YWCA GP in Action - September 2026
Explore the ways our programs and initiatives are making a difference, from distributing resources to helping children in our community express themselves.
Distributing Resources to Our Community
During a recent Giant Eagle Mobile Market day at our Homewood Education Center, we welcomed additional partners: the Allegheny County Health Department WIC Mobile Clinic, University of Pittsburgh medical students from the Community Alliance Program, and the Western PA Diaper Bank.
Partner families shopped for groceries at the Mobile Market, received nutritional support from the WIC Mobile Clinic, and learned healthy recipes from University of Pittsburgh medical students. Thanks to a generous donation from Giant Eagle, the Western PA Diaper Bank was able to distribute over 32,700 diapers to 142 families during the event.
Self-Expression and STEM Learning
With the help of a visiting artist from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, campers learned to express their feelings through printmaking and painting, using these skills to make art for their own story books. Campers also used Makey Makey software to learn about open and closed circuits and make music with bananas, used Coding Critters to learn about computer programming, learned about the solar system by making dioramas, and learned about physics by using air to propel model rockets. This month’s field trips included playing at Paulson Spray Park and visiting the Museum of Illusions to learn about the physics of light and the way the brain processes visual information.
After Summer Camp came to a close, partner families visited our Homewood Education Center for a Gallery Exhibition to wrap up the summer. Through photos, videos, project displays, and conversations with YWCA GP staff, partner families received a comprehensive overview of the STEM, nature, and social-emotional learning concepts campers were introduced to this year. Campers and their families also enjoyed healthy snacks and learned to draw by coding Finch Robots.
2026 Summer Camp was generously supported by The Grable Foundation and United Way of Southwestern PA.
Exploring Future Opportunities
High School PATHmakers students visited Penn State Greater Allegheny, where they learned about the university’s Social Work and Biomedical Engineering & Technology departments. Working with professors, PATHmakers completed hands-on activities including testing a heart monitor and exploring different types of social work. The visit concluded with a tour of the campus and facilities.