Participants in the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council's English-as-a-second-language (ESL) classes at the Prospect Park Family Center in Whitehall Borough have collected between 250 and 300 toiletries to be given to the homeless at Pittsburgh's Light of Life Rescue Mission.
The ESL students, many of whom belong to refugee families in Whitehall, collected the items as part of a holiday giving project.
"The response was much greater than expected," ESL teacher Susie Backscheider said, "and I am so proud of our students for their selflessness and willingness to contribute."
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The giving project led to much ESL classroom discussion about homelessness and helping others.
"They (the students) know all too well what it means to 'go without' and took this endeavor to heart," said Whitehall Public Library Director Paula Kelly, who is a volunteer ESL tutor.
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