Pittsburghers reply to unprecedented instances with unprecedented acts of kindness – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – What we saw in 2020 was certainly unprecedented and we are not just talking about the challenges and conflicts. We have seen people come together to support themselves and their communities in so many uplifting ways.

It started in the spring when sudden and unexpected needs were met with quick and meaningful measures. Basic needs like food sparked giveaways across the region.

From Fayette County, where Community Action Food Bank volunteers distributed meals to families, to Lawrence County, where teams in New Castle covered over 100 zip codes and supplied healthy fruits and vegetables through the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

And we can’t forget our furry friends. Pet food donations also increased in places like the Washington Area Humane Society.

Community gardens like the one in Turtle Creek took advantage of the opportunities and donated fresh produce. And the clubhouse garden in Squirrel Hill helped the neighbors get to know each other a little better – a place of hope, healing and inclusion.

Churches became more than just places of worship. They organized drive-thrus and deliveries and made sure that nursing homes and first aiders were supplied.

And how about these first responders? There was a service beyond the badge at events like one in Westmorland County where police and state forces gave dozens of children Christmas joy with their annual deal with a cop.

So many restaurants struggling with downtime decided to give something back. Ma and Pops Country Kitchen in the South Hills is just one example, serving hundreds of Thanksgiving dinners for free.

Holidays and celebrations were different, but we still celebrated. Veterans Day at a retirement home in Bridgeville was a special thank you to young Heroes Supporting Heroes volunteers.

Our seniors got involved in many ways, like 90-year-old Jackie Stebler, who sewed hundreds of masks together and gave them away.

Nonprofits, forced to cancel their fundraising drives and galas, found new ways to do charity. Some went virtual, like the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Others took to the trails, such as the Bethel Park girls’ volleyball team, which supported the Pink Pamper organization. People still safely gathered to raise money and find cures.

It’s not about what 2020 did to us. It’s about how we wanted to help each other in 2020. It is you, Pittsburgh. We are grateful and very proud.