Plenty has been written about the refugee and immigrant experience, and it can be easy to forget that there are real people caught up in the issue. Statistics like more than 25,000 refugees came to the US in 2022, a 123% increase from 2021 or that the country has welcomed…...
Baltimore Native Alex Brings Perspective to SHIM’s Board
Board member Alex Samuel joined SHIM’s board of directors at the tail end of the pandemic, meeting virtually for several months before getting to participate in person. She was encouraged to apply by former SHIM board chair Tim Millett, a colleague of hers at PNC Bank. Originally from Baltimore, Alex…...
Bhim’s Story
Growing up in Southern Bhutan, Bhim lived with his parents and his father’s parents in a farming community. Bhim’s father was a village representative and helped share messages from the government with members of his community. They had a large amount of land- farming rice and vegetables in the flat…...
Kathy- From SHIM Employee to Board of Directors
We are lucky to be surrounded by caring neighbors. Many of our supporters are connected to us in multiple ways. From volunteers who donate to clients who volunteer, we’re made up of neighbors helping neighbors. Our neighbor Kathy went from former SHIM employee to board member! Kathy came to SHIM…...
Do You Know About CheckMates?
Not everyone knows about our CheckMates program, which serves seniors in the South Hills through weekly check-in phone calls from dedicated volunteers. The goal of the program is to reduce the isolation that seniors can sometimes experience while also offering resources to meet other needs. Since 2018, CheckMates has touched…...
Achol’s Story
In celebration of National Mentoring Month, we caught up with former Youth Mentoring student Achol. Now in her senior year studying molecular and cellular biology at Kent State University, Achol remains grateful for the impact the mentoring program had on her life. Achol moved to Pittsburgh with her mother and…...
Honoring MLK Through Volunteering
Ann Talarek, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator As the volunteer engagement coordinator at SHIM, I think about serving the community often. Today we celebrate the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and I am heartened to share my thoughts on volunteering. As Dr. King said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question…...
