How’s it going for your friends and relatives in hospitals, personal care homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities? For the past two months, most of those places have been “locked down” - no visitors; no volunteers; residents not allowed to be out and about.
Being confined to the buildings and grounds of the Ruth M Smith Center has been very difficult for its residents, most of whom have a mental disability. Their normal routines have been disrupted: walks to local stores, bus rides to nearby Warren, and the flow of visitors from the outside. Residents employed by Bollinger’s Enterprises in Warren (a workplace for people with intellectual disabilities) have lost the daily opportunity to work.
The Ruth M. Smith Center, a 501c3 non-profit located in Sheffield, PA, Warren County, is a National Mission Institution of the United Methodist Women. Its buildings are owned by the national office of United Methodist Women. Its ministry is determined and run by a Board of Directors from the WPA Annual Conference, and supported by United Methodists here. The Smith Center's mission is to serve the needs of children, youth, the elderly and those with intellectual disabilities. Smith Center operates a licensed daycare for children; a licensed residential program for 28 elderly and intellectually disadvantaged persons; and has a recreation facility available for use by community youth.
Because none of the residents can pay their full way, the Smith Center relies on benevolent giving for approximately 1/3 of its budget. When donations from churches and individuals decrease, the Smith Center Board has to find other ways to make up the shortfall.
On May 20, “Warren Gives” will provide a greater giving opportunity. This local community foundation will match a portion of funds donated to the Ruth M. Smith Center and other participating local non-profits on that day. Last year Warren Gives brought in over $21,500 to support the work of the Smith Center. It is our hope for even greater support from individuals and groups in 2020.
How does Warren Gives 2020 work?