South Hills Interfaith Movement - SHIM 5301 Park Avenue, Bethel Park, PA 15102

"Indeed your company is doing very well I am very glad to say that in your company My friend is working I really want to work in your company"

"First and foremost I want to say thank you for all that you do in the community it is greatly appreciated. However…. What i witnessed today at the food pantry on Knoedler Rd this morning 5/30/23 was nothing less than unacceptable, rudeness and talking down to people. (By one of the volunteers in particular) I have never felt the need to leave any reviews but I think this absolutely needs to be addressed. I took my daughter to this pantry and I decided to go through myself since I took her. But will not be going back to this pantry and I will continue to go to the Bethel Park Pantry which I have had no issues with. I will list the issues that me and my daughter encountered today as well as other people 1 by 1 below. 1. I walked into the church down the steps and I ask a volunteer if I could use the bathroom. It was the same volunteer that was later taking the people’s information at the main table. Her response to me was “We technically aren’t open go on and don’t make a mess” are you kidding me I am 42 years old not a child that is going to go into a church’s bathroom and make a mess just to be making a mess. 2. We get up to the table and she says “y’all come on” (rudely) when she had been calling numbers going in order. I said well we don’t know what number you are and we didn’t want to jump in front of anyone. She says I don’t know what number I'm on either. 3. My daughter goes to the table she asks for her last name. My daughter tells her and then she tells my daughter you’re not on the list is it your first time? My daughter says yes. She then says “well why didn’t you just say it was your first time?” Which by the way my daughter suffers from mental health issues and sometimes is not on point at all times. 4. Myself at the table she takes my name and then says “you’re not on the list” I tell her I have been before and my last time was at the Bethel Park Pantry a couple months ago. Her response “you can’t jump around and need to pick a pantry” Ok well my fault being that I have never been told this at all before. 5. A lady had lost her number and the same volunteer told her she would be called. The lady ask the volunteer do you know when I will be called. The volunteer says “when I call you that’s when you be called that’s when” while keeping in mind that the lady she was speaking with English was not her native language so here’s an idea try being understanding and have a little patience and not being so rude to what seemed to be like every person you encountered this morning and if you are going to spew rudeness to people then you probably shouldn’t be volunteering."

"They do a great job helping immigrants and refugees. But it’s a typical white Americans helping people of color kind of thing in the entire organization. They greatly lack diversity and inclusion when it comes to hiring staff. They would never hire or even invite people of color applicants for interview. It’s interesting how many people of color has been hired since I wrote down the above review (paragraph) a few months ago. Good job SHIM! Way to go!"

"Last week I lost half of my left foot due to complications with diabetis. Since I drive for a ride share company I also lost my income. I called and Ashley came to my rescue. Today a terrific young lady, unfortunatly I didn't get her name, delivered a ton of food to me. I am very grateful for the help. I am unable to do pretty much anything for 6 weeks but as soon as I can I plan to be an active volunteer for this wonderful group.Thank you so much."

"They do help community. The food pantry perishables are decent. The produce, especially avocadoes, berries, mushrooms) is largely not good unless eaten that day, or blanched and frozen. I highly suspect (and I feel this way about other organizations, i.e. Cathic Charities) that they give immigrants/refugees more help than USA citizens. My Vietnamese and Indian is a bit rusty, but I've overheard enough to suspect this could be true. They have job leads, and do CAP applications. Nice volunteer staff. They do a lot of good with volunteers that they have . However, I fell in the parking lot yesterday, immediately reported it to another volunteer/witness, called when I got home. The staff's focus was their big fundraiser last night, so I had to delay medical treatment, because one of the key staff didn't know name of insurance company. She said she had to get information from Finance Director. I'm still waiting, as of this morning. This information is something all key staff should know. And a fundraiser should not take precedence over medical attention. Period."