It’s giving giving. Part of the Gen Z lingo is the introductory phrase, “It’s giving,” as in “It’s giving a good vibe,” or a bad vibe or it’s giving grandpa energy or even boss energy … or one of many other things it could be making the speaker think or feel.
If you leaf through this issue, you can’t help but think It’s Giving Giving. Nearly every published item tells a story of a community member giving in a measurable way, whether it’s as a volunteer, an employee of a nonprofit or as an individual committed to the arts.
Make sure you check out the story of the amazing volunteers who are giving time to the Friends of the Mt. Lebanon Public Library (see Merle Jantz’s story [1]) or Rachel Windsor’s story on Barb Saunders [2], the new executive director of Outreach, who through her work gives Mt. Lebanon families hope at the mental health nonprofit. Thanks in part to Mt. Lebanon municipal funding, every resident can get two free counseling sessions at Outreach.
Arty types will no doubt love Marsha Morgenstern’s piece [3] on Mt. Lebanon residents who work to create beautiful pieces at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, a nonprofit celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
You can also get details on the Mt. Lebanon Police Department’s Classic Car Show [4], July 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The show benefits the Mt. Lebanon Police Association, which donates the money right back into the community. But here’s another note: attend the show and you’ll see members of the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon-Castle Shannon Rotary Club volunteering right along with police to get the cars registered and help patrons find what they’re looking for.
On page 54, read another of Marsha’s stories [5], this time about a group of PTA parents who stepped up to collect food for a school in the Pittsburgh Public system, just a few miles away. It’s all almost enough to make you need to catch your breath.
In April, Mt. Lebanon hosted a dinner to celebrate the volunteers on our boards and authorities. The overwhelming message from all those who spoke to the large crowd was that Mt. Lebanon is a far better place for their time and talent.
We hope this issue might inspire you to volunteer or to support one of our nonprofits. Maybe it will encourage you to talk to your college kids about embracing a career of service. You can support many local organizations by attending some of the fun events listed in our calendar [6] on page 8, too. At the very least, we hope this issue fills you with gratitude for those who step out the door every day asking what they can do for others.