INDIANA — An ecumenical group of women who has worked to identify needs, raise awareness and provide assistance in the areas of homelessness, domestic violence and humane animal treatment is being honored.
The Bridge Core will receive the Catholic Charities’ Communities of Salt and Light award for outstanding human service organization at the 13th annual awards dinner.
The group is composed of the following volunteers: Cece Mackey, Debra Lezanic and Bonnie Moreau of St. Thomas More University Parish in Indiana; Josephine Cunningham of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Indiana; Elaine Maudie of Church of the Good Shepherd Parish in Kent; Della Jean Manning of Brush Valley Chapel in Brush Valley; and Ruth Morris of Graystone United Presbyterian Church in Indiana.
"We are just simply a group of friends who are working within Indiana County to raise awareness to plights within the county," Mackey said. "This is a wonderful honor for us."
Father William J. Lechnar, pastor of St. Thomas More University Parish, nominated the group. He said the Salt and Light awards are a great way to celebrate people who are living the Gospel.
"When I saw such great work and commitment at a grassroots level being generated by these women who are rooted in their faith, I thought, ‘What a great example for others to try to follow."
The Bridge Core was formed nearly five years ago and was initially focused on raising awareness about and money for animal issues. But the women soon realized that many people were not aware of the extent of homelessness among them.
"What we really bridged over to was making the county aware that we have homeless people, not just homeless animals," Mackey said. "We don’t have people sleeping on the streets, so they didn’t realize that lots of people do not have their own home," she said.
The Bridge Core began raising awareness about and assisting two organizations in Indiana County: the Alice Paul House, a safe environment for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; and Pathway Homeless Shelter, which provides temporary housing and support for individuals and families who are homeless.
"It is the only homeless shelter in Indiana County that accommodates families," Mackey said.
The Bridge Core sponsored a spaghetti dinner and raised $10,000, which it donated to both organizations.
Over a two-year period, the group supported families and children at the Pathway Homeless Shelter by holding a Christmas party, adopting families at Christmas and providing birthday cakes and gifts for the resident children. They also held a banquet with guest speaker Dr. Jim Withers, who founded Operation Safety Net, part of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, and raised $15,000 for the Alice Paul House.
The group is currently working on a project that will provide assistance to and rally community support for "the very hungry people in the county."
Mackey said The Bridge Core encourages people to learn about the societal issues among them and take action. It could involve volunteering for a community action group or soup kitchen, writing a letter to a newspaper editor, initiating a food drive or providing gifts for children in shelters.
"As our work continues, our hope is that other organizations, churches and individuals will step up to the plate and continue to support and assist these varied and critical needs in Indiana County," Mackey said.