree. “The Mission works hard to serve the entire community, but right now there is a growing need in our area for homeless women. And the Mission is currently working to address that need.” You too can support City Mission at www.citymission.org. Your gift can transform the lives of those in our community who are homeless, hungry, and hurting.

A Night Out At the Movies

Dr. Lattanzi at the City Mission Medical Clinic

March 10, 2022

This past week, 20 of our residents got to experience a night out on the town, watching “The Batman” and eating popcorn at a local movie theater thanks to a generous and thoughtful donation from Dr. Daniel Lattanzi and his wife, Linda Lattanzi, who graciously rented out the theater for the night. “I think we underestimate how important it is for them to get out and socialize as they work to move forward in their lives,” said Dr. Lattanzi, explaining why he and his wife chose to support our residents in this unique way. Dr. Lattanzi, who works at the UPMC McGee-Women’s Hospital teaching Obstestrics and Gynecology, is also the City Mission’s Medical Director. He and his wife Linda, who has been on the Board or Directors at the Mission for 20 years, have supported City Mission for decades. But recently, they have been finding more creative and hands-on ways to support our residents. Last summer, they hosted a picnic at the main pavilion in Washington Park. Dr. Lattanzi cooked a meal, and our residents got to experience some fun in the sun. Through that experience, Dr. Lattanzi says that he learned to appreciate how critical it is for our residents to find joy out in the world. Since that first summer picnic in the park, the Lattanzis have also sponsored a night out for our residents at a Christmas Lights Festival in Butler and now a night at the movies. “There are really good people working at the Mission who are committed to helping the homeless,” Dr. Lattanzi said, explaining his motivation to get more involved at the Mission. “I’ve been impressed by their knowledge and their passion for what they do. It’s a great organization with a great heart. Seeing them do what they do really motivated me to want to do more.” Leah Dietrich, our Director of Residential Programs, explains the impact that those types of events can have for our residents, “This event [the night at the movies] meant so much to our residents because they are working so hard to change their lives in so many ways. Recovery, counseling, and career services are all wonderful things, but they can be exhausting. An event like this is just a way to have fun and enjoy life. We were so grateful for our residents to get to enjoy this event because they deserve to have these moments since they are working so hard and making so many changes.” The residents who attended the night out at the movies and enjoyed the free soda and popcorn were touched that someone who didn’t even know them would pay for them to go to the movies. “Several of the residents said that it was fun to have a safe activity they could do that made them feel like regular people again,” explained Wayne Heckman, City Mission’s Manager of Men’s Services. “Having Dr. Dan and Linda Lattanzi involved in the mission is a tremendous blessing,” added Dietrich. “They support us in so many ways. Dr. Lattanzi has been a wonderful asset as our medical director and has helped us through the pandemic not just with medical support, but with his passion for cooking and providing prepared food and fresh produce to our kitchen and our Samaritan Care Center. Linda has made wonderful connections within the community for the organization like the Spencer family YMCA that have blessed us tremendously. The Lattanzi’s are true friends of the Mission and this latest effort was a blessing to our residents. I can’t thank them enough for all that they have done!” Our residents here at City Mission are working hard every day to build better lives for themselves and their families. They need people to come around them and encourage them with love and support. That is our mission. And we could use your help! Join us today at www.citymission.org. Thanks!

2022 Sweet Sunday Basket Raffle Winners

March 1, 2022

Thank you for supporting Sweet Sunday Dessert Festival! Here is the list of raffle basket sinners: https://youtu.be/izu1rCo_G1Y . To claim your prize call us at 724-222-8530 ext 283. Must have winning ticket to claim prize.

Sweet Sunday is Back, Live and In-person

February 11, 2022

City Mission is excited to return to the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe on Sunday, February 27 for the 28th Annual Sweet Sunday Dessert Festival presented by MPLX. This year’s in-person event will feature 20 local dessert vendors, beautiful auction baskets, top-notch entertainment, and kids’ games and activities throughout the day from 12-5pm. Sweet Sunday is City Mission’s largest annual fundraiser, with all proceeds going to support the Mission’s life-changing programs and services for the homeless. And the event just seems to get bigger and better every year. “My favorite part of Sweet Sunday is seeing the entire community come together to sponsor, provide sweets, share their talents, contribute auction items, volunteer, and enjoy the festivities—all to help our homeless neighbors! It never ceases to amaze me how wonderfully generous the people, corporations, churches, and civic groups in this region really are,” said City Mission’s Chief Development Officer, Dr. Sally Mounts. The event will start at noon. The incomparable Pat O’Brien will once again emcee. Entertainment is booked through 5pm, culminating with a performance from Scott Blasey, lead singer of The Clarks, which starts at 4pm. Sweets will be available all day, as supplies last, from various local dessert vendors in three categories: professional, amateur, and youth. Celebrity judges will select their favorite sweet in each category, and you will get to vote on your favorite as well for the people’s choice award. Wonderful auction baskets will be available at the event to bid on, and the café will be on-site for you to purchase food, drinks, and snacks. Admission tickets can be purchased at the door. They are $5 apiece or $20 for a family of four or more. Sweet Sunday Dough, which can be used to purchase the desserts, and auction tickets, which can be used to bid on auction items, can also be purchased at the door. There are also plenty of new and exciting things in store for this year’s event. “What’s new this year is that the major event will be held in person,” explained Dr. Mounts. “But we still have a limited number of things available online—Sweets Sampler boxes and Auction baskets—for those who want to stay home. 200 sweets boxes will be reserved for pick-up orders and can be ordered online now through Friday, February 25. And 45 auction items are available for bidding online now through the 25th as well and can be picked up by auction winners the day of the event at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe. Spots in the parking lot will be marked-off for pick-up. You can access these online options at our website: https://www.citymission.org/support/sweet-sunday. COVID precautions will also be in place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe to ensure the health and safety of all guests, volunteers, and staff. “We are taking all necessary precautions to make this a safe event,” said City Mission’s new Event Manager, Chris Rogers. “All volunteers and staff will be wearing masks. Vendors will be wearing masks as well as gloves. Hand sanitizer will be readily available throughout the event at various locations.” “We are also spreading out the layout to provide more social distancing and providing clear 2’ by 4’ shields for each Sweets vendor, and encouraging everyone to wear masks,” added Mounts. So be a smart cookie and donut miss out on this flan-tastic opportunity for you and your whole family to have a fun Sunday afternoon while supporting the work of City Mission. Go to: https://www.citymission.org/support/sweet-sunday for more information.

A Slice of Compassion

January 27, 2022

Recently, Harry’s Pizza in McMurray, made a monetary donation to City Mission, and they also donated pizzas for our residents to enjoy for dinner. The donation came one month to the day after Dave Auld, one of the co-owners of Harry’s Pizza, passed away suddenly, and it was made in his honor as a symbol that the restaurant intends to carry on his passion and commitment for supporting those in need in the community. “Harry’s Pizza has changed so many lives in the past 10+ years that they have partnered with the Mission, by not only providing pizza, a place for donation drop-offs, and communicating our needs to their generous customers, but they have also spread the word about who we are at the City Mission,” said Shelley Kubincanek, City Mission’s Manager of Church and Community Engagement, who was a close personal friend to Dave and the Auld family. “We are so grateful for their compassion for our residents.” More than ten years ago, Stacey French-Finnegan, who has worked for Harry’s Pizza for 18 years, organized their first donation drive for the Mission. And ever since then, Harry’s Pizza has been actively supporting the ministry of City Mission. About 5 or 6 times a year, they would call us up and let us know that they want to donate pizzas for our residents. And then at the beginning of COVID, the restaurant decided to make themselves available as a permanent donation drop-off site for the Mission, where people in the community, including their customers, could drop-off clothes, shoes, blankets, canned food items, hygiene products, blankets, and more. “No matter when we are in need of meals, Harry’s Pizza always delivers us delicious pizza,” added Kubincanek. “Their customers will always answer the call as well, with donations for our residents, and we are so blessed by each and every one of them. This business is so much more than a business, it is family to City Mission and we cannot say thank you enough to all of them for continuing this relationship and their generosity to help make a difference in our community.” Now that Dave Auld’s nephew, Dan Auld, has taken over operations at Harry’s Pizza, he along with Robin Auld (Dave’s sister-in-law and majority owner), Nate Auld (Dave’s nephew), and the rest of the family, are carrying on Dave’s passion for food and for people. “Everyone wanted the pizza shop to continue in Dave’s memory and to continue his legacy,” Kubincanek explained. “Dan is there every day to make the pizzas and make sure that everything is going just as it did when Dave was still with us. Dan’s commitment to make Harry’s Pizza now his passion is so admirable. Seeing Dan’s hard work and dedication is heartwarming, because it is just what Dave would have wanted, if he couldn’t be here himself.” Your business can also partner with City Mission to provide hope for the homeless and hurting in our community. Contact Corporate Relations Manager, Eric Smith, at esmith@citymission.org to get your business involved. You can contact Harry’s Pizza at (724) 969-0444 or info@harrys-pizza.com

Finding Ways to Help

January 13, 2022

Finding Ways to Help Although rising Covid numbers in our area along with some positive cases among our staff and resident population have caused us to temporarily close our Warming Center and Cold Weather Shelter, we are still finding ways to help those in need during these, cold, winter months. "No one is going to get turned away," said City Mission President/CEO, Dean Gartland. “We’re working diligently to keep people safe and warm.” For those in need of emergency shelter in the cold weather, we work to find alternative solutions. We refer them to county agencies and other shelters, make phone calls on their behalf, purchase bus tickets, and offer transportation for those we cannot keep in our shelters overnight. We also contact other local agencies who may be able to help, and when necessary, we secure hotel rooms for those in need until a long-term solution can be found. “But if it’s the end of the day, or the weekend, and they can’t connect with the county resources, we are the people who bridge that gap,” said Gartland. In addition to these resources, we also offer hot meals, warm clothes, blankets, toiletries, canned food, and possibly even medical care to those who come to us for help. The safety of everyone in the community is our top priority, and we are working hard to help those in need while also doing our very best to keep staff, residents, volunteers, and the community healthy and safe. “Unfortunately, the cold weather came at the same time Covid is spiking,” said Gartland. “But we’re still going to make sure that everyone’s needs are met.” If you or anyone you know need help to stay out of the cold this winter, please continue to reach out to us at 724-222-8530. We are here to help during this difficult time.

Brentwood Bank Pledges $25,000 to Finish Strong Campaign

October 29, 2021

Brentwood Bank, a community bank headquartered in Bethel Park, PA, has proudly announced its pledge to donate $25,000 over the course of the next three years to City Mission’s Finish Strong Campaign. City Mission has been committed to shelter, heal, and restore the homeless to independent living through comprehensive programs that address short-term and long-term needs for over 80 years. “As a community-focused business, we are always looking for ways to help those who are struggling in our communities,” said Carrie Havas, Senior Vice President and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of Brentwood Bank. “We hope our donation will help City Mission to continue its mission and positively transform the lives of our neighbors in need.” City Mission will persist in supporting the homeless and credits initiatives like the Finish Strong Campaign with improving program outcomes, meeting the growing needs in the area, and providing a safe haven for those who are struggling. As a part of the City Mission’s Career Training and Education Center, a classroom will be named in Brentwood Bank’s honor. The center provides vocational services to all City Mission residents as well as an on-site computer lab, classrooms, and study areas. “We are so grateful for the partnership of Brentwood Bank and their commitment to the homeless and needy of our community and to City Mission,” said Dean Gartland, President and Chief Executive officer of City Mission. “Their contribution will go a long way in helping us achieve our goal of paying off our current mortgage and begin the process of focusing on our new Women’s shelter which is so critically needed.” Donations made to the Finish Strong Campaign support life-changing efforts including growing the Vocational Training Center, starting the early stages of development for a new 50 bed women’s shelter, and continuing to identify new and cutting-edge methods to address the increasing problem of homelessness. “City Mission’s work in prioritizing an individual’s dignity while helping them get back onto their feet is a truly honorable cause,” said Clayton Kinlan, AVP and Relationship Banker for Brentwood Bank “We hope to propel a successful Finish Strong Campaign and in turn help to meet the ever-growing needs of those plagued with homelessness.” “We thank Brentwood Bank and their generous gift, which is another example of their consistent commitment to our cause and it’s goal of giving hope to the homeless,” said Dr. Sally Mounts, the Chief Development Officer of City Mission. For more information, please visit www.brentwoodbank.com or www.citymission.org. About Brentwood Bank Brentwood Bank has proudly served the South Hills region of Pittsburgh since 1922. Since then, we've maintained our local roots while growing the bank to five locations: Beaver; Bethel Park, Brentwood, South Fayette, South Park. We offer a full range of financial products and services and are committed to providing exceptional service and value to our customers and our communities throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area. About City Mission For 80 years, City Mission has sheltered, healed, and restored the homeless to independent living—without discrimination. City Mission’s comprehensive program addresses both short-term needs like food and shelter, and long-term needs, including drug and alcohol counseling, mental health and medical treatment, legal aid, and employment training. City Mission’s goal is to help each man, woman, mother with children, or veteran who walks through our doors to become a healthy, productive member of society. With your help, we can help our residents renew their lives.

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