-sights
“Like, the best newsletter ever...” - Unknown
personally thank each and every one of you for your hard work and dedication. I see the effort you put in day after day, and I hear your thoughts, concerns, and ideas None of it goes unnoticed, especially during this time of constant change and adjustment
I know we’ve faced a lot of transitions lately new systems, evolving programs, and unexpected challenges but you’ve been resilient, flexible, and committed to making sure our mission continues
I truly appreciate your patience as we navigate these changes together. It’s not always easy, but your perseverance makes a real difference in the lives of those we serve
introduce SHIM-sights, our new internal newsletter SHIM-sights will keep us all in the loop on what’s happening across the organization, share updates, and highlight the incredible work you’re doing It’s one more way to stay connected as a team as we continue to move forward
Thank you for being such an incredible team, and for the care you show our community every single day My door is always open if you ever want to talk, share ideas, or raise any concerns
Warmly,
Jim Guffey
SHIMCenter:New&Improved
The newlyrenovatedSHIMCenterisofficially open!OnOctober15,wehostedaribboncuttingceremonywithCountyExecutive Innamorato,welcoming50attendees, includingkeystakeholdersandmedia representativesfromallmajornews networks Itwasaproudmomenttoshowoff theupgradedspace,whichwillhelpusbetter serveourneighborsinneed.
Therenovationsaretrulytransformative, offeringawelcomingandaccessiblespace withadditionalroomsdesignedforgathering andconnection Thisprojectispartofourfiveyearstrategicplanandreflectsour commitmenttomakingtheSouthHillsa placewhereeveryonecanthrive Wanttoseemore?Checkouttheevent photoshere
SHIMforaStrongerSouthHills StrategicPlan2025-2030
WeareexcitedtoembarkonthenextfiveyearsofSHIM’sjourney,guidedbyastrategicplan thatkeepstheheartofSouthHillsresidentsatthecenterofeverythingwedo Below,you’ll findourstrategicgoalsandobjectivesthatwillshapeSHIM’sfuture.
Yourvoicemattersinthisprocess.Thinkofitasanevolvingcanvas yoursupervisorswillbe workingwithyoutoensureyouhaveanopportunitytocontributeyourideasandinsights Whilenoteveryideamaytakeroot,yourinputplaysacrucialroleinshapingSHIM’sfuture.
Update: SHIM Family Cente
We are all eagerly anticipating the upcoming move to the new SHIM South Hills Family Center! While there’s plenty of packing and planning ahead, progress is well underway. Building permits have been secured, and construction fo the buildout has officially begun. O the next few months, L&P Contrac will be hard at work building walls installing plumbing, electrical systems, and more to create the id space for your programs, families, activities We’re on track for an Ap move-in, and we couldn’t be more excited to see this vision come to l
We understand that the uncertainty of timelines has been challenging
Please know that Jim and the leadership team are working diligently behind the scenes to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. As soon as we have updates, we’ll share them with you right away
At this point, all clients have been notified about the move, but we know there may still be lingering questions or concerns We encourage you to have conversations with the families you serve and share the details we currently have. To support you in these conversations, we’ll be hosting additional gatherings to answer questions and creating videos to help families navigate the move and safely reach the new center. If there are other resources or information you feel would be helpful, please let your supervisor know we want to ensure you’re fully equipped to assist your families
In the meantime, we’re actively searching for a home for the After School and Mentoring programs St Elizabeth School is being considered as a strong option, though, as with any transition, there may be hurdles or delays
We’ll keep you informed as this process unfolds Thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and dedication as we move through this exciting transition together.
Meet the SHIM Board...
SHIM staff has thoughts...
Eric
Eric shared his insight on helping clients face tough situations He relates to clients thanks to his personal experience facing economic instability as a teen
Read his article: https://bit ly/3Awkv2R
States, Jackie relates to clients she works with in the ISAC program In October, she shared her impression of Halloween as a non-native American
Read her article: https://bitly/4f9OKLr
She also sees a role for nonprofits to advocate.
Read her article: https://bit ly/484cTAJ
Mobility Mentoring program in July and has been working hard to recruit program participants She shared goals for the program and participant eligibility
Read her article: https://bitly/4i6Syzm
settled in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Each family brings unique experiences, and she enjoy working with them to help their children thrive
Read her article: h //bi l /
Jinan helps to inform us about Ramadan and how families observe the holiday The purpose of the holiday is to feel what our less fortunate neighbors may feel
Read her article: https://bit ly/484cTAJ
Recycling
Here at SHIM, we’re all about helping our community and that includes being mindful of our environmental impact Since initiating a recycling and composting program in 2023, we have reduced landfill waste at our Bethel Park facility by 75%. That equates to 6 tons per month of reduced waste!
How did we do this? It started with Director of Finance and Administration Andrew Baram’s passion for reducing waste and advocacy for our organization to do all we can to cut down on landfill trash
Internships at SHIM
We have formalized our internship program and are currently recruiting for a Basic Needs Intern. You can find the job description here:
Basic Needs Intern
As we expand this program, we are looking for your help recruiting candidates!
We also welcome your thoughts on other internships that might be beneficial to SHIM Please reach out to Rachel with any questions or suggestions at rwhite@shimcares.org.
We have reduced landfill waste at our Bethel Park facility by 75%
We estimate that we have reduced waste by 6 tons per month and we’re not done yet!
Special shout out to Dawn Rees for helping to include the Family Center in our recycling initiatives!
Andrew, highly knowledgeable about recycling best practices, spearheaded a program at our Bethel Park facility, establishing dedicated containers to help staff properly sort waste and maximize recycling efforts Categories include glass, plastic, and aluminum; paper; cardboard; compost; candy wrappers; and landfill.
Even with these categories, staff members had lots of questions. What about printer ink? Or Styrofoam? Are paper plates compostable? Luckily, Andrew patiently taught us where things belonged and welcomed us to leave any questionable items on his desk for him to sort later.
Volunteer Form
In an effort to better meet the needs of program staff, we have created a form for requesting volunteers. This can be used for one-time events or if you’ve found a regular volunteer opportunity within your program
Please note that you will need to allow up to two weeks to find volunteers for your program. You will also need approval from your supervisor
https://bit ly/4ap0g4p
Putting the ‘H’ in ‘R’
Human Resources Updates & Reminders
As we kick off the new year, here are some important updates and events to keep on your radar:
Lets Gather - Our next full staff meeting will be 2/26/25 at 12 pm
Tax Season is Almost Here - Don’t forget to file your taxes! W-2 forms are ready and available for download on Paylocity.
Employee Engagement Survey - Share your feedback by completing the survey in Paylocity Your voice matters!
Keep Your Information Updated - Take a moment to review and update your emergency contact and demographic information in Paylocity
Self-Care Challenge - Starting January 27, join us in prioritizing wellness through another self-care challenge.
Safety Team Kickoff - The new Safety Team will hold its first meeting on February 11
Looking for ways to connect? Join the Book Club on February 4 at 10 AM Contact Andrew to get officially invited and check out this NPR Transcript for details about the upcoming discussion.
A big congratulations to Eric, the latest recipient of our Employee Recognition Award, nominated by Lisa! Eric joins the ranks of Mary P and Jackie in the Employee Hall of Fame Keep an eye out for the next nomination form and think about an amazing coworker to recognize next!
Hi! I want to remind everyone that my door is always open for a conversation, guidance, or access to helpful resources—don’t hesitate to reach out! jchristopher@shimcares.org or extension 125
We have plenty of ways for you to show your pride in your workplace, and most items are free for employees!
At SHIM Center, we have t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, beanies, and water bottles all with the SHIM logo. We’ve heard that wearing SHIM swag around town can get you out of traffic tickets and instigate conversations with South Hills neighbors.
The only item that isn’t free for staff is the sweatshirt Please use this order form to purchase sweatshirts for $20 each: https://bit.ly/4g2u4oD
If you are ever looking for logos, fliers, overviews, or communications guidelines, they can be found under: Public>SHIM Marketing and Communications
sdubin@shimcares.org | rwhite@shimcares.org wwwshimcaresorg