IN South Fayette Winter 2019 | Page 9

homemade treats to brighten local seniors’ holiday season. To locate a center or kitchen for dropoff, please call 412.464.1300 or visit the website at lifespanpa.org. HOLIDAY PROJECT GIFT DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATIONS TO BENEFIT VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH The Department of Human Services’ Holiday Project is collecting new, unwrapped gifts for children and youth who receive services through the department’s Office of Children, Youth and Families. While all gift donations are appreciated, there is a need for: • Warm winter wear for ages 0-18 (hats, gloves, mittens, scarves) • Baby necessities (blankets, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, bibs) • Board games for all ages – to be played individually, with siblings, or as a family • Dolls and action figures in a full range of skin tones • Sports equipment, including basketballs, footballs, and soccer balls • LEGO and Mega Blok sets • Craft kits and art supplies • Remote control vehicles Unwrapped gifts will be collected through Friday, Dec. 6, and may be taken to: Curves 301 Old Washington Pike Carnegie, PA 15106 Monetary donations are also welcome. Checks should be made payable to “The DHS Donation Fund” with “Holiday Project” written in the memo line. Checks may be sent to Holiday Project Coordinator, Department of Human Services, One Smithfield Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Opportunities to receive and fulfill a child’s wish list are also available. To request a child’s name and wish list and/or for more information about this process, please contact the Event and Donations Team at [email protected] or 412.350.3428. For additional information about the Holiday Project, drop-off locations, times, and for a list of gift ideas, visit alleghenycounty.us/ dhs/holidayproject.aspx. SOUTH HILLS WOMEN’S CLUB LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS If you have an interest in joining a fun group of women, give the South Hills Women’s Club membership chair, Sue, a call at 412.257.1057. The club has a lot of interesting programs lined up for the winter months starting on Jan. 3. Meetings start at 8 p.m. and are held at Vanadium Woods, 50 Vanadium Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017. THE NEW LOVE FOR LIBRARIES Marilyn Jenkins, Executive Director, Allegheny County Library Association Now more than ever, residents are discovering a new love for Allegheny County’s community libraries and their invaluable programs and services. This new love was evident in another successful “Love Your Library” campaign during the month of September. This annual collaboration between ACLA and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh supports the mission of learning and growing through community libraries. The campaign was enhanced by the Jack Buncher Foundation, which has provided prorated matching funds of up to $150,000 each year. These funds are used to secure essential library services, improve facilities and offer educational programs for children and adults. Offering free technology workshops, small business centers and 24/7 virtual access to eBooks and digital materials, libraries are transforming communities. No longer just places for books, libraries are viewed as anchors, centers for academic life and research, and cherished spaces. Allegheny County has a network of libraries with 73 locations, providing books, resources and a range of experiences and opportunities for all members of the community. Children and young parents can access kindergarten readiness and curriculum support classes, while teens can learn to become creators and experimenters. Adults benefit from an array of specialized programs, including parenting and caregiver education, workforce development, computer training, job assistance and small business development support services. Across the network, Allegheny County libraries have a single-card system, provide free access to materials through a shared catalog, and jointly offer downloadable books, audios, and videos as well as online databases, and support a diverse calendar of programs. But it isn’t just the resources and programs that patrons love about libraries. Libraries also provide a unique and safe place where one will find curious people from all ages and walks of life, which truly represents the diverse and multi-ethnic population of Allegheny County. Allegheny County’s libraries have continued to thrive and meet the needs of our communities by providing services that people demand in a world where information, technology and forms of delivery are changing rapidly. The brick-and-mortar buildings and e-based resources will continue to evolve and respond to the needs of residents. Learners of all ages are encouraged to take some time to visit their local library and see all it has to offer. ONE-OF-A-KIND CAR DONATION PROGRAM Community Auto, part of The Lighthouse Foundation, is a nonprofit low income car ownership program. It accepts donated cars, repairs and inspects them if necessary, then sells them to qualified working low-income people at discounted prices, as compared to a regular used car dealership. According to the organization, it’s the only one of its kind in western Pennsylvania that puts cars back into the hands of families in the Greater Pittsburgh area. The used car sitting in the garage that you didn’t sell because it was a hassle, the car that didn’t get the trade-in value you wanted, or one the kids used for school and is no longer needed would be the perfect car to donate. Your generous donation is the fuel for the program and is tax deductible. Contact Community Auto at communityautolico.org or at 724.538.5081 to find out how to donate your car and give a family a hand toward self-sufficiency. n SOUTH FAYETTE ❘ WINTER 2019 7