The History of the Gifts-in-Kind
Distribution Center in Pittsburgh

In 1987, Johnson and the President of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, Reid Carpenter, met with management from the international relief & development agency, World Vision, discussed the benefits of a possible partnership between the two organizations. This resulted in a joint initiative to develop a business strategy and solicit excess products and services from American corporations in behalf of the "less fortunate" in the United States and around the world. The first product donation, called gift-in-kind (GIK), was received in 1989. That same year, a local businessman generously offered the use of a fabrication mill near Pittsburgh for the processing and shipping of donations.

With the new found space and the first GIK being sent in, World Vision Pittsburgh began implementing volunteergroups to help with the processing of the product. The first group -- several elderly women from an urban church -- sorted and repackaged a donation of clothing before its shipment overseas. This allowed World Vision to customize the donation to the needs of its recipients in the field with much more speed and efficiency. It wasn’t long before the volunteer program exploded. During this first year of volunteering, 1,883 hours of time and energy were given to World Vision. Today just over 47,500 hours have been donated by over 7,500 volunteers at the IDC; 80% of these vounters have been high school students. In 1989 the Pittsburgh operation responded to its first humanitarian disaster by assisting World Vision’s response to the crisis in Romania which left 40,000 orphaned children. Medicines, clothing, food, personal care items, and many other critical supplies were sent to relieve the suffering of children and families in these areas. Today goods continue to be shipped to that region for long-term development initiatives.

Since April of 1993, this one of a kind facility of the world, has been officially established in a modern 40,000 square foot office and warehousing complex near Pittsburgh. Again, this was achieved in partnership with the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation. To date, the IDC has shipped more than 7 million pounds of items to the neediest victims of natural and manmade upheaval. This would never have been possible without the help of the volunteers, who have given their time to the distribution center’s work. They have all played an important role in World Vision’s response to disasters in Kosovo, Honduras, Guatemala, Romania, Somalia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Zaire; and with the LA Earthquakes, Georgia Floods, and Red River Floods; among many other international and domestic crises.

Donating some of your time is a really powerful way to get involved with a hands-on mission. If you are interested call us at 412-749-1800, ext. 6026, or email pavolunteers@worldvision.org