South Hills Interfaith Movement relocates family center
South Hills Interfaith Movement has moved the home of its family center to the Wallace School building in Baldwin Borough. The site provides double the square footage and is more accessible to the larger community, allowing SHIM to reach more neighbors in need.
The family center opened 11 years ago at the Prospect Park apartment complex in Whitehall, which has become home to many refugee families.
“The new space will allow us to do so much more.” – Courtney Macurak, SHIM director of programs
“We’ve continued growing to meet the community’s needs since then,” Courtney Macurak, SHIM director of programs, said. “The new building will allow us to reach beyond the Prospect Park community and connect with even more of our foreign-born and native neighbors who might need our resources. We are so glad to be able to continue to grow to help meet the needs of our entire South Hills community.”
SHIM opened its Wallace School offices this month, but has been running tax preparation services in the new space since January. The majority of SHIM’s programs – including youth mentoring, women’s group and counseling – have moved to the new space.
SHIM’s Prospect Park food pantry will remain at the previous location, and the organization plans to maintain limited office hours in Prospect Park to assist with minimal needs such as printing forms, making telephone calls and faxing documents. Additionally, SHIM’s early childhood program will continue at Prospect Park until the end of May.
“The new space will allow us to do so much more,” Macurak said. “Our mentoring students will have more space for activities. Our staff and community will be able to have more privacy for personal conversations and therapy sessions. And we’ll be able to expand on so many programs to accommodate interests and needs.”
SHIM’s Family Center at the Wallace School building can be reached at 412-885-0284. The building, owned by Baldwin-Whitehall School District, is at 41 Macek Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15227. The SHIM Family Center is partially funded by the Allegheny County Dept. of Human Services.
SHIM, which has its headquarters in Bethel Park, is a human services organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in need across the South Hills. SHIM mobilizes community resources and implements sustainable programs that help South Hills neighbors meet basic needs, achieve self-sufficiency and build community.