Friday, December 3, 2010

CHS Holiday Gift Drive

Pittsburgh blogs such as I Heart PGH, Ms. Mon's Salon, Secret Agent L, That's Church and Two Political Junkies have been writing up a storm about this year's Community Human Services Corp. (CHS) holiday gift drive; this trend might have something to do with its point-person, Sue Kerr.

Even still, due to great local demand for these kinds of services, its goals are to sponsor over 500 pre-identified families and to raise upwards of $10,000 for supportive holiday gifts on top of that. There is much unmet need remaining to be filled over the coming weeks.

CHS is a private non-profit that has been based out of Oakland for over 40 years. It was originally founded to service the working-class community in Oakland, and did so through operating a community center and holding Bingo fundraisers. Since then, CHS has expanded and shifted its emphasis to providing mental health services and mental health residential programs.

The organization serves over 1,500 clients per year. It receives many of its referrals from Allegheny County, and many more through contacts established during "street-based" work.

This is the fourth year of the CHS gift drive; there are many subprograms by which one can get involved. Kerr is primarily responsible for the "Adopt a Family" program, through which qualified recipients "usually get three wishes". The gift items wished for tend towards the extremely useful and practical, such as gloves, blankets and everyday household needs. In addition the program recommends practical, family-friendly gift cards in $25 denominations. Gift cards have the added benefit of allowing recipients a shopping trip, chaperoned or otherwise, with which they are afforded the dignity of satisfying their own needs.

Kerr emphasizes that the gift card program is a particularly good plug-in for corporate donors. Although it is known as "Adopt a Family", do not expect a meet and greet with the end-users of your gifts or pictures suitable for framing; confidentially for health services recipients rules all. However you might expect a thank-you note and will certainly receive thank-yous and stories from staff.

Cash remains king, so various fund drives are also taking place, and 100% of the proceeds of these go to recipients. "Every penny that goes in, goes out." Contact CHS directly or read some of the blogs linked to above to learn of these events. Some of these funds will likely be directed toward the street-based aspect of the gift drive; gifts as socks, gloves or deodorant for the homeless. Santa Claus has been known to quietly take part in this aspect of the project.

Consumers of CHS services suffer through a broad variety of conditions and situations, some of which are frequently overlooked by society or make people uncomfortable. Kerr states that the simple awareness that others care enough to provide these folks with a holiday present is helpful in itself, and the practical nature of the gifts CHS gathers provides support. "If you want people to make good choices," she says, "you need to provide good supports."

17 comments:

  1. "Pittsburgh blogs such as I Heart PGH, Ms. Mon's Salon, Secret Agent L and That's Church have been writing up a storm about this year's Community Human Services Corp. (CHS) holiday gift drive; this trend might have something to do with its point-person, Sue Kerr."

    And, 2 Political Junkies! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bram,

    I wish to contribute, $1,000.00

    Monk

    PS: Email, me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Have Sue Kerr contact me!

    With address....

    My middle daughter, works with Haitian refugees...Holy Family Institute.

    She cried upon learning about Court Approval and adoptions...

    Again, for those; slow....


    I wish to contribute $1,000.00...
    in behalf of grace, that is life...


    In, behalf...of, Daughters: Tara, Megan and KT, a joyous celebration...

    $1,000.00

    monk

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the blog post, Maria. We need all the community support we can get. There are still families to adopt and gift cards to be collected ... no deadline. We can take donations on Dec 24.

    Monk, I look forward to meeting you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. LOL, I was thinking about the need to thank Maria (based on your amendment) so I thanked her here and ignored Bram. Oh God I need coffee.

    THANK YOU BRAM.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Sue. What were you saying about ignoring Bram on his on blog?

    ReplyDelete
  7. No need to thank me, Sue. Wherever there are people in need, I'll be there. [Turns to the side, arms akimbo and jawline emphasized, blogger's cape billowing.]

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bathrobe, cape. Whatever.

    ReplyDelete
  9. FROM: Sue Kerr
    TO:Monk


    Every penny will be spent on consumers. That's our pledge.

    Sue Kerr

    Director of Residential Programs Community Human Services

    skerr@chscorp.org

    END

    Sue,

    I decided I need not hand-deliver. Check ($1,000.00) will be mailed tomorrow.

    I leave it to your judgment on method of disbursement. I only ask that it not be squandered as this
    was difficult money to come by.

    Best wishes and warmest regards to you and yours,

    monk

    ReplyDelete
  10. MH: Said "Bathrobe, cape. Whatever."

    "Wipe down your own Latte spill!

    Don't call PW, for after-hours, stupidity!"

    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sue: Director of Residential Programs Community Human Services


    Great saying, (City Operative)...

    "Pouring maple syrup on shit don't make it Pancakes"

    An, orphan...opines. Foster Care...

    Of course that was 40 years ago (Army)...

    What you, say him?

    monk

    PS: It is his gift, that preceeds mine. Can you say 1984 Mercury Station Wagon, Stripper, Navy Seal and memories...Alpark?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bram:

    All you do-gooders, bloggers...

    Nothing?

    Maria? You hate me?

    Cough it up!

    Will match your contribution up to 50 cents!

    monk

    ReplyDelete
  13. Bram,

    Challenge is...

    If Comet Blog rasies additional $5000.00 I will contribute another $1000.00.

    Sue, will tally...

    monk

    PS: Will need documentation.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Just in case anyone is wondering what to get me this holiday season...

    "Bud Light w Lime" Ramen Noodles...in case Comet Blog comes up with 5k....

    Dancing girls, would be nice...pale, butts,,,

    Tee-He...Eastern European...



    Bloggers, are mind fart!

    Taking $1000.00 to Rivers Casino: Hard 8.

    Wtf?

    monk

    ReplyDelete
  15. But those men have something you don't...a testimonial. A true measure of a mans heart is how much he is loved by others, not by how he purports to love others - the Wizard.

    The other day a homeless man was selling on the street new boots and hat he just got from a charity drive.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I dunno if I can meet that challenge, Monkenstein, but it's worth posting again...

    ReplyDelete