The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Leadership Allegany! helps stock Cold Weather Shelter
First Peoples federal credit union offices in Cumberland, LaVale
serve as collection points for much-needed supplies, cash donations

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
LAVALE, Jan. 14 - The Allegany County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Allegany! Service Committee conducted a “goods and funds” drive for the local Cold Weather Shelter, which will open soon to assist those in need of housing during the winter months.

The group established two collection sites for your convenience: First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union on National Highway in the LaVale Plaza and the First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union located in the Roses parking lot in Cumberland, off of Queen City Drive.

This is an all-volunteer effort, for which all goods and monies collected will go directly to the Union Rescue Mission to cover their expenses and stock their shelves. According to several local human service agencies, the number of people needing assistance is growing rapidly due to the sustained economic downturn. These agencies are also seeing a rapid rise in the number of people who have never needed to apply for assistance.

It is estimated that in our community there are over 200 homeless individuals, which includes families. Further, the number of the “hidden homeless” -- those who move between the homes of relatives and friends, is significant and difficult to count.

The Service Committee opened the two dropoff sites from 7 a.m. To 7 p.m. and asked for the following items:

Money—Checks should be made payable to the Union Rescue Mission

Baby goods
Twin bed linens
Canned food goods

Leadership Allegany! is a program designed to identify and educate current and future leaders of our region and is administered through the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce.