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SHIM Unveils Growth Strategy to Help More South Hills Residents in Need

On February 3, 2016, South Hills Interfaith Ministries announced a new name, logo, website and growth strategy, including plans for 2016 to adapt to the increasing need among South Hills residents. Last year, SHIM helped 4,000 South Hills residents take one step closer to self-sufficiency.

SHIM’s new logo was unveiled in February

South Hills Interfaith Ministries officially became South Hills Interfaith Movement. With this change, SHIM hopes to inspire forward-thinking and action, while remaining committed to serving the South Hills and the involvement and support of its Interfaith partners.

“South Hills Interfaith Movement is very much rooted in the SHIM that has served our community for nearly 50 years,” said James Guffey, executive director, SHIM. “It’s an evolution of who we are, and a recognition of the role our community plays in our critical work every day –as volunteers, as donors, as activists – on behalf of our neighbors right here in the South Hills who need us most.”

In addition to the change in name, SHIM has released a new logo and website, and announced several new programs and developments for 2016, including a new garden, volunteer opportunities, a food pantry in Baldwin and an expansion of its clothing room.

This year, SHIM hopes to reach even more than the 4,000 community members in need they helped last year. “SHIM has been providing food, clothing and services to people in need in Pittsburgh’s southern suburban neighborhoods for nearly 50 years,” said The Rev. Kris McInnes, priest-in-charge, St. David’s Episcopal Church and Board Chair, SHIM. “Faced with unprecedented new levels of suburban poverty, SHIM is expanding its work to include more neighbors helping more neighbors in need.”

Suburban poverty is on the rise, increasing nearly five times faster than in urban areas. In the South Hills alone, 20% of families make under $35,000 a year, while the number of children eligible to receive free or reduced lunch has increased every year since 2010.

“Hidden in the shadows of our beautiful community is a growing number of people who need help making ends meet,” said Mary Phan-Gruber, executive director, Jefferson Regional Foundation. “These folks, our neighbors, often struggle quietly and may not know there’s a place to turn for resources and guidance.”

Over the course of more than a year, starting with a feasibility study, the SHIM Board of Directors, staff, clients, volunteers and members of the community have analyzed the organization and community needs and developed a strategic plan for SHIM’s future.

“We estimate there are around 9,000 people struggling financially in the neighborhoods we serve. Which means there are potentially 5,000 people in SHIM’s service area who we aren’t serving. These are people with unmet needs who could be fighting an uphill battle each day to get by,” said The Rev. McInnes. “This eye-opening realization requires a seismic shift in the way SHIM operates in order to double our impact.”

Those interested in joining SHIM can begin by taking part in the organization’s annual Sack Hunger Campaign, which kicked off in February. Currently, it takes more than $300,000 a year to operate SHIM’s two food pantries. Through the end of March, SHIM hopes to raise $100,000 in donations toward food pantry operations, along with collecting food to stock the pantry shelves. To participate, volunteers are encouraged to host a food or donation drive, drop off pantry items to SHIM, or donate online at SHIM’s new website, www.shimcares.org.

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