Thumbs Up!

• Food pantry participants gobbled up cookies donated by Kyle Silberstein of Franklin Park, who baked them for his Bar Mitzvah project; and Megan Vankirk of Hampton, who baked for a Girl Scout project.

• Vincentian Academy students Joe Lampe, Gesue Staltari, Drew Bencsics and Josh Smith celebrated their 16th birthdays together and requested that guests bring donations for NHCO instead of gifts for them. We received $305 in food plus $820 in cash and gift cards thanks to these four generous young adults!

• Our scholarship program for nontraditional adults was the beneficiary of $8,500 from Zonta Three Rivers North’s annual Glass Slipper Ball.

• Under the direction of teachers Jason Hillegas and Michelle Medic, students in North Hills High’s pottery and gourmet foods classes held an Empty Bowls event that brought in $1,351 for our mission.

• Parents of 3-year-old Alexander Lioy of Franklin Park requested donations be made to NHCO in lieu of presents for his birthday; friends gave $150.

• Two dentists generously donated their services to provide much needed dental work for low-income individuals. Thanks to Dr. Chenet and Snyder & Dugan Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

• Berkeley Hills Lutheran donated $250 they received from Abitibi recycling.

• Pine-Richland senior Sarah Clouse earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by creating a 5K race that brought in more than $500 in food for our two pantries.

• Ingomar Elementary student Claudia Hickly collected $125 in cereal from her classmates, who brought the donations in exchange for the opportunity to play a special game.

• Eighth-grader Jeff Campbell of McCandless buys groceries each month with his allowance money and donates the food to NHCO.

• For his senior project, Shaler Area High School student Michael Kovalak and his band held a concert to benefit Spring Share. Nearly 100 people attended and raised $450.

• Members of the North Allegheny Rowing Association collected $300 in groceries and $716 in donations at their annual "row-a-thon" at Ross Park Mall.