Dear Reader,

As late summer and fall is peak time for United Way activities with our corporate partners, we are expanding the service to include one story per week through Thanksgiving.  Enclosed is our monthly factoid plus an article about how your investment in United Way is making a difference in the lives of individuals in our area. Thank you for your continued interest in United Way of Westmoreland County's news service.

We are proud to share with you this month facts about the region and how your investment in United Way of Westmoreland County helps your neighbors.

Enclosed is our article focusing on the need for helping seniors remain in their homes happy, healthy and safe...

Critical Need: Support the Vulnerable and Aging
Our Response: Senior Solutions - Faith in Action Program

UWWC Faith in Action Sends Two Caring Cooks to Help Cancer Patient

Rose had lived most of her life on the family farm.  When her husband died and her children moved from the area, Rose found a home in Lower Burrell.  Life without family can be quite lonely; Rose decided to move to California to be with her sister.
In the midst of her planning, Rose was diagnosed with cancer and her world turned upside down.

Cancer treatments left Rose weak and feeling isolated.  The treatments ravaged her body, took her appetite and ruined the taste of food.  Poor nutrition, weight loss and depression are common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.  Rose knew she needed help. When she called Alle-Kiski Faith in Action, a United Way of Westmoreland County Senior Solutions program, things began to look up. 

Irene and Shirley helped a cancer patient get
strong enough to fly to her sister in California.

In response to her call, Irene Ference and Shirley Seben stepped up to help Rose in her time of need.  Through a careful matching process, two close friends were able to put their considerable cooking skills to good use.  They came to Rose's apartment and prepared nourishing, home-cooked meals.  They filled her freezer with nutritious food for the weeks ahead.  Today, thanks to the support of those caring volunteers, Rose regained her strength and made the move to the West Coast to be with her sister.

Faith in Action connects isolated seniors to volunteers who provide friendly visits, trips to medical appointments and many other helpful services.  These volunteers provide a crucial link to the community and help end the isolation many seniors experience when living alone. Those who benefit from the services are able to stay in their own homes safely (vs. moving to a facility) for an additional 18 months or more.

United Way of Westmoreland County has recently launched a Faith in Action program in the Scottdale area; Murrysville and North Huntingdon are slated for future expansion.  Your investment will help hundreds of seniors, like Rose, throughout the area that have unique and often unnoticed needs.

If you would like to volunteer for a Faith in Action program, please contact Dana at United Way of Westmoreland County: 724-834-7170, ext. 28.

Thank you, once again, for your participation!

Sincerely,

Skip Glenn

United Way of Westmoreland County