Elaine Blaisdell
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Fri Apr 01, 2011, 08:00 AM EDT
CUMBERLAND — Many churches, businesses and residents are showing their love for the homeless by giving pillows, sheets, toiletries and cribs to the Union Rescue Mission and YMCA-Housing as part of a Pillow Palooza project started by Donna Stivala, a pastor’s wife.
Stivala’s effort is quickly gaining momentum, with 98 pillows, 42 blankets, 18 sheets, four bags of toiletries, five bath towels, two washcloths and a hand towel already donated. Seven cribs have also been donated thanks to the efforts of Coldwell Banker Professional Real Estate Services, Century 21 Potomac West, the Department of Social Services, a couple from the Harvest Baptist Church, First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union and Deborah Grimm, a Realtor at Long & Foster.
The needs of the Union Rescue Mission and the YMCA-Housing remind Stivala of a scene in the 2009 movie “The Blind Side” where actress Sandra Bullock shows Michael Oher to his room and he says, “I’ve never had one of those before.”
“What, a room?” asks Bullock. “No, a bed,” said Oher.
“I am so glad that God put this idea in my heart and I thank God for allowing me to bring happiness to people,” said Stivala.
The Western Maryland Health System Ladies of Charity, the Women’s Civic Club and 20 churches have gotten involved in the effort and Chick-Fil-A and Rita’s Italian Ice are offering donors coupons.
The Rev. Dan Taylor, director of the Union Rescue Mission, is excited about the idea, is thankful for Stivala’s hard work and plans on sharing. If Taylor receives a surplus of items, he plans on giving the extras to the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission, which shelters women and children; the Magdalene House, which shelters homeless people during the week and inmates’ families during the weekend; and Family Crisis Resource Center.
“Donna has done a fantastic job. She has talked to everyone in the county and even found cribs,” said Taylor. “She is excited about the project and did the work on her own. She is a work horse. We have 60 beds and we always need linens, towels and pillows. We usually let people take stuff with them and replace it because they need it where they are going. We have a lot of needs and this project is going to save us money.”
The idea for the project came to Stivala when her husband, Ron Stivala, a pastor at Harvest Baptist Church in Garrett County, paid for a homeless couple with one child and one on the way to stay in a hotel. It was then that Stivala learned that there are no homeless shelters in Garrett County and that homeless people are being referred to Allegany County. Lorena Fazenbaker of the Garrett County Department of Social Services confirmed that Garrett County has no homeless shelters and refers people to Allegany County.
Stivala also learned the Union Rescue Mission expenses are astronomical with a $1,600 monthly electric bill, $1,300 water bill and $13,000-a-year insurance that they are required to carry.
“I wanted to provide them with the things they needed so they could have money for other expenditures,” said Stivala.
Stivala is doing all she can to make sure that the word gets out about the project, including radio and TV interviews.
“We had to do the interview outside and it was freezing. It made me think of all those homeless people who don’t have a warm car or a warm home to go to and warm up in,” said Stivala of her TV recent interview with WJAC-TV from Johnstown, Pa.
Stivala explained that even though many donations have already come in, many more are needed — including specially sized sheets for hospital beds that are larger than an average twin-size bed. Donations are being accepted through Sunday.
Items may be dropped off at Highland Harley-Davidson and Energy Health and Fitness, LaVale, and Long & Foster and Rusco Home Improvements, Cumberland, during business hours. Checks may be sent to Harvest Baptist Church, 751 Jennings Road, Grantsville, MD 21536. Write Pillow Palooza in the memo line.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com
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