Raven’s Hands continues legacy of helping others

A mystery dinner theater event today will raise money to aid the mission of the nonprofit group.

Raven’s Hands, a new Mon Valley nonprofit, will host a mystery dinner theater event today to raise funds for its growing organization.

Raven’s Hands supports families in the Mon Valley with items such as bassinets, blankets and strollers. It also provides other services such as paint-and-learn sessions to discuss positive stress management strategies.

Raven’s Hands was officially launched in April, but founder Jessica Anderson said their work started a little before that.

“To do the work that we do, it takes money, it takes funds,” Anderson said. “And so we’ve been trying to think of creative ways to fundraise that will continue the work until we can hopefully get some grant funding and some other things like that.”

The mystery dinner theater event will be held at Venue 311, located at 311 Schoonmaker Ave. in Monessen. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the dinner and show starting at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $35 for the event, with payments accepted through cash, Venmo or Cash App. Anderson can be reached at 724-216-7855 or through the Ravens’ Hands Facebook page.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online before the event at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ mystery-dinner-theater-2.

The event will include snacks, dinner and desserts, along with entertainment provided by profession- al actors from Westmoreland Performing Arts. There will be basket raffles during the event.

Anderson explained that Raven’s Hands was created in honor of her late husband, who was named Raven. Anderson said he was someone who tried to help others, and she wanted to continue what he did.

“He was very skilled in a lot of different trades; he learned from his father and brothers,” Anderson said. “And so he would go to people’s houses and fix their furnaces or build a retaining wall or do plumbing, and this is all in addition to his full-time job down at the mill, down at Cleveland Cliffs.

“He would never take a penny from people, and he would especially try to help like older senior citizens and women who had lost their husbands, and things like that. He just loved to help.”

Anderson said she can’t do some of the things her late husband could, but her work revolves around social services, so she decided to help people in that way.

Raven’s Hands receives requests for many items, including strollers and safe sleep items for babies. Anderson said they’re hoping to host a coat distribution sometime soon.

“We try to meet as many of the requests as we can to make sure that families are safe and giving their giving their kids what they need,” she said. “Just come, have fun. Set everything aside for a few moments. Have fun and support a great cause.”

Anderson added that if someone can’t make it to the event, they can still make monetary or item donations. They can reach out through her phone number or through Facebook.

Anderson added that Raven’s Hands was recently honored to be chosen to be included in the Pittsburgh Foundation’s 2025 Wish Book.

“To me, that indicates that even as new and as small as we are, our vision is recognized,” she said.