Hearth Volunteer Aims To Bring Residents Peace of Mind

For 25 years, Hearth, in Pittsburgh’s North Hills, has provided help to families experiencing homelessness who are survivors of domestic violence or trauma. The organization provides transitional housing with access to resources for education, personal growth, access to schools, and tangible goods such as clothing and food. 

On Feb. 8, Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting is partnering with Hearth for a food drive at its Broadcasting Center, located in Pittsburgh’s historic South Side. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. you can come to the station, meet some of 91.3 WYEP’s DJs and drop off non-perishable food items for the families of Hearth. 

“Seeing the food taken off the shelves and knowing that our families are using it and that in some way it’s helping them achieve their goals is really rewarding,” Cindy Songer, a volunteer at Hearth said. “We hope we are making it just a little bit easier for them to get on their feet.” 

Songer, of Wexford, has spent the last year as a volunteer managing the food pantry. She said the food pantry’s impact goes beyond filling bellies. 

“The women know that their kids aren’t going to go hungry on any day,” Songer said. “There will always be something that the kids have to eat. We hope it gives them peace of mind to not be constantly worried about where the next meal is coming from so they can focus on redeveloping their lives.”  

Hearth’s food pantry relies solely on food drives and donations, and Songer says those donations often go quickly. Last year, a food drive specifically for cereals netted 40 boxes. In two weeks, they were gone and it can sometimes be months before Hearth gets donations again.

And while canned vegetables are a common food drive donation, Hearth encourages you to consider other options, too.

“Canned vegetables are appreciated and needed, but that’s not the bulk of what our families go through,” Songer said. “We feed moms and their children, so things like cereals, tuna, mac and cheese, fruit cups, pasta and pasta sauces, rice, or rice side dishes are always popular.”

Help give mothers peace of mind and their kids a full belly. Come to 67 Bedford Square on Feb. 8 and bring a non-perishable food donation to benefit the families of Hearth, as well as enjoy a cookie table curated by the staff of Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting.