GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK
Giving back feels great. Instead of buying gifts this season, why not donate to one of these local nonprofits or volunteer to make someone’s holiday season a little merrier?
The Drew Mathieson Center for Horticultural and Agricultural Technology is one of Western Pennsylvania’s premier educational greenhouses. Its 44,000square-foot complex on the North Side grows seasonal poinsettias, hydrangeas, hibiscus, annuals, ferns, hydroponically grown vegetables and herbs, and its signature plant, the Phalaenopsis orchid.
Students of all ages learn how to grow crops for wholesale with proceeds supporting educational programs at the center, which is an affiliated program of Manchester Bidwell Corp. To help, go to drewmathiesoncenter.org or call 412-2317200.
Founded in 2013, Casa San Jose is a community resource center that empowers and advocates for Latinos through programs that support integration and selfsufficiency. The organization works to promote a culture of acceptance and respect where Latino immigrants feel connected to their communities and are treated with kindness and dignity.
The Beechview nonprofit began as a resource center staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden but now has 12 full-time staffers and more than 80 volunteers. Over six years, Casa San Jose has helped over 1,000 Latino immigrants and refugees in Allegheny County, providing after-school programs and hosting cultural events and health and wellness seminars. The organization also supports Latino immigrants at risk of deportation. Find out more at casasanjose.org or 412-343-3111.
Nelson Mandela once said, “A society that does not value its older people denies its roots and endangers its future.” Rochel Tombosky, founder of Giving It Forward Together, began the Squirrel Hill-based nonprofit in June 2015 after years of volunteering and owning a caregiving business for seniors.
GIFT’s mission is to combat ageism and bring together people of all ages through volunteer experiences that spread joy. “No elderly person should feel forgotten or disregarded. They are our community’s treasures,” Ms. Tombosky says. “GIFT’s programs provide a simple act of kindness.
“It can transform a senior’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You can’t even imagine how a small gesture can make a difference. It’s not about socioeconomic status, but about rekindling a true sense of purpose, meaning and joy into the lives of our elders no matter what stage they might be in.” To help, go towww.giftpgh.org or call 412-401-5914.
Since 1992, Pittsburgh Cares has been supporting those who support nonprofits. For example, the Marines Corps collects for Toys for Tots, but Pittsburgh Cares stores and helps distribute the gifts to children. And when many Pittsburgh companies spend a day on community service, Pittsburgh Cares is organizing behind the scenes.
The Lawrenceville nonprofit’s Youth Engaged in Service program provides service experiences and leadership development opportunities for youth between the ages of 5 and 21. The organization also operates the region’s largest senior and retiree volunteer program.
So if you are looking to volunteer but aren’t sure where to start, create a profile, find a project and start helping at www.pittsburghcares.org or 412-4712114.
Aseema, which means “limitless” in Sanskrit, is the perfect name for a Squirrel Hillbased organization that has taken on an international cause. Friends of Aseema started over 20 years ago to help people in the slums of Mumbai, India, and now operates four public schools in and around the city.
Even though Aseema students live in extreme poverty, they now outpace their counterparts in private and other public schools. Services include providing children with medical and psychological care, family support and nutrition. To become a friend, go to friendsofaseema.org.