On Sunday, June 17th (Father’s Day), L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry is hosting its 3rd annual benefit dinner and silent auction. This event will not only be a time to discuss the current direction and future of the ministry, but also to celebrate and reflect on the past 10 years of service alongside Pittsburgh’s homeless.

Women of Faith Conference has contacted L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry offering us an exciting opportunity! For every ticket we sell for their conference, $20 of the ticket price goes directly to L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry, helping us to continue to serve Pittsburgh’s homeless.

If you, some friends, or your small group, are interested in attending the Women of Faith Conference and you **do not yet** have your ticket, we have tickets at a discounted price, even if you buy only one!

Groups of 10 or more get 2 free tickets!
Groups of 25 or more get 5 free tickets!

Please tell your friends, small groups, and churches to consider buying tickets to the Women of Faith Conference through us to support L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry. Contact us for ticketing information: contact@livingministry.org? or 412-586-4663 to participate!

Thank you for your support of L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry!

For the first time ever, L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry held a FREE coat store. Because of a generous donation from Burlington Coat Factory, we had more than 500 gently used men, women’s and children’s coats to distribute. To receive a coat, one had to call our offices and schedule a time to come up to our store. It was amazing the response that we had from people. Our phone rang off the hook every day, 24/7. We only distributed the coats on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday, but we served over 30 people each of those days for 5 weeks.

Too many homeless die every year. Because Pittsburgh is a very cold city, every year we end up losing a handful of our brother and sisters due to the weather. On Tuesday, December 22nd, there was a candlelight vigil to pay respects to the homeless who lost their lives in 2010. Among the deceased were people that we ministered to at the labor halls, ALIVE, or in one of the shelters. Please keep in prayer the families and friends of those who lost their lives, and pray for those who still sleep outside in the elements.
|
|

Homeless who have died are remembered

By Emily Gibb, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
photo by Michael Henninger/Post-Gazette
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
|

Operation Safety Net held its annual candlelight memorial service Tuesday night at the south end of Grant Street, Downtown, in remembrance of three homeless individuals who died on the streets this past year.

The service is one of about 150 observances in different cities sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless.

“This service is to reflect on those individuals, reflect on the time period, remember them in a positive way and say a prayer,” said Linda Sheets, program director of Operation Safety Net.

The number of deceased is a considerable decrease from last year’s memorial service, where 11 people were remembered, Ms. Sheets said.

About 30 people — mostly volunteers and outreach workers — attended the service to reflect about those who lost their lives.

One of the three who died was not a client of Operation Safety Net. The city contacted the organization that the remains of a young woman were found on the North Side in September.

Another, David Delp, also did not use its services, but his wife came in after he died. He left his wife waiting for him underneath the Route 65 bridge on the North Side in June, but he never came back. At 48 years old, he also left behind four children.

As for John Fisher, Ms. Sheets said her organization knew him for at least the past couple of years.

“He always had a smile on his face and always welcomed our services — even if he didn’t at first,” she said.

Mr. Fisher was getting ready to move into his own housing, but he died before he could make it a reality, she said.

In a partnership with the city of Pittsburgh, the organization hangs a plaque each year underneath the Grant Street overpass on Fort Pitt Boulevard for each person who dies on the streets. Each plaque costs about $100 dollars and is funded through donations from local organizations and individuals.

Operation Safety Net is a program of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10356/1112540-53.stm#ixzz19bOObWDk

On Saturday, November 20th, L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry held its 8th annual festival for the homeless called ALIVE. This year’s event was incredible! The weather was perfect, the bands sang their hearts out, there were no confrontations, and volunteers thoroughly enjoyed themselves. But above all, God was glorified and the homeless were appreciated and dignified.