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Our Mission: Offering compassionate, faith-based recovery services to mothers and their children.
January 2019 e-News
A holiday season filled with kindness, compassion
Time.

When we think about fond holiday memories, those memories often focus on time spent with others. Sojourner House is blessed throughout the year by people who selflessly give their time to support our families, whether it be directly or indirectly. During the holiday season, Sojourner House is especially blessed by the kindness of others. Please read below of a small sampling of kindness that took place during the month of December. We at Sojourner House thank our friends who support us throughout the year . We wish each of you kindness, happiness and peace in 2019.
Thank you for your leadership, Maelene Myers!
After 10 years as president of the Sojourner House MOMS board, Maelene Myers, center, chaired her final board meeting on Dec. 12. “Maelene has been an unwavering advocate of Sojourner House MOMS since the very beginning. Having her at the helm placed us on solid ground since our outset. We’ll be forever grateful to her,” said Sojourner House Executive Director Joann Cyganovich, second from left. Also honoring Myers on Dec. 12 were board members Gary Cirrincione, Gloria Brown, Tammy Thompson, Christie Smith, and Yodit Betru. 
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh volunteers visit SoHo on Dec. 25
As part of the 18 th Annual Mitzvah Day on Dec. 25, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh volunteers included Sojourner House as one of more than 65 sites throughout Greater Pittsburgh to assist. Volunteers visiting Sojourner House provided and served meals to Sojourner House families throughout the afternoon. The event is called Mitzvah Day because the Hebrew word “Mitzvah” meaning “commandment” is used to refer to good deeds or acts of loving kindness. Volunteers provided more than 1,500 hours to the community on Dec. 25. 
Message Carriers of Pennsylvania's 16th Annual Tree of Life Celebration
Message Carriers of Pennsylvania's 16th Annual Tree of Life Celebration on Dec. 11, at PETRA International Ministries. Message Carriers – a long-time partner of Sojourner House - focuses on fighting against stigma and sending a strong message: Recovery is possible and benefits everyone. In addition to words of inspiration and support, the program also included 11 Seconds of Silence, to honor the loss of the 11 people who died at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Oct. 27.
Supporter Jackie Dixon and Executive Director Joann Cyganovich
Sojourner House graduate/MOMS resident Shannon McNeillie; MOMS Peer Recovery Specialist Dena Naughton; Director of Clinical Services Meghan Briggs; MOMS Housing Manager Karen Upsher
Robin Horston Spencer, Executive Director, Message Carriers; 2018 Tree of Life award recipient Dennis Daley, Ph.D.; Joann Cyganovich 
Sabika Santa's Workshop!
The Sabika Jewelry family visited Sojourner House for the second year in a row, on Dec. 8, to host their second annual Sabika Santa’s Workshop. From helping our children pick out Sabika jewelry for their moms then helping them wrap their presents to offering cookie decorating and other treats, Sabika’s kindness meant the world to everyone at Sojourner House. The morning was filled with lots of smiling faces and lots of fun, as well as tears of gratitude.
One of Santa's helpers enters Sojourner House!
Preparing Santa's Workshop
Choosing jewelry for Mommy!


Cookie decorating...
...the finished product!
Sabika Founder Karin Mayr shares smiles with a new friend.
Happiness abounds at Santa's Worskhop
Santa's helpers assisting with wrapping presents for children's moms.
The Sabika and Sojourner families at Santa's Workshop!




Tickets for Kids holiday open house for clients, donors
Pittsburgh-based Tickets for Kids has been supporting Sojourner House by donating tickets to our families since the 1990s, allowing our families to participate in such activities as going to baseball games and ballet performances, and visiting the zoo and museums. TFK graciously invited their nonprofit partners and donors to a holiday open house on Dec. 6 at their Blawnox headquarters. Celebrating were, left to right, Executive Director Jason Riley, Program Director Carolyn Falk, and Sojourner House Volunteer Coordinator Liz Wasel.