'We know there's a need': Sheldon Park residents, local churches fill 525 bags for homeless

Scanning the numerous boxes and bags of donated items Thursday morning at the Hayden Center in Harrison’s Sheldon Park neighborhood, resident Sydney Hayden was overwhelmed and grateful for the display of support to help the area’s homeless.

“We know there’s a need in this community, and we want to reach out and help them as much as we can,” said Hayden, who also serves as council president of the Allegheny County apartment complex.

On Thursday, more than 40 volunteers — including Sheldon Park residents and members of local churches — placed those items in 525 bags to distribute to local homeless and women’s shelters.

Items included body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, disinfectant wipes, soup and toothbrushes, Hayden said.

The donations came from local churches, including Shiloh Baptist, Natrona Heights Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, Bibleway Christian Fellowship, Christ Our Hope Anglican and Our Lady Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as Freeport, Grace and Trinty United Methodist. The Allegheny County Housing Authority, the Alle-Kiski Health Foundation, the Dollar General in Natrona Heights and residents of the Harrison Hi-Rise also contributed, Hayden said.

“They’ve all been very supportive,” she said.

The group intends to distribute the bags the second week of January to shelters in Pittsburgh and the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Thursday’s packaging started at 9:30 a.m. and was meant to last all day, but the large turnout of volunteers enabled the group to finish by lunchtime. Volunteers of all ages participated in putting the bags together.

“With that many people, we had a system,” Hayden said. “It worked out well.”

The Rev. Selena Foster of Shiloh Baptist Church in Brackenridge said people often tend to forget about those without a home.

“We are told to help the poor and show love and kindness,” she said. “That is our Christian teaching and that is why we are doing this.”

People were very kind with their donations, Foster said. She was proud of the effort and said she looks forward to distributing the bags to the homeless.

“When you take stuff to people and you see their faces, that just brings joy to your heart — that you’re doing something good,” Foster said.

Doug Deemer, a member of Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church, said the collaboration between local groups and churches is a great way to join forces to serve others.

Giving to others was the most rewarding part of the day, he said.

“This is what our church preaches,” Deemer said. “Our motto is worship, connect and serve.”