The smile was from the heart.
The tears were full of emotion.
And the words were hard to find without being choked.
Because in a time when the need is so great and someone shows up and helps, there are sometimes no words to express the felt gratitude.
And that’s exactly what happened when local families cared for by the Women’s Center & Shelter in Greater Pittsburgh and the YWCA in Greater Pittsburgh learned on a Zoom call with Steeler’s linebacker Avery Williamson that he’d give each of them an Amazon gift card $ 800 worth of purchase items for yourself, their children, and anything they might need during a difficult time.
Williamson, who was in Pittsburgh for a short time after being sold by the New York Jets to the Steelers on November 2, worked with Beyond the Basics, Inc., a foundation run by Patriots linebacker Brandon Copeland played with in New York to help the families.
“It’s an honor to be able to help,” Williamson told callers. “When you see people’s faces and hear their voices, it means a lot more. It means a lot. It inspires me to do a lot more, not just during the holidays but all year round. I’m glad I did I wish you all a great vacation. I hope this helps. ”
Help them, yes it will do more than that. The only message that both the Women’s Center & Shelter and the YWCA shared is that it will empower women, which is so necessary in the struggles they face.
“We know that our customers as a whole and those in need of protection have been exposed to financial abuse,” said Nicole Molinaro, President and CEO of the Women’s Center & Shelter. “We have mothers with children and grown women who are financially devastated. They really have to build from scratch. Christmas and giving gifts are usually low on the priority list, which is devastating for them. You can provide for theirs.” Kids is just amazing.
“It’s wonderful to be able to give gift cards. With gift cards, mothers can shop for their children. It is a strengthening. So gift cards give twice. Mother can buy for the children. Children like very specific things. To empower mother, in one Time of financial and emotional struggle for them to get what they want is priceless. ”
Her words were repeated by Angela Reynolds, the CEO of the YWCA.
“A lot of families want to do something for their children,” said Reynolds. “As he does, he enables families to make their own decisions and to support their families in the way they see best. It has been a tough year for all of us, it has been a tough year.
“In many of these situations, families had no choice. There are so many things in their lives that they cannot control. To give them an aspect of their life that they can, it is powerful. What that means for self-esteem It is a key to their own worth and not to be taken lightly. ”
Williamson has felt a lot of love from the Pittsburgh community since arriving, even if not everything comes in person during the pandemic. He said it was this love and support that got him to do something in town right away.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity since I am here to help some families in need,” said Williamson. “The city is very supportive of the team so I thought it would be a good thing to help families who need it, especially this year when it comes to COVID. I figured I can definitely help families. I am I’m sure that many people struggle with the lack of work and things like that.
“I couldn’t imagine being in their shoes. I remember looking for something from my parents as a kid for Christmas. I couldn’t imagine having nothing. I hope it helps them find something for to provide their children. It means I’m happy that I can offer some families something small and still have a positive influence on them. ”
While he described it as “small,” what Williamson did is far from small. The need for both organizations has risen sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the saddest part of it is that the abuse that the shelters are seeing has also increased sharply.
“It makes an incredible difference for the families we serve and also for the employees,” said Molinaro. “It lets them know that they are not alone, that there are people who really care about what they are going through. In the case of the Steelers who donate, that means that there are men who 110 percent know that abuse is wrong and the people at the shelter don’t deserve the behavior they have been exposed to and it is wrong. It gives them strength because they know they have the community behind them. They always know they have the staff, however they have the community they have celebrities, professional athletes reach out and let them know that they are not alone. ”
One of the families through the YWCA who received the gift card, including a father who was unemployed for a while due to COVID closures and a mother diagnosed with breast cancer who just want to do what they can for their children . Now you have this opportunity.
“It means a lot. It would mean a lot at any point in time, but it means a lot now,” Reynolds said. “Many of the families we serve live from paycheck to paycheck. There are privileges that many people take for granted, and some of our families say how do I turn the lights on, how do I pay my mortgage, the rent, watch out up The families have children, that’s why this support is so important.
“Now that the pandemic is up, families are not just dealing with the pandemic, they are also dealing with life. To find someone to care for you, beyond the people you asked for help, it means so a lot. It takes a lot. Reach out for help when you have problems. Lots of people wait until the last minute. We tell them there is no judgment. It is difficult to make it in this environment. It is difficult to self report, but reaching out and helping someone you don’t know means a lot.
“It means a lot to my team too. They do their best for their families, but when someone else shows up and says they want to help you with this, I want to say that your work makes a difference, our people benefit from the fact that the families are supported. ”
While Williamson first contacted the one in Pittsburgh, he doesn’t stop there and gives back in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio as well.
“I’m glad to be able to bless people in difficult times,” said Williamson. “I feel like I’ve done well, and I make sure I’m not in control. You have to bless other people too.”
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