~~ HIGHLIGHTS OF AGENCY SERVICES ~~

A few service highlights for the past year include:

  • Brashear was honored by Pittsburgh Community Services as its 2010 Partner Award marking many years of working together  to bring anti-poverty services to South Pittsburgh.
  • The Association completed a strategic plan, outlining our vision for  the next three years, in cooperation with Jo DeBolt of LaPiana Associaties and funded by The Forbes Funds.
  • The agency distributed 46,427 pounds of food–over 23 tons–from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank through our two food pantries. In addition, another 1,000 food items and $7,000 were collected through the South Side Local Development Company’s Mid-Winter Soup Contest.
  • Through our pantries, Brashear provided approximately 70,930 meals, allowing families to reallocate about $124,836 for other critical needs.
  • Through the Holiday Assistance Program, 429 families were served at Thanksgiving, an increase of 48%! At Christmas, over 2,500 toys were distributed to 662 children.
  • Our second annual Christmas in July Toy Drive and Happy Hourraised over $6,200 and collected 350 toys for our Holiday Assistance Program. A promotion with Joseph-Beth Booksellers added over $500 to the drive. These efferts were augmented by a food collection at the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association’s Step Trek.
  • Through the effors of our two case managers, 581 households received Dollar Energy assistance totaling $190,590 in grants, defraying household energy costs.
  • Children’s programs reached 370 children during the summer alone! During the school year, 28 weeks of programming were offered through four after school enrichment programs including Allentown Academy, New Artists, Opera Connections, and Pittsburgh LEARNS/Murray.
  • The agency piloted a South Pittsburgh chapter of Strong Women/Strong Girls in cooperation with Duquesne University and Hill Top United Methodist Church. This year, Strong Women/Strong Girls has been extended to two new locations–Lighthouse Cathedral and Brashear Center.
  • Brashear’s Neighborhood Employment Center placed 73 people in jobs, exceeding contract goals by 45%. The NEC welcomed two new co-locators: Hilltop Alliance and NeighborWorks of Western Pennsylvania. Hilltop Alliance brings together community-based organizations throughout South Pittsburgh and NeighborWorks provides comprehensive housing and fiscal literacy sevices.