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