Projects a Plenty!
First, a final report on two projects from last Spring: The books remaining from our Used Book Sale on February 5th were donated to the Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry Book Sale in May. They were grateful to receive our donations, which will enable them to continue to offer their services to thecommunity. The profits will help subsidize the cost of tutoring and counseling for those with limited financial resources or inadequate mental-health insurance.
As usual, you came through with donations of 35 new books for the new Millvale Library. These books ranged in age from kindergarten through high school, and met their requests for both fiction and non-fiction items. Once again, our members are helping to
support literacy - and in our own community!
September 2013
For our September meeting, we will collect nonperishable items to fill backpacks for children at WestView Elementary in the North Hills School District. These children qualify for free or reduced price lunches at school, and our contributions will help ensure that they have food on the weekends. If you want to watch for sales, be on the lookout for canned fruit or fruit cups, dried fruit, oatmeal, trail mix, almonds, microwave popcorn, applesauce packs, spaghettios, canned veggies, baked beans, fruit juice, low sodium soups, whole grain crackers, jelly, peanut butter, pudding packs, canned meat, tuna, salmon and chicken, ravioli, easy mac& cheese, vegetable juice, granola
bars, snack sized foods, low sugar/high fiber cereal in single serving sizes, and non-perishablemilk products, such as Ensure.
PLEASE BRING THESE ITEMS TO OUR SEPTEMBERMEETING. IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND, PLEASE PURCHASE ITEMS AND GIVE THEM TO A MEMBER WHO WILL BE THERE.
As usual, you came through with donations of 35 new books for the new Millvale Library. These books ranged in age from kindergarten through high school, and met their requests for both fiction and non-fiction items. Once again, our members are helping to
support literacy - and in our own community!
September 2013
For our September meeting, we will collect nonperishable items to fill backpacks for children at WestView Elementary in the North Hills School District. These children qualify for free or reduced price lunches at school, and our contributions will help ensure that they have food on the weekends. If you want to watch for sales, be on the lookout for canned fruit or fruit cups, dried fruit, oatmeal, trail mix, almonds, microwave popcorn, applesauce packs, spaghettios, canned veggies, baked beans, fruit juice, low sodium soups, whole grain crackers, jelly, peanut butter, pudding packs, canned meat, tuna, salmon and chicken, ravioli, easy mac& cheese, vegetable juice, granola
bars, snack sized foods, low sugar/high fiber cereal in single serving sizes, and non-perishablemilk products, such as Ensure.
PLEASE BRING THESE ITEMS TO OUR SEPTEMBERMEETING. IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND, PLEASE PURCHASE ITEMS AND GIVE THEM TO A MEMBER WHO WILL BE THERE.
April 2013
Our used book sale at the February 5th meeting netted a profit of $113. Our wonderful speaker, Mr. Butch Santicola, asked that his honorarium be donated to the "Ethiopia Reads" Project as well! So we will be playing a part in putting books in the hands of children who have never used or owned one! Our grand total - $163. As the program states - "Those who read----bloom!" When you see those spring flowers in your garden begin to poke their heads above ground, you can be reminded of how you are helping children on the other side of the world!
Millvale Library (see information below - under November 2012) is our next project, so we are asking you to bring a new book to our April meeting. And if you are not attending, but would still like to make a contribution, you can send a check or a book my way. Or, if you know someone who is attending, please ask them to deliver your book as well.
Specifically, the folks at the library are looking for fiction or non-fiction for the middle school to high school age group. (They already have many books from the Harry Potter and Twilight series, as well as graphic novels. I had to ask about that last one myself! They are books in which the story is told mainly through cartoons.) Non-fiction for the kindergarten through fifth grade crowd is also needed. Thanks , in advance , for your contribution!
Millvale Library (see information below - under November 2012) is our next project, so we are asking you to bring a new book to our April meeting. And if you are not attending, but would still like to make a contribution, you can send a check or a book my way. Or, if you know someone who is attending, please ask them to deliver your book as well.
Specifically, the folks at the library are looking for fiction or non-fiction for the middle school to high school age group. (They already have many books from the Harry Potter and Twilight series, as well as graphic novels. I had to ask about that last one myself! They are books in which the story is told mainly through cartoons.) Non-fiction for the kindergarten through fifth grade crowd is also needed. Thanks , in advance , for your contribution!
February 2013 - Helping to Change the World
Check those bookshelves for gently used books you'd like to give to a good cause. We are having a USED BOOK SALE at our February 5th meeting. Bring a book, and take some home for a contribution to our "Ethiopia Reads" project. The funds help to put books in the hands of children who have never owned one! Training educators to bring skills and hope to Ethiopian children is a part of their mission. I like their motto- "Those who read...bloom." (international project)
November 2012 - Building Libraries: One Book at a Time
Because the work on the Millvale Library is taking a little longer than expected, they aren't ready to tell us what type of books are needed most. They must sort through all of the donations they have already received. So, if you are/were a librarian or a teacher with an interest in children's literature you can volunteer your time! They need help with both children's books and adult books. Contact Brian Wolovich at millvalelibrary@hotmail.com
The library has a GED program, and they would greatly appreciate assistance. The program runs on Wednesday nights from 6 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. at Scotus Hall on the campus of Mt. Alvernia. Once the library opens, the program will move there. They cannot accept any more students until they get more dependable volunteers. The program is offered in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, who provides training. Once again, contact Brian Wolovich at millvalelibrary@hotmail.com or at 412-977 7672.
Instead of bringing the books for the Millvale Library to our next meeting, we are going to delay the project until they can let us know what categories they need.
The library has a GED program, and they would greatly appreciate assistance. The program runs on Wednesday nights from 6 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. at Scotus Hall on the campus of Mt. Alvernia. Once the library opens, the program will move there. They cannot accept any more students until they get more dependable volunteers. The program is offered in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, who provides training. Once again, contact Brian Wolovich at millvalelibrary@hotmail.com or at 412-977 7672.
Instead of bringing the books for the Millvale Library to our next meeting, we are going to delay the project until they can let us know what categories they need.
October 2012 - Seeds of Change: Make a Difference In Our Own Backyard
A child is born into poverty every 27 seconds---in the United States. Families in this country who
are living in poverty are surviving on a salary equivalent to $9.83 an hour. Approximately $24.33 an hour
just covers basic needs such as food, shelter, education, transportation, and health care.
Heifer International's Seeds of Change initiative helps limited-resource Americans become more self-reliant and economically stable. They also hope to promote healthier and better stewards of the land so it can sustain generations to come. Two of the most severely impoverished areas in the U.S. are the Arkansas Delta and Appalachia. These regions are marked by fertile soil and strong agricultural traditions, but small scale farmers there still find it hard to make a living.
How can you help? By bringing a donation to our next meeting on October 22nd. How often do you have the luxury of going out for a meal? We don't always realize how blessed we are to have the lifestyle we have worked so hard to maintain. Would you be willing to challenge yourself to help others? Just once before the next meeting, stay home instead of going out to a restaurant for dinner. Estimate the cost of that dinner, and donate that amount to Seeds of Change. Thanks for your donation, and your caring ways. If you cannot attend the meeting, you can mail a check to Ellen Rodwick. (national project)

Click picture for full description of the project.
Thanks to all members who contributed to the Heifer International Project- "Seeds of Change". Because of the $285 we collected, families in the Arkansas Delta and Appalachia will have help learning to make a living through farming, be able to feed their families, and also learn about sustainable production methods. You are making a difference!
September, 2012 - Did you know?
Did you know that about 62% of U.S. schoolchildren qualify for free or reduced price school lunches? Our chapter can help to feed these children on weekends, when they often would have little or no food until their return to school. In the North Hills School District, West View Elementary sends these children home with backpacks on Friday. They are filled with non-perishable food items, and the empty backpacks are returned on Monday.
We know that children learn best when their needs are met. Many wonderful outcomes have been attributed to similar programs across the country. Better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance have all been proven outcomes from such a program.
At our first meeting, we will be collecting the items below, for delivery to West View Elementary. Please be generous and help ensure that the children have ample nutrition over the weekends. You CAN make a difference in their lives! (local project)
We know that children learn best when their needs are met. Many wonderful outcomes have been attributed to similar programs across the country. Better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance have all been proven outcomes from such a program.
At our first meeting, we will be collecting the items below, for delivery to West View Elementary. Please be generous and help ensure that the children have ample nutrition over the weekends. You CAN make a difference in their lives! (local project)

Thank you for your donations. They were delivered to West View Elementary School on Wednesday, September 26, 2012.