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Release Date: Tuesday, January 3rd 2012
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Pittsburgh Cares Join Forces to Host a Downtown Toiletry Collection
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Jan. 3, 2012
Contact:
Brooke Fornalczyk
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
(412) 325-0161-Office
(724) 691-9366 - Cell
bfornalczyk@downtownpittsburgh.com
Vivian Croft
Pittsburgh Cares
(412) 471-2114 – Office
vcroft@pittsburghcares.org
Pittsburgh, PA—The cold weather is upon us and as we all know, winter in Pittsburgh and in the surrounding areas can be daunting. So, imagine what winter is like for the many people who have to make a temporary home in the local shelters and safe houses in our community. Sometimes, the only possessions they arrive with at the shelters are the shirts on their backs and the shoes on their feet.
To help ease the transition and provide hygienic items that might otherwise be too costly to purchase, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) in partnership with Pittsburgh Cares, is helping to make the season a little brighter for some by hosting a Downtown Toiletry Drive. The collection event celebrates the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 16, 2012.
The Downtown Toiletry Drive takes place January 3 – 13, 2012. Collections will be accepted at the PDP office at 925 Liberty Avenue, 4th Floor, from 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday, and at the Pittsburgh Cares office located at 239 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1007, 9am – 5pm. We also encourage local businesses to participate by setting up a collection box at their location. If interested, please contact Vivian Croft at Pittsburgh Cares at (412) 471-2114. Arrangements can be made to have donations picked-up at your location and we will we market your business as a drop-off location for this initiative.
Requested items:
New, unopened travel-size or full-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, grooming tools and packaged undergarments and socks for men, woman and children.
The collected items will be sorted and packaged by local college students and donated to regional shelters and churches who will distribute the packages to the individuals and families they serve throughout the year. Additional information about MLK Day can be found at http://www.pittsburghcares.org/PGHCares_mlkday. Twitter followers can follow information about the drive by using #MLKdrive in their tweets.
About Pittsburgh Cares
Pittsburgh Cares, a nonprofit affiliate of the Hands On Network and Points of Light Institute, offers a flexible approach to volunteering by partnering with nonprofit agencies and offering service opportunities to people of all ages. We work to provide volunteers with a high-quality service experience that fuels further action, and we envision a day when everyone is inspired and equipped to be the change they wish to see in the world. Celebrating our twentieth year in Pittsburgh, we expect 2012 to be an amazing year of service.
About the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is a dynamic, nonprofit organization comprised of business and community leaders, property owners, civic organizations, foundations and residents who provide energy, vision and advocacy for Downtown Pittsburgh. Working collaboratively with its partners, the PDP strives to create a positive Downtown experience for residents, workers and visitors alike. The PDP’s strategic initiatives include clean and safe services, transportation, housing and economic development and advocacy. For more information, visit www.DowntownPittsburgh.com, follow us on Twitter (@DowntownPitt) and “like” the PDP on Facebook.
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