In Fiscal Year 2020 (June 30, 2019 to July 1,2020), POWER volunteers hosted lunches, picnics, social hours, clothing give-aways, game nights, Italian cooking sessions, makeovers, and portrait sessions for women in recovery. They drove House residents to medical appointments, took clients to volunteer at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food, filled welcome bags for new clients and backpacks for their children, and helped pack up our administrative offices when we moved in November. They also invited clients to free theatrical performances, including a dance event held exclusively for POWER women. Alums brought their special gifts by sharing their stories with clients and holding parties for them on the holidays.
In response to COVID 19, POWER facilities closed to outside visitors in March and all volunteer activities were canceled. It didn’t take long, though, for volunteers to re-group. They found ways to continue supporting women in recovery through a combination of virtual and outside activities. During quarantine, volunteers were able to offer general meditation, recovery-oriented meditation, Reiki, self-defense, GED tutoring, Big Book Study, 12-step style meetings, and Game Night. Easter baskets were delivered to clients’ children, a support group was begun for women raising children while in recovery, a beautiful glass mosaic mural was created for the Great Hall, and 25 volunteers helped put together the first on-line POWER Promises fund raising event.
Other volunteer activities this year included:
90 hours of educational and enhancement activities such as classes in job interviewing skills, parenting, AA’s Big Book study, voter registration, dental care, legal information, crafts, GED tutoring, self-defense
383 hours of greeting clients, answering phones, and other clerical projects
26 hours of gardening in the House yard
24 groups donated holiday gifts and events, including two Thanksgiving dinners, lunch, a choral concert, a chamber music concert, a holiday musical, crafts, pampering, gingerbread house making, an ice cream social, a hot chocolate bar, and a class in making pizzelles.
Thank you to the volunteers who generously gave their time to support POWER!
