SHADYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Community Partnerships Mission Action Community (MAC) researches and considers requests from non-profit community groups not covered by the Children and Youth at Risk MAC and the Hunger and Homelessness MAC. The Community Partnerships MAC also is responsible for researching and recommending recipients of the Music in a Great Space concert series proceeds.

Ministries with which the Community Partnerships MAC currently supports and some ways in which Shadyside Presbyterian Church members have volunteered:

• Off-the-Floor Pittsburgh: www.offthefloorpittsburgh.org
  Off-the-Floor Pittsburgh (OTFP) is a volunteer organization that helps families in Pittsburgh who are eating and sleeping on their floors because they cannot afford furniture. OTFP arranges donations of furniture and furniture deliveries for these families.
  • The Community Partnerships MAC has a delivery team that works one Saturday every six to eight weeks. The MAC has held fundraisers for OTFP and individuals at Shadyside Presbyterian Church have donated furniture.

• Sojourner Moms: www.sojournerhousepa.org/moms/momsHome.asp
  The MOMS (Motivation, Opportunities, Mentoring and Spirituality) Program builds on Sojourner House's experience in providing a holistic mind-body-spirit approach to treating addiction. MOMS provides permanent, supportive housing for homeless, single dual-diagnosed women in recovery, as well as for their dependent children.
  • Shadyside is partnering with this organization to help transform vacant property into a play yard for the children of Sojourner MOMS.  Several workdays have been completed, as efforts will continue until completion in 2010.

• Emmaus Community: www.emmauspgh.org
  The primary mission of the Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh is to provide residential homes for persons with developmental disabilities and promote public awareness of their needs. The Community, inspired by faith and a desire to help others, is unique because it is built on a model of staff living in the homes provided by Emmaus, in a family-style atmosphere to foster mutual growth.
  • During each Advent season, members from Shadyside sing carols at the Emmaus Community homes.  After the carol sing, residents and SPC members enjoy one another’s company during a pizza party and bowling game.

• Pittsburgh Project: www.pittsburghproject.org
  The Project’s year-round staff of 60 operates a progressive series of after-school and summer programs for 350 urban young people, deploys over 2,500 people annually to perform free home repairs for Pittsburgh’s in-need elderly homeowners, and spearheads economic development and job training efforts in Pittsburgh.
  • The Community Partnership MAC provides and serves lunch to staff members, which allows all the staff to participate in team-building efforts.

• Veterans Place: www.veteransplace.org
  Veterans Place offers a transitional residence for formerly homeless veterans who have completed the drug and/or alcohol programs of the Pittsburgh Veterans Administration Health System. While residing there, veterans receive job training, life-skills training, drug and alcohol counseling, and psychological support.