The people of St. Aidan Parish in Pittsburgh’s North Hills, including the children of its Faith Formation Program, have been raising funds for the Chimbote Mission for several years.
Parishes across the Pittsburgh region continue to be generous in supporting the Chimbote Foundation’s work with the poor of Chimbote, Peru.
St. Aidan Parish in Pittsburgh’s North Hills recently presented the Foundation with a $3,000 check for the Chimbote Mission’s Dignified Housing Program. The dollars will allow the Center to construct a simple home for a family living in extreme poverty. Chimbote’s poorest residents typically live in huts with dirt floors and without water, electricity, or latrines.
Children who are part of St. Aidan’s Faith Formation programs raised the funds by setting up home collection boxes during Lent and sharing information about Chimbote with family and friends. An anonymous gift from a parishioner topped off the 2026 donation. St. Aidan Parish has been actively raising funds for the Mission for five years.
“Our Faith Formation program includes close to 400 children in grades Pre-K-8th grade,” says Darcy Osby, director of Faith Formation at Saint Aidan Parish.
“We send home collection boxes and encourage the children to raise money by doing chores and sharing about Chimbote with their neighbors and family. Each year at the beginning of Lent, children see photos of the Mission, either shared by me or someone who has been to Chimbote, such as Deacon Frank Szemanski.
“This year, our parishioner Alice Beckett-Rumberger shared photos of houses the Mission is building in Chimbote. Alice traveled to Chimbote last summer as part of a Physical Therapy program at Seton Hill.
“In a typical year, we raise around $1,000 from the children’s work, and a parishioner who would like to remain anonymous matches the children’s donations. This year, Alice challenged us to raise $1,500 so that with the matching donation we could build a house!
“The children raised $1750, and our anonymous donor brought us up to an even $3,000. This was in addition to $750 we raised for Chimbote in the Fall through a free-will donation bake sale following the Children’s Jubilee Mass.
“In the past we have taken 7th and 8th grade students to the annual Chimbote Dinner in Pittsburgh so that they can see the impact of the donations. We weren’t able to attend this past Fall, but we hope to be there this October.
“After several years of learning about Chimbote, the children of St. Aidan’s are always eager to learn more and help the Mission.”
Other Pittsburgh-area parishes raising funds for the people of Chimbote include Holy Family Parish in the eastern suburbs, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in the northern suburbs, and many others.
Learn how you can help the Chimbote Foundation through your parish or as an individual donor.