"Serving"

Gina Cieslewicz
> Lydia's Place

At Lydia's Place, I have been able to work directly with the incarcerated population by helping case workers in the process of doing 25 intake forms for the ladies placed in the three-quarters house, Renewal, on four different occasions. I have also gone into the Allegheny County Jail twice to aide with parenting classes as well as assisted three mothers with reading books on tape for their children in a program called "Mother's Voice."

Once a month since October, I have helped organize a "Family Fun Event" for caregivers and their children. Approximately 15 families have attended the event with caregivers, kids, and moms (if available). These Saturday events, so far, have included a trip to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History as well as the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. The trip also included a lunch for the families.

My job also centers around helping the office staff. I have been responsible daily for answering phones, directing clients when they come into the office, and giving out recommendations for resources such as shelter, food, and clothing to about ten people a day. I have helped twice with bulk mailings asking for donations of over five hundred, made a database of over 150 related non-profit organizations and made cold calls to thirty churches to seek help through donation drives.