Patch Q&A: Mary Neff of Dormont

Mary Neff resides in Dormont with her husband. She is the development associate at Familylinks and currently is coordinating the organization’s Holiday Campaign.

When did you start working at Familylinks? October 2001

Why did you want to get involved at the organization? I needed a job at the time and also thought it would be a great way to become involved with an organization that truly makes a difference in the community.

What is the mission there? The Familylinks mission is to provide integrated, family-centered services focused on behavioral, social and developmental health issues.

What people do you serve? We serve a broad spectrum of programs designed to meet the needs of many different populations. We have a specialized elementary school for children with autism and/or emotional and behavioral disorders. We provide service coordination for children and adults with intellectual disabilities as well as care management for older adults.  Through our behavioral health services, we serve children, adults and families struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues.  Through our youth and family division, we provide emergency shelter, independent living and workforce readiness programs for adolescents involved with the child welfare system.  We also provide the region’s only homeless shelter specifically designed to meet the needs of 18-21 year old young adults.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Being able to help in the collection of donations for children in need who live in our shelters is extremely rewarding. Whether it’s providing backpacks or Tickets for Kids, which provides trips to Kennywood, local events and sports games, I serve as the liaison to make those important connections. These things that may seem small to others truly make a big difference in their lives.

What does the Holiday Campaign entail? Our holiday campaign is a coordinated effort to brighten the holidays for all of our clients, many of whom are children who have gone through so many struggles already in their young lives. In addition, many of our clients cannot afford gifts around this time of year, so we strive to bring the spirit of the season to them. Local businesses, churches and schools donate a majority of the gifts.

Why is the campaign so important to the people you serve at Familylinks? It offers support and compassion during a time that can create an emotional and financial burden for people facing personal struggles or loneliness during the holiday season.

For more information, visit www.familylinks.org.

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