Turtle Creek Valley Rotary provides essentials for 5 families thanks to donation from district office

Debbie DiLorenzo has been with the Rotary since 2008. She’s a membership chair, foundation assistant and Region 14 assistant governor.

“I love Rotary and try to help out as much as I can,” DiLorenzo said.

So when District Governor Felicia Mycyk reached out to DiLorenzo with the opportunity to help local families, DiLorenzo jumped at the chance. She spoke with Mike Wargo, the president of Turtle Creek Valley Rotary, then got to work applying for a grant from Rotary District 7305.

“I applied for the grant and we got it,” DiLorenzo said. “We get bigger grants from time to time. This one was all Felicia’s idea. She’s just so good.”

The Turtle Creek Valley Rotary received a $500 donation — enough to help five families purchase groceries and other essentials.

To identify families, the Rotary reached out to site coordinator Mary Louise Fuga at the Turtle Creek Family Care Connection Center, which partners with UPMC Children’s Hospital and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

Each family received a $100 gift card from Shop’n Save to help through the holidays.

“We wanted the families to get as much food for their dollar as possible,” DiLorenzo said.

On Dec. 15, Rotarians met with the families at the center.

“We toured the center and told them about Rotary being a service organization,” DiLorenzo said. “All of the families were really grateful.”

DiLorenzo praised the Turtle Creek Family Care Connection Center for the resources it provides — including a preschool and toy drive — to more than 100 local families.

The center has a lot of community partners, including 412 Food Rescue, Allegheny Family Network, Cribs for Kids, Carnegie Library, The Salvation Army, Turtle Creek Police Department, Western PA Diaper Bank and Tickets for Kids.

“It’s a very interesting, wonderful resource,” DiLorenzo said. “And it made my day — it made my holiday — seeing those happy faces.”