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.
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.
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! - 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. - 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. - Visit a
Little Free Library:
Expanding book access for all
through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library
book-exchange boxes.
- Go to a Free Repair Class:
Monthly
Repair Cafés 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! - Find
Inspiration at the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse:
Non-profit that inspires creativity, conservation, and community
engagement through reuse. - 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. - 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.
- 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!
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.
- Food
Delivery:
Help prevent food waste by delivering surplus
food to those in need nearby or assist meal delivery/preparation for
seniors.
- Home Maintenance:
City of Pittsburgh’s volunteer lawn cutting and snow shoveling
program for older, veteran, and disabled neighbors.
-
Housing:
Build homes, communities, and hope in
Allegheny County!
- Literacy:
Literacy programs that focus on
College and Career Readiness, English Language Learning, Children and
Families, and Building Community Capacity.
- Litter Cleanup:
Allegheny Cleanways organizes community-driven dumpsite, litter, and
riverfront cleanups.
-
Mentoring:
-
Seniors:
Senior Companion Program, Foster
Grandparent Program, Pittsburgh Cares
-
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.
If you have other community resources we can share,
please contact us at [email protected],
412-364-0469 (Ross Township), 724-224-2131 (Natrona
Heights).
Earth Day Events
Join a local clean up to build community and to give back to the
Earth!
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].
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Senator Lindsey Williams
