NHCO Thanksgiving Food drive is underway
North Hills Community Outreach is collecting food items to create complete Thanksgiving meals to distribute to local families in need. Last year, 881 local families received nourishing Thanksgiving meals. Items that make a meal include: grocery store gift cards of at least $10 for turkey purchase, large boxes of stuffing mix and instant mashed potatoes, canned cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, easy pumpkin pie mix, evaporated milk, muffin mix, turkey gravy mix and napkins. Donations are accepted through November 14th. NHCO offices, including the main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Allison Park, are open weekdays, 9am-4pm. Special donation hours will be held 9am- noon, Saturday, November 1 in the pantry behind the main office, for those who can’t make it during the week. For more information, visit www.nhco.org or contact Vicki at 412-487-6316 opt. 1.
NHCO Volunteer Needs and Orientation Sessions
North Hills Community Outreach will need volunteers for the annual Citrus Sale in March. Snow Angel volunteers will be needed to shovel snow for seniors in ALL neighborhoods of Allegheny County, especially city neighborhoods. NHCO’s Free Rides for Seniors shuttle needs volunteer drivers and on-board dispatchers weekdays in the lower Freeport Road area. These are just three of the many opportunities available! The next NHCO Volunteer Orientation session is 10 a.m., November 6 in NHCO Millvale. Please register by contacting Linda atlkrobins@nhco.org or 412-408-3830 ext 3215.
Gala for Modern Women at St. Paul’s to benefit NHCO’s Scholarship Fund
The Lydia Circle of St. Paul’s United Methodist Women presents Gala for Modern Women, 2-6:00 pm, Saturday, November 8 in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Road, McCandless.
Admission is a $5 donation, which benefits the North Hills Community Outreach Scholarship Fund for nontraditional students and includes all gala events. Events include:
- Featured speakers: Stephanie Nicholas, MD, OB/GYN; Alison F. Wertz, CFP, CLU, Bill Few Associates Wealth Management; Michele McPeak Cromer, Esquire, Partner with GTN Law.
- Health and beauty events: Zumba class with certified instructor Kerri Colangelo, Baierl Family YMCA; a fitness demonstration from local Beachbodycoaches; fashion show; yoga; meditation; chair massages; blood pressure screenings; spa pampering and relaxation treatments.
- Educational workshops, including resume writing and critique, job interview skills, estate planning, coping with loss and grieving and “Ask the Doctor” discussions.
Local vendors will be on hand and there will be a silent auction and free refreshments
Attendees are encouraged to bring a gently used piece of business or business-casual clothing or an accessory for a Dress-for-Success sale. Remaining items will be donated to Treasure House Fashions.
For more information on the gala, please contact Nina Belcastro at nbelcastro17@gmail.com.
APPRISE offers FREE Medicare Open Enrollment events and counseling
APPRISE, Pennsylvania’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, is offering private, one-on-one appointments to help clients understand Medicare and Medicaid benefits and make informed decisions about health care options. Appointments will be held at FREE open enrollment event: 1:00 – 4:00pm, Thursday, November 13, AGH-Suburban General Hospital, 100 S. Jackson Street, Bellevue, PA 15202.
Trained staff and volunteers from the Allegheny County APPRISE program will help attendees understand their options. To reserve an appointment, call APPRISE at 412-661-1438. APPRISE is a free, public service of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.
Free Services for Seniors through NHCO
Seniors in northern Allegheny County who need a little help to remain independent in their homes can call North Hills Community Outreach’s In Service of Seniors program and be matched with a volunteer. Volunteers can provide rides to medical appointments or the grocery store, rake leaves, shovel snow, do light yard work, make friendly visits or telephone calls, do home safety checks, or help with bill paying (such as reading the bills). Seniors should call Cathy 412-307-0069 ext 3313 or Kerry 412-449-0151 to schedule an in-home registration visit.
Free Home Safety Inspections are available for seniors
Are you a senior living at home? Trained Safety for Seniors volunteers with Open Your Heart to a Senior will conduct a brief but thorough FREE home safety assessment using a written checklist making recommendations for family members to adjust/remove potential hazards. They install smoke alarms (if needed) and leave seniors with a bag of safety items, like a flashlight and fresh batteries, a bath mat, night light and other helpful items. After the check has been completed seniors qualify for either a free grab bar or an indoor railing installed at no charge. For information, please contact Cathy Pschirer 412-307-0069 ext 3313 or clpschirer@nhco.org at North Hills Community Outreach.
Ask the Attorney
Free legal consultation for families in need is available at North Hills Community Outreach locations one Wednesday of each month except December. All sessions are at 7:00pm. The next ATA session is NHCO North Boroughs, November 12. Attendees MUST preregister by contacting Harriet at hzgibbs@nhco.org or412-408-3830.
WorkAble Employment Workshops for Low-income Jobseekers
WorkAble, a countywide United Way-funded program of North Hills Community Outreach, South Hills Interfaith Ministries, and Jewish Family & Children’s Services, offers free employment skills workshops, one-on-one volunteer career mentoring, professional career counseling, computer lab access, career fairs and much more. WorkAble assists underemployed and unemployed job seekers throughout Allegheny County.
Upcoming WorkAble workshops at NHCO North Boroughs in Bellevue, AGH- Suburban, 100 S.t Jackson Ave, 2nd Floor Cafeteria:
Job Search Networking Group, 10:30 a.m., Nov 4;
Resume Workshop, 10:30 a.m., November18.
Please register for these workshops by contacting Harriet Gibbs athzgibbs@nhco.org or 412-408-3830 ext 3219. For more information visitwww.workableac.com or call 412- 904-5993.
Community Auto Needs Cars
Do you or does someone you know have an unwanted or unneeded vehicle? You could change someone’s life by donating your car to NHCO’s Community Auto program! Community Auto accepts vehicles in any condition. Cars are repaired and sold at low cost to low-income families who need a vehicle to get to work. Cars that can’t be repaired are sold at auction.
NHCO has a long list of families waiting to buy a car! Please call 724-443-8300 or visit www.communityauto.org for more information.