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‘Overwhelmed by the generosity’: South Hills event boosts Free Store’s inventory

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Gisele Fetterman visits with treat-enjoying Clementine Wezowicz.

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Event organizer Gina Pelusi attends with her husband, Christian, and their sons: Miller, left, and Rudy.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

A guitar autographed by Donnie Iris was put up for auction as part of the fundraising effort.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

John and Gisele Fetterman enjoy a snack near the vehicle that was rented for the “stuff-a-truck” event at McLaughlin Run Park in Bridgeville.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Darrow Rieger seems to have a bit of trepidation about the guy with the big camera, much to the amusement of mom Tracy Travaglio.

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Pittsburgh-area music legend Donnie Iris is joined at the event by Lynne Schultz of Bridgeville.

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Kayleigh Lucas, co-owner of the Millie's Homemade Ice Cream franchise in South Fayette Township, offers treats from one of the three food trucks at the event, joining Totopo of Mt. Lebanon and Old Ben’s Cantina.

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Gina Pelusi, right, invited Giselle Fetterman to the event benefiting her Free Store 15104.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Madeleine Thomas demonstrates one of the event’s activities for children.

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Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, right, speaks with Dorothy and Chris Burns.

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Darrow Rieger enjoys a McLaughlin Run Park swingset with the help of his mother, Tracy Travaglio, during the "stuff-a-truck" benefit event.

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From left are Vanessa Gorman, Gisele Fetterman and Deborah Gorman.

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Homestead Grays fan Nicole Tichon joins Tyler Gellash in supporting the fundraiser for Free Store 15104.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

From left are Janette Massaro, Robin Londino, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, JoAnn Karsh and Gisele Fetterman.

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Helping to provide activities for children during the event are, from left, Madeleine, Max and Mandy Thomas of Upper St. Clair.

The diapers kept arriving in package after donated package, to be stacked up inside the expanse of a U-Haul.

“We’re overwhelmed by the generosity of our neighbors,” Gina Pelusi said. “We said we wanted a 10-foot truck, and this thing is almost full to the brim.”

The Upper St. Clair resident was instrumental in organizing a “stuff-a-truck” fundraiser to benefit Free Store 15104 in Braddock, a nonprofit that offers a variety of items at no charge.

Free Store founder Gisele Fetterman attended the Aug. 8 event, held at McLaughlin Run Park in Bridgeville, accompanied by her husband, the former Braddock mayor who now holds Pennsylvania’s No. 2 elected position.

“We didn’t know the lieutenant governor was joining us until today,” Pelusi said about being able to greet John Fetterman. “So we’re glad he was able to make it, also.”

Hosted by the Upper St. Clair Democratic Committee, the gathering featured food trucks, music and activities for children along with opportunities for guests to talk with the Fettermans and another well-known Western Pennsylvanian: Donnie Iris, who scored two Top 40 hits as a solo artist and wrote “The Rapper,” which reached No. 2 for his band the Jaggerz.

As part of fundraising for the Free Store, Iris autographed an acoustic guitar that was up for auction.

“It’s always a good feeling when neighbors care about each other,” Giselle Fetterman said. “It doesn’t matter if you share a ZIP code or if you live across a bridge. It’s folks who care about other people, and that, to me, is what the world is about.”

Her recent trip to the South Hills was arranged by Pelusi.

“I had met her through some other volunteering that I do,” she said.

“So I stopped her at an event and said, ‘Would you consider coming to Upper St. Clair for this event, because we’d really like to do something for you.'”

In turn, Fetterman offered a suggestion.

“When we asked Gisele what they need, she said that some of the things that they often have to go out and buy are diapers and socks,” Pelusi said. “If they get cash donations or gift cards, that’s what they buy.”

Fetterman elaborated on the situation.

“The number of diaper-insecure families is pretty high, not only in Pennsylvania but across the country, and the pandemic has only made that more difficult. Diapers are not included in food stamps or any kind of governmental support,” she said, acknowledging the generosity of the event’s donors on behalf of people in and around Braddock:

“Having a community out here supporting my families there is really moving.”

For more information, visit www.freestore15104.org.

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