Twenty-one years ago this spring, torrential rains caused massive flooding in the area, killing eight people and damaging 675 homes and numerous businesses in the northern suburbs.

Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Volunteers, from left, Leslie Grimm, 16, of North Hills, Linda Menton, of Bradford Woods, and Dottie Edwards, of Shaler, assemble Easter baskets for needy families at North Hills Community Outreach Center in Hampton. Click photo for larger image.

To help the victims of the May 1986 flood, religious and community leaders came together and formed a group called the Interfaith Coordinating Committee. From that committee grew an organization whose name has since become synonymous with help, whether it be in the form of food, transportation or compassion.

North Hills Community Outreach incorporated as a nonprofit a year later and adopted the motto, "People Helping People." In its 20 years, the interfaith agency has grown to include two branches in addition to its headquarters in Hampton. In 2005-06, it helped 6,331 families, a 25 percent increase from the previous year.

The outreach organization's first executive director, the Rev. Donna Martin, was associate pastor for community outreach at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Hampton when the flooding occurred.

Even before the flood, she had wanted to start an organization to meet the needs of the people in the northern suburbs. A seminar she attended in California had inspired her to choose "Find a need and fill it" as her mantra, she said.

"Then, the infamous flood came, and I was one of the first people there, wading around in my boots, which were worthless," said the Rev. Martin, who now lives in Baltimore.

The Rev. Susan Hutchins, of Epworth United Methodist Church in Shaler, served as president of the Interfaith Coordinating Committee, and the Rev. Martin was vice president in charge of distributing funds.

"I saw how the different organizations and churches could work together, and we decided to keep it going," the Rev. Hutchins said.

St. Paul's donated space in a house on its property where a food bank and employment network already were operating. The house along Ferguson Road has been expanded and still serves as headquarters for North Hills Community Outreach, which was incorporated on June 18, 1987.

Before the Rev. Martin left St. Paul's to pursue a doctorate in Washington, D.C., the outreach agency's board of directors asked what she envisioned for the organization. She said she hoped the agency could open satellite offices, which it eventually did in Millvale and Bellevue.

Much of the expansion has taken place under the leadership of Fay Morgan, the organization's fourth executive director. She joined the agency in 1993, and the first satellite opened in Millvale later that year.

"We had been receiving many calls from Millvale, Etna and Sharpsburg from people who had no transportation to get to the Allison Park office," she said. "The Rev. George Mendes, of Christ Lutheran Church, saw the same problem and asked us to come to Millvale. He gave us our first space there and is still a great supporter and partner, working with us in the 2004 flood as well."

The Millvale office, now in the newly expanded and remodeled Millvale Community Center, serves 23 communities in the Allegheny Valley.

St. Margaret Foundation is one of the outreach organization's strong supporters. The foundation provided the first gift for flood relief in 2004 and encouraged other foundations to give their support, Mrs. Morgan said.

St. Margaret also provided space for two staff members after the Millvale office was flooded. The foundation partners with North Hills Community Outreach for the Free Rides for Seniors program serving Aspinwall, Blawnox, O'Hara and Sharpsburg, with 12,953 rides given since May 2005.

The outreach group also partners with Community Auto in Richland, a volunteer-run organization that repairs donated cars to sell at affordable prices.

Among the other services the outreach provides are food pantries in Hampton and Bellevue, assistance with utilities, employment help, support groups and sharing projects.

The Bellevue branch opened in 2000 at Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus and provides services for elderly people and operate a federal program called Compassion Allegheny. The outreach agency selects 11 smaller organizations to mentor every year on how to be compassionate and effective.

None of this would work without the volunteers who provided 39,158 hours in the last fiscal year, equal to 19 full-time staff members, according to Virginia Giles. One of 22 paid staff members, three of whom are part time, Ms. Giles coordinates a corps of more than 1,400 volunteers who work in the food pantries, provide companionship and transportation to the frail elderly and offer office support. They also provide leadership for special events and fund-raisers and help with sharing projects, such as the one in progress involving the collection, assembly and distribution of Easter baskets to needy families.

Shirley McIlvried, 73, of McCandless, a founding board member of North Hills Community Outreach, said she became involved after giving immunizations to health workers as an Allegheny County nurse. She and another founding member, Don Hook, are board members emeritus and both still volunteer. She is a receptionist at the Millvale office and is a member of the agency's speakers bureau.

"They ARE the mission," Ms. Giles said of the volunteers.

More help always is needed, especially for the Faith in Action volunteer care giving and Free Rides for Seniors programs, she said.

It also takes money to run an organization of this size. Dianne Buirge, director of operations, oversees a current budget of $1.72 million and is responsible for the agency's information technology. Through the years, Mrs. Buirge has used her banking background as volunteer treasurer for the original food pantry and for the outreach organization before joining the staff and later becoming chief financial officer.

About $380,000 in local money is needed by September to receive a $240,000 Challenge Grant from the Kresge Foundation, Mrs. Morgan said. The outreach group is leading a fund-raising campaign for the $2.3 million Millvale Expansion Project in exchange for a $1-a-year lease with Millvale for 33 years. Other grant money is expected, but $25,000 is needed from individuals.

"It's like two handles on a basket: those who need help and those who can help," she said.

The community is invited to the organization's anniversary dinner at 5:30 p.m. April 22 in St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Road, Hampton.

Tickets are $30, with proceeds going to help obtain the Kresge Foundation Challenge Grant. Fitzsimmons Metal Co. in Shaler is the title sponsor. KDKA-TV news anchor Keith Jones will serve as master of ceremonies. Compassion in Action awards will be presented, and some of the people who have been helped by the outreach organization will give testimonials.

For tickets, call Wendy Gordon at 412- 487-6316, option 1, ext. 3112.

For information about North Hills Community Outreach, visit its Web site at www.nhco.org.