Community Connection

Let the eat cake. And soup. And throw in a scoop of ice cream, too.

The Community Improvement Center, operated through the United Way of Western Crawford County, will throw a Cake Walk, Soup and Ice Cream Social, February 26 from 3-6 p.m. at the ARC of Crawford County. An outgrowth of the successful community improvement day, Make a Difference Day, the CIC is raising funds to propel their project-based service organization forward.

“Every year about 125 projects are completed on Make a Difference Day,” said Amy Woods, Executive Director of the United Way of Western Crawford County. “Throughout the year, we hope to complete another 125 projects through the CIC.”

“Now we have to beg, borrow, and steal (for funding),” said Woods.

“Make a Difference Day” is an event that makes an army of volunteers of the Crawford community for a day participating in projects like building ramp ways for wheelchairs and installing roofs. Unfortunately, 24 hours doesn’t provide enough time or materials to get all projects completed. The Community Improvement Center was started to address those issues, and operates within the United Way of Western Crawford County.

“Ours is unique because it’s project-based,” said Katie Huser, the United Way’s VISTA, who currently heads the Center.

The CIC’s issue—and the aim—is to become sustainable.

“The more funding we get, the more projects we can complete, and the more we can do for the community,” said Woods, who wants to bring awareness and funding to the CIC. “We have a waiting list of people, because we have no funding for materials. We rely 100% on fundraising and volunteers.”

Huser envisions the CIC as a “clearing house,” a place to connect those who have needs to those who can help them.

“People who call in [a project] are generally those physically and financially unable,” said Huser, calling some stories “heart-breaking” to hear.

The CIC’s Calk Walk, Soup and Ice Cream Social aims to bring funds and awareness to the center. Local restaurants and organizations are pitching in to help the event, including donations of cakes and soups. The recently re-opened Susie’s Ice Cream Factory in Titusville will be donating all the ice cream for the Social.

David Funk of Susie’s said the re-imagined ice cream factory loves to keep the community strong. “We really support local; United Way is a great organization,” said Funk. “We donate out in the community when there’s certain events; we try to keep it all local.”

Want to help? Here’s how.

1)   Show up. And have fun.

The three-hour event is packed with activity, as the name suggests, including a calk walk, a soup contest, and an ice cream social. Vote for your favorite soup in the cook-off; the soup with the most money in its jar will be declared a winner. Take stroll on the cakewalk; tickets are $1 per game, $6 for five, or $10 for an unlimited pass.

2)   Bake

Showcase your culinary talents, and donate a cake! The CIC is taking donations of cakes for the cakewalk. Crawford County restaurants will compete for the best soup; throw yours into the running, too.

3)   Donate.

Your time, your money. Contact the CIC and ask for Katie Huser at 814-337-1251 if you or your organization want to volunteer.

4)   Spread the word.

Know someone in need? Tell them to contact the CIC.

Event Details:

What?  Cake Walk, Soup, and Ice Cream Social

Where? The ARC of Crawford County, 22 Chestnut Street, Meadville

When? 3-6 pm February 26

Benefiting who? The Community Improvement Center, operated through the United Way.

More info? Find the United Way of Western Crawford County on Facebook, and visit their event page.

Retired Pittsburgh police officers Regina and David Allman now run the non-profit Hog Heaven Rescue Farm in Cochranton.

Regina Allman has recently received a new four-legged friend. He sleeps inside, is housebroken, but there’s a problem. He’s a pig.

“He doesn’t know he’s a pig,” she said, “but he’s pretty impressive for an indoor pig.” Allman founded and runs the non-profit Hog Heaven Rescue Farm in Cochranton with her husband David.

Hog Heaven is not just for pigs; this farm “rescues, rehabilitates, and fosters” seized or surrendered hoofed animals, like pigs, goats, cows, horses—occasionally even alpacas—eventually sending them to permanent homes.

The title “Hog Heaven” actually reflects three various parts of her life.

First, as a police officer in Pittsburgh, she and the rest of the force were referred to as “pigs.”

“We were told to take it as ‘pride, intelligence, guts.’”

The second “hog” refers to Harleys, “I was the first female rider in Pittsburgh.”

Lastly, “I’m actually blessed and living my dream, I’m in ‘Hog Heaven,’” she said of running the non-profit farm.

“Animals are very forgiving. You can take them from the doorstep of death and teach them kindness and trust.”

She emphasizes the difficulties for unwanted animals that are not cats or dogs. “The pot-bellied pig was the throw away pet of 90’s,” said Allman, who has 47 rescued pigs on her 108 acre farm.

“There are so many shelters for dogs and cats,” said Allman, who says hoofed animals and their needs are often ignored when they need to be properly rescued.

Allman tells a story of a pig brought to a shelter getting dropped into a cage with seven other large dogs.

“Pig are prey animals; being around dogs and cats is very stressful.”

Looking for a unique gift? This year, the farm restarted a sponsorship program; people can gift sponsorships of an animal to friends and family a certain dollar amount per month. Hog Heaven will send a certificate, photograph of the animal, and newsletter to the new sponsor.

Allman says she hears from people all over eastern America wanting her to take their pigs, including Vermont, New Jersey, and Kentucky. “We get most of our calls from Pittsburgh,” she said.

Unable to sponsor or adopt? Hog Heaven is always looking for volunteers.

“We assign chores to people’s ability,” she said.

Assignments can be as varied as scrapbooking, folding newsletters, cleaning out the barn, and feeding the animals.

Interested? Contact Regina Allman at 814-425-1850, or hogheaven1@windstream.net.

Find Hog Heaven online at www.hogheavenrescue.org.

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Find this article in the December 30 print issue of GoCrawfordCounty.com.