East End Cooperative Ministry steps up during pandemic
The poor are often invisible.
“They don’t have buying power, they don’t have a political voice, because they can’t donate to campaigns and therefore are forgotten … invisible,” said Carole Bailey, CEO of East End Cooperative Ministry in East Liberty. “People in poverty do not consume news in the same manner as most, and therefore did not understand why we were asking them to stand 6 feet apart, and when they were able to come inside on the previous day they were not today. During the pandemic, they keep asking why they have to wear facemasks and since they have to wear them, where do they get a facemask.”
Being able to adjust to a challenge like a pandemic demonstrates how East End Cooperative Ministry has been able to help those in need for 50 years. As covid-19 raged, East End Cooperative Ministry experienced a 300% increase in food services, pantry visits daily, and hot lunches served to the community five days a week, said Bailey, who became the CEO full time in September 2018.
Adjusting to a pandemic
The past year and a half has been unlike anything the group has seen. Through it all, East End Cooperative Ministry has remained a constant helping the homeless, food insecure and children and youth in the Pittsburgh area for five decades.
To celebrate its longevity, End Cooperative Ministry will host “The Golden Gala” on May 21 at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Shadyside. Multiple congregations that support the community will be honored, as well as honorary event chairs: Myrna Zelenitz, Phil Hallen and Mark Bibro, three individuals instrumental in the ministry’s legacy.
“I am proud of East End Cooperative Ministry’s continued success to meet the challenges,” said Zelenitz, of Shadyside, who was executive director for 18 years. “I met wonderful, talented and empathetic people there. I was just at the grocery store and the cost of food is astronomical. I will continue to donate.”
Hallen, former East End Cooperative Ministry board chair and member who lives in Shadyside, said he wanted to create a place of respect and dignity for all in a home-like atmosphere. The president emeritus from the Falk Foundation said he wanted to see multiple locations become one.
A new home
In November 2013, East End Cooperative Ministry moved into its own home through money raised in a campaign. Hallen said he wanted the building to make an architectural statement.
“East End Cooperative Ministry is not simply an isolated social service agency in East Liberty,” Hallen said. “It is an important part of a larger fabric of renewal and rebuilding of East Liberty.”
Bibro, of Beechview, is executive director of the Birmingham Foundation and former president of the East End Cooperative Ministry’s board of directors. He is the board president of the North Side Commons Ministry.
“There are a significant amount of people who need a helping hand to get back on their feet,” he said. “We take for granted we have food and clothing and shelter. People are fighting for survival out there. East End Cooperative Ministry comes to their aid.”
Food has been the number one thing people have been looking for, Bailey said. The amount of donations that come from the churches and synagogues and businesses, including restaurants, mean so much, she said. It also has helped to receive funding from the CARES Act, federal monies to support covid-19 efforts.
When she realized the pandemic would linger, Bailey conferred with Light of Life Rescue Mission, Family Links and North Side Common Ministries to come up with a plan. Her staff bagged and boxed food so people could come by and pick up meals.
They arranged the 28 beds so residents weren’t sleeping too close. In the dining room, there was social distancing. It was difficult to get covid-19 vaccines. Some people left to live on the street because they didn’t want to adhere to the covid-19 regulations.
From the beginning
What began as meals on wheels for seniors, East End Cooperative Ministry expanded to feed everyone. It began with people sleeping in a church. They had to leave during the day.
Bailey recalled an employee who lost a family member to covid-19 but didn’t want to take time off because he wanted to be there for the young people. She said her staff members are “superstars.”
“The trauma for some of these children has been unbelievable,” Bailey said.
Volunteer coordinator, the Rev. Tracy Hudson, said as long as they are here, people will not go without food. The East End Cooperative Ministry serves people from 44 zip codes in its food pantry. A fall coat drive collected more than 1,200 items. As the holidays approached, families wrote wish lists.
“I am so happy with whatever gifts they’ve given me,” said Angel Frank, of Penn Hills, a single mother of two girls ages 4 years old and 9 months. “I am blessed to be given these presents. We know Jesus is the most important reason for Christmas, but to be able to have gifts for my children under the tree is the second most important reason.”
The East End Cooperative Ministry gives to its “fellow humans,” said community pantry coordinator Krista Brolley.
Volunteer Elder Karson McMillin of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said there is no better feeling than the service of others. Volunteer Elder Jace Ward recalled giving extra canned goods to someone and said they were out of plastic bags, so that person came back with some plastic bags.
More than food
The ministry serves 200 to 250 people a day and 100 nutritious to-go meals, said chef Anthony Arca.
“Seeing the volunteers and the people who come here for meals is what motivates me,” said Arca, who grew up in East Liberty. “We all share the same compassion.”
Maurice Wilson, 49, of Pittsburgh’s East End, was recently incarcerated. As he ate his lunch, he said he wished there more places like this, and “if there were, we would have a better society.”
“I need to re-boot my brain,” he said. “I made some bad choices in my life.”
Laila Carlo and John McCartin are housing and employment co-directors who run the emergency shelter, recovery house, permanent supportive housing and education and supportive services. The permanent supportive housing works with families with at least one child, and an individual that is mentally or physically handicapped. Their rent is paid through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The emergency shelter provides basic needs with food and assistance with benefits, health care and locating permanent housing.
The recovery house is a 90-day program for men and women who are referred from a treatment facility, probation or justice-related services.
“For 50 years we have focused on the neighborhood and stepped up to help people here,” Bailey said. “And we are dedicated to being here another 50 years and beyond for as long as people need us.”
Dwayne, 44, from Garfield, who is a resident said he was able to have a nice meal on Thanksgiving, and having a place to spend Christmas gives him comfort.
“If I wasn’t here I would probably be out on the street and nothing good happens out there,” he said. “Once I get back on my feet I will come back to help someone else,” he said.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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