Restoring Hope
Entering the Institute, there were many mentally handicapped people being cared for by teachers and volunteers. One young man was upset and screeching and hitting and bashing himself in the head over and over. Transcending any creed, the kindness and patience that was shown to this man was inspirational and humbling. This care was humankind at its best. Witnessing this episode would make a healthy person feel shame about anguishing over some of life’s trivial problems.
Transforming Lives
Societal problems linked to poverty are in the forefront of our culture’s lexicon. Holy Family Institute does its best to address these tribulations, quandaries, and so much more. While its name denotes a religious connotation, it is truly a community-outreach organization. In Pittsburgh, Holy Family Institute extends services to at-risk children and families including: Residential Programs, In-home Family Counseling, Substance Abuse Services, Mental Health Counseling, Youth Workforce Development, Parent-Child Literacy Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Energy Assistance Programs. But there is a limit to its economic resources.
Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Hope: Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.” While Holy Family Institute accomplishes so much good, because of opportunity cost, the present dining room and hallway were cheerless. Countywide Petroleum chose to remodel and beautify the dining room and hallway. Countywide bought new tables and chairs and other necessary items to complete this transformation, and make the dining experience there pleasurable for everyone involved. Where we sit down to eat and what we see in our lives influences the way we feel. The payoff is the dining room is now bright, cheerful, magnificent, and functional, which will change the attitudes and aspirations and the quality of life for the residents, students, families and staff that use the facility.
Change for Change
Residents in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas saw a donation-jug in over one-hundred gas station/convenience stores labeled “Change for Change.” They were in the “BP Fueland Stores,” and most Valero stores accompanied by a postcard that illustrates all of Holy Family Institute’s virtuous work. The money collected in these donation jugs went towards the dining room project at Holy Family Institute.
About BP’s Fueling Communities Program
The BP Fueling Communities Program provides grants to local organizations that are nominated by BP’s Branded Marketers to support the communities in which they do business. The Program gives back to local organizations that support health, education, youth, food and housing to spread charity and good will.
Countywide Petroleum Company is grateful for the previous help it received from the BP Fueling Communities Program in its quest to fight Ovarian Cancer and Hunger in Haiti, and to spread goodwill in its community. Countywide Petroleum Company looks forward to continuing to make a difference in the world in which we live. Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
