State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

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*A Note from Lindsey*

I've been thinking a lot
lately about what it means to be a good neighbor. Showing up in the
community and letting people know that you care is incredibly powerful
work. It's where small actions can have a big impact. Getting to know
your neighbors is one of the best ways I know to break down barriers
and build bridges- something we love to do here in the City of
Bridges.

Pittsburghers are lucky to share a hometown with one of the
most famous good neighbors- Mr. Rogers. So many of us grew up watching
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and learning by his example. But Mr. Rogers
still has a lot to teach us, even as adults. Being responsible for one
another and for the community is up to all of us.

*"We live in a
world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say "It's
not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem." Then
there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people
my heroes." - Fred Rogers*

This week, we celebrated Earth Day with a
trip to the McCandless Township Sewage Authority to learn more about
their new wastewater treatment system that uses ultraviolet light
instead of chlorine. In our region of connected waterways, this is
incredibly important, because it prevents harmful toxins from entering
the Pine Creek watershed and continuing downstream through communities
like Ross, Shaler, and Etna, and eventually out into the Allegheny
River. What one municipal water authority does impacts our entire
region- and eventually the world, as that water continues on to the
Mississippi River and eventually, the Gulf of Mexico. This one small
action makes a big impact.

That's my goal as your State Senator. To
show up, to have conversations, and to make a difference for you
whenever I can. And to encourage and empower you to do the exact same
thing. We all have the power to change our world- let's get out there
and use it.

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*Taking
Care of Each Other*

Next month on May 23rd, we'll celebrate 143 Day,
a day where we honor Mr. Rogers' legacy and share acts of kindness
with our neighbors. I asked my staff to share how they've been good
neighbors lately in case you need inspiration. Here are some ways
we're trying to show up as good neighbors in our own communities.

*If
you have others, please share them with us by replying to this
email!*

-
I participated in a "Dress for Success" collection at my
apartment complex, which asked for work apparel donations to help
job-seekers. One of the highest needs was for scrubs!

-
While hiking
at Moraine State Park, we met someone who injured his ankle and
couldn't walk. The man happened to live in our Borough, so we
abandoned our plans for the day and drove the man home. We had a great
conversation and it was a valuable lesson for our son.

-
Our
neighborhood has changed a lot over the 20+ years I've lived here, but
a few things remain constant. Our neighbors trade pet-sitting, so we
can all afford getaways. I mend my neighbors and friend's clothing for
free. We share tools, machines, and advice on home projects.

-
We
have a neighborhood chat we use for item requests before trips to the
grocery store, deer sighting alerts, funny comments, and asks for
support in all forms.

-
I try to walk to and shop at local
businesses as much as possible and I belong to a CSA to support my
community's economy, cut down on emissions, and keep active.

-
I've
added books I love to the Little Library at the end of my street. I
hope folks enjoy them as much as I did!

-
I make an effort to stop
in and visit with my elderly neighbors in my neighborhood and in the
neighborhood where I grew up. I put away my phone, sit back, and don't
rush out the door. I guess that feels like a small contribution
because I usually do end up enjoying myself a lot! Sometimes you're
hearing the same story on repeat that you heard last time, but you
also get some cool little slices of life in a long-ago Pittsburgh.

-
I grew up living right next to my grandparents, so being a "good
neighbor" has been instilled in me my whole life. Being a good
neighbor means not only bringing a home cooked meal when there's a new
baby or if a neighbor experienced a loss, but it also means
volunteering and contributing to my local Community Farm, who grows
food for our food bank.

-
I send around a text when I'm headed to
Costco to see if anyone needs anything. This saves everyone an
individual trip.

-
It means lending them neighbors my truck, power
washer, spices, or anything else that prevents them from going out and
buying their own. It's important to me that my neighbors know they can
rely on me. Being a good neighbor is sharing your abundance; getting
back to our gift economy roots. This line from *The Serviceberry* by
Robin Wall Kimmerer stays with me: "You can store meat in your own
pantry or in the belly of your brother. Both have the result of
keeping hunger at bay but with very different consequences for the
people and for the land which provided that sustenance."

-
I try to
check in on people - often by sending a text, just to say, "Hi, I'm
thinking of you. How are you?"

-
I still send snail mail -
especially to long distance friends and family - to stay connected and
remind folks they are not alone.

-
I mow my next door neighbors'
front lawns and weed whack their sidewalks when I do mine. It only
takes me an extra few minutes, but it saves them from having to drag
out their lawn equipment. They have repaid the favor when I've been
out of town.



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*Community
Resources** *

There are so many groups in the community working to
connect neighbors with one another and with resources. We're listing a
few here, but if you have others, please feel free to share them with
us!

-
*Join a Buy Nothing Group:*

Reduce Waste - give away what you
no longer need. Save Money - get what you need, for free. Build
Community - meet neighbors, share creatively!

-
BuyNothing | Home
[link 2]

-
[link removed] [link 3]


-
*Visit a Free Store:*

Poppin Tags Free Store in Russellton
provides clothing, homegoods, and the necessities of everyday life -
free of charge and free of judgment.

-
[link removed] [link 4]



-
*Find
a Little Free Food Pantry:*

The mini pantry movement is a grassroots,
crowdsourced solution to immediate and local needs. Whether a need for
food or a need to give, mini pantries help feed neighbors, nourishing
neighborhoods.

-
little free pantry [link 5]



-
*Visit a Little
Free Library: *

Expanding book access for all through a global
network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes.

-
Take a Book. Share a Book. - Little Free Library [link 6]



-
*Go
to a Free Repair Class:*

Monthly Repair Cafes will be held the first
Saturday of every month at Construction Junction in Point Breeze
North. People can bring broken items to a team of repair experts, and
work to fix them together. Volunteers and participants needed!

-
Repair Cafe PGH [link 7]



-
*Find Inspiration at the Pittsburgh
Center for Creative Reuse:*

Non-profit that inspires creativity,
conservation, and community engagement through reuse.

-
Pittsburgh
Center For Creative Reuse | Sustainable Arts & Crafts Supplies [link
8]



-
*Explore the Library of Things:*

All Carnegie Library of
Pittsburgh (CLP) locations offer a Library of Things. A Library of
Things is made up of non-traditional materials that card holders can
borrow.

-
Library of Things at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh -
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh [link 9]



-
*Mutual Aid Resource
for Pittsburgh's Disabled Community:*

A group for the
disability/disabled community of Pittsburgh to share resources, both
physical (extra DME, money, etc.) and institutional (doctors,
navigating systems, etc.

-
(20+) Disabled Pittsburgh Mutual Aid |
Facebook [link 10]

-
*Your PA Parks:*

Our National Park's have seen
drastic service cuts, but fortunately we can still count on the PA
state and county parks this spring to affordably connect with the
natural world!

-
State Parks | Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania [link 11]

-
Parks
and Events - Allegheny County, PA [link 12]

*Volunteer
Opportunities:*

-
*Fire Departments:*

Fire departments need
volunteer firefighters and typically pay for and provide training.
There are also opportunities for community outreach, events,
marketing, fundraising, bookkeeping, and more.

-
Volunteer with Your
Local Fire Department | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania [link 13]

-
*Food Delivery:*

Help prevent food waste by delivering surplus food
to those in need nearby or assist meal delivery/preparation for
seniors.

-
Home - 412 Food Rescue [link 14]

-
Meals On Wheels |
Pittsburgh | Southwest Pennsylvania | Volunteer [link 15]

-
*Home
Maintenance:*

City of Pittsburgh's volunteer lawn cutting and snow
shoveling program for older, veteran, and disabled neighbors.

-
City
Cuts - Pittsburgh, PA [link 16]

-
Snow Angels | Engage Pittsburgh
[link 17]:

-
*Housing:*

Build homes, communities, and hope in
Allegheny County!

-
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh [link
18]

-
*Literacy:*

Literacy programs that focus on College and
Career Readiness, English Language Learning, Children and Families,
and Building Community Capacity.

-
Free Literacy Programs in
Pittsburgh PA | Literacy Pittsburgh [link 19]

-
*Litter
Cleanup:*

Allegheny Cleanways organizes community-driven dumpsite,
litter, and riverfront cleanups.

-
ALLEGHENY CLEANWAYS [link 20]

-
*Mentoring:*

-
Pennsylvania Women Work - Home [link 21]

-
Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Pittsburgh [link 22]

-
*Seniors:*

Senior
Companion Program, Foster Grandparent Program, Pittsburgh Cares

-
AmeriCorps Seniors Pathfinder | AmeriCorps [link 23]

-
*Tax
Preparation:*

Help provide free tax filing assistance for
low-to-moderate income families, the elderly, the disabled, and those
who speak very little English.

-
IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) [link 24].

-
Learn How to Volunteer With AARP Foundation Tax
Aide [link 25].

*If you have other community resources we can share,
please contact us at **[email protected]* [link
26]*, 412-364-0469 (Ross Township), 724-224-2131 (Natrona
Heights).*

*
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*

*Earth
Day Events**

Join a local clean up to build community and to give
back to the Earth!

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We
hope you found this newsletter helpful. If you have thoughts or
questions, please contact us at 412-364-0469 (Ross Township),
724-224-2131 (Natrona Heights), or by email at
[email protected] [link 27].

If you received this
newsletter from a friend and would like to subscribe, please sign up
here [link 28]!

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Senator
Lindsey Williams

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Contact
Information:

Website: [link removed]

Office
Location:
District Office
5000 McKnight Road
Suite 405
Pittsburgh, PA
15237
Phone: 412-364-0469
Fax: 412-364-0928
Monday ? Friday
9-5

Harrison Office
1826 Union Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA
15065
Phone: 724-224-2131
Fax: 724-224-2145
Monday ? Thursday
9-5

Harrisburg Office
366 Capitol Building
Senate Box
203038
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3038
Phone: 717-787-6538
Fax:
717-787-8625
By appointment only


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