Renovation Updates
We’re excited to have a more accessible and welcoming facility to better serve you!
SHIM South Hills Family Center
Since 2018, the Wallace Building was the heart of SHIM’s Family Center. In the past six years, our programs flourished, benefiting many of our neighbors and creating countless cherished memories. However, as we looked ahead to our future, we recognized several challenges with the Wallace Building. These included the growing need for parking, ongoing building maintenance, security concerns, and limited space for expansion.
We searched for a new, stable location where we could continue to provide the support and services our neighbors need. Our goal is to make sure that our Family Center meets the needs of South Hills residents and provides a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
We look forward to welcoming you to our new space beginning May 5, 2025!
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve moved to a new SHIM South Hills Family Center! The new location, at 1400 Lebanon Church Road, offers plenty of bright, spacious office space.
Youth programs will continue at 41 Macek Drive through the end of the school year.
The Whitehall Food Pantry will also stay at 41 Macek Drive through May. It will reopen at 1400 Lebanon Church Road in June.
SHIM Center Bethel Park
Since 2020, SHIM’s service numbers have more than doubled. SHIM Center in Bethel Park has acted as the central hub for our basic needs operations since 2009. Over the past 13 years, we have identified several critical improvements required to enhance the facility’s accessibility and overall functionality. Despite some prior capital investments, such as roof replacement, parking lot upgrades, HVAC enhancements, and security system installation, the need for comprehensive improvements remained evident. In 2022, SHIM received a Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund (GEDTF) grant of $370,000, which allowed us to address the long-standing concerns. These upgrades were essential in creating a more inclusive and welcoming space, aligning with ADA compliance standards, and ultimately enabling us to better serve our community.
In alignment with our strategic plan, SHIM remains committed to adapting our programs to better serve the South Hills community. This commitment extends to our ongoing efforts at SHIM Center in Bethel Park. We recognized that the renovation project was not only about enhancing our physical space but also about ensuring that it aligns seamlessly with the evolving needs of our community.
This project reconfigured 7,200 square feet of existing space to enhance client support services and office layouts. Additionally, a 350-square-foot addition at the lower level provides an accessible entrance near the parking area, and a 360-square-foot elevator tower provides accessibility to both floors, which was lacking.
Another goal was enhancing the food pantry for a better client experience. The project also included replacing existing MEP systems for improved efficiency, enhancing thermal performance with a new wall system, adding borrowed lights to improve lighting in open office spaces, and creating a new conference room on the lower level for use by local community groups. The lower-level addition features a lobby and reception area conveniently located near accessible parking, as well as a new vestibule for energy-efficient entry.
We are very thankful for support from local congregations and generous individual donors for this project.
