Lending a Helping Hand While Developing a Career Path

This past Tuesday, a group of students from the CNX Foundation Mentorship Academy met in the kitchen at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh to help feed the homeless. The students took part in what is a weekly event run by the nonprofit Outreached Arms. Meals are provided each Tuesday evening at the downtown house of worship.

The CNX Foundation provided the food, and the students helped feed over 80 people on a cold night. The individuals showing up for the meal consisted of both homeless living in shelters as well as those who spend Pittsburgh’s tough winters on the streets.

The students assisted in setting up the kitchen and arranging the eating/seating area to have the feel of a restaurant before guests arrived. Salads, drinks, the main meal, and desserts were provided.

There was no formal career development discussion or exercises at this event. Instead, the purpose was to focus on the here and now, remind us there are neighbors in our community who have nothing, and to take some time out of our daily routines to help care for others.

At CNX, we like to say our community and environmental-social-governance (ESG) efforts are designed to be tangible, impactful, and local. Tuesday evening with Outreached Arms helped reinforce what those words mean in our corner of the world.

Talk to young adults about what type of career they are looking for and you will often hear about wanting a profession where they’ll have the opportunity to make a difference. Outreached Arms opened eyes as to how making a big difference with a small investment of time can be achieved, no matter what career path is chosen.

Perspective informs.

Learn more about Outreached Arms at outreachedarms.org and follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/outreachedarms.

The Mentorship Academy is an initiative of CNX Foundation and part of CNX’s commitment to investing in its local community. Designed for high school students who do not plan to immediately attend a four-year college, the Academy is focused on providing urban and rural youth from economically disadvantaged regional Appalachian communities with greater opportunities—helping provide these young adults a bridge to family-sustaining careers. Following the mentorship program, students will have developed new relationships with peers and business leaders across western Pennsylvania, a new excitement for the region’s career opportunities and an understanding of how to pursue those careers.