5 Stars for serving lunches to the low income and seniors of the community. They also help by…read moregiving free food 2 times a month to help people in need. The staff is incredible because they volunteer there time to help the needy.

has been helping the hill district faithfully for years angels surround this god giving pantryread more

I had the pleasure of volunteering here recently. I have volunteered throughout the city at…read moreseveral different nonprofits in the city and I have to say that this is one that probably touches more lives than any other in the city. What they do here is not a small feat. What goes into to what they accomplish here is many man hours of a dedicated workforce. On top of those that are employed this place also depends on the many that walk through those doors and chip in whenever they can. While here I was told that some of the volunteer days that they have planned are booked months in advance. The facility is top notch and runs like a well oiled machine. However they have said that they have already outgrown this facility space. Even though that may be the case, they don't let that stop their mission. The families that the GPCFB reach are many and without them would not be able to maintain a home life that is perceived as normal. What little you can give is greatly appreciated and there are donation bins inside the front doors. Did you know that they get more donations for items that are considered junk food than healthy food items? That trail mix does seem nutritious, but what really helps them out was that fruits, vegetables, meat and the like.

Hunger is one subject that rarely comes up in discussions about food. When the subject of hunger…read moredoes come up, it remains limited to talk of the developing world. It is difficult to think about the fact that adults and children here in the States are going to sleep with pangs in their stomachs. It's easier to think about where to get good pho instead. In 2009 it was reported that over 50 million Americans were living in "food insecure" households. It's cliche to ask this, but have you ever in your life had to wonder where your next meal might come from? I hope you haven't, but if you have, that's food insecurity. For some, the situation is temporary. For others it's a chronic hardship. In these dire, murky economic times where the gulf between the wealthy and the impoverished is only growing, food banks are as essential as they've ever been, and The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has been meeting that need throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania for more decades than I've been alive. Annually, the Food Bank allocates 21 million pounds of food from their Duquesne warehouse via manifold avenues not limited to senior citizen centers, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and pantries. And if you think that you will never find yourself relying on a food bank to feed you or your family, you should read this article from late last year... http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/11/22 Hunger is spreading, even into the supposedly lush, insulated suburbs. Food banks can help stifle and even reverse that tragic advancement. After all, you never know when the rug you're standing on will be yanked right out from under your feet, and yes it could be YOU someday. So, if you're not going to donate food or funds to the address above out of a concern for those who are not as privileged as you are, do so out of self-interest. As long as we support our local food banks, they will continue to be there for all of us if and when we need them. If you can't afford to give money, take a look inside your cupboard. Are you really planning on making something with that can of Cream of Mushroom Soup?

Love Centers for Creative Reuse! It's a great place to donate and buy gently used and new supplies…read morefor crafts, hobbies, arts, and life! You'll find fabrics, notions, papers, small antiques, and more. Check their website for details of what they're currently accepting, hours, and more. Right around the corner from Construction Junction! Pictures are from a check in long ago

Wow, what a neat place! If you're into any art medium, I can almost guarantee you that you'd find…read moreat least one thing to add to your collection. I've been wanting to go here for a while now and I am SO glad I made the decision to go today! I found some items that I deem as treasures, and for the price of just 80¢ total!! Without a doubt, I strongly recommend swinging by! Thank you PCCR for existing :)

The Nine Mile Run is a small stream that connects Frick Park with the Monongahela River. Chances…read moreare you've driven over it, biked over it, or walked over it but you wouldn't know it. You can cross it in hundreds of places but you won't need a bridge. That's because the stream runs almost entirely underground, emerging in Frick Park. The address shown is approximately where it emerges. People have lived in the Nine Mile Run Watershed for many centuries. The Native American Deleware tribe resided here until the 1600s. LIkely they hunted and fished here because it has been home to many species. When the Europeans arrived, they formed small communities and the region prospered, especially with the arrival of the steel industry. When that industry declined in the 1970s the area suffered a sizeable population loss. It is now reinventing itself into a post-industrial environment with plenty of green space. Nine Mile Run flows through Wilkinsburg, Swissvale, Edgewood, and the eastern most portion of Squirrel Hill. It is currently unhealthy. As the 20th Century began, streams were often used to transport trash and sewage and most of the Run was piped into underground culverts. The Run often gives off a stench of sewage after a rain. That's because over a quarter of the watershed is covered by impermeable surfaces such as pavement and sidewalks which do not allow rainwater to filter into the soil. Whenever it rains, Nine Mile Run becomes overwhelmed with water runoff, causing erosion, destruction of animal habitat, and environmental degradation. This is not helped by Pittsburgh's outdated sewer system. Just how antiquated is the system? No permits for the construction of the type of sewers Pittsburgh uses have been issued since the 1930s. Nine Mile Run was also deeply affected by the steel industry. While the mills kept us fed and put our kids thru school, they did heavy damage to the environment. Nine Mile Run Wateshed contained no mills, but millions of tons of slag were dumped along the edge of the stream. In 1922, Duquesne Slag Company bought 94 acres of the Nine Mile Run Watershed and over the years bought more and more land. Despite this being zoned a residential area, Duquesne Slag continued dumping. It's estimated that some 200 million tons of slag rest in the area. Today the Nine Mile Run Watershed is in the middle of decade long restoration project. Reclamation projects have resulted in new housing, vegetation, and greenways on the former slag heap. The Watershed is currently home to 250 plant species, 22 different mammals, and 189 types of birds. A 100 acre greenway is being built to connect Frick Park with the Mon River. A trail has been built along the stream and it will eventually link up with the Duck Hollow Trail and a direct connection will be made to the trail system in the park. My Girlfriends and I hike Frick Park's extensive trails and we are looking forward to being able to hike all the way from Reynolds Street down to the Mon.

The Nine-Mile run Watershed is located in the Regent Square/Edgewood area of Pittsburgh and covers…read more~6.5 square miles. It boasts a stream and breathtaking scenery. It includes hiking trails and the largest urban stream restoration completed by the Army Corp of Engineers. The Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, is s non-profit organization located at 321 Pennwood Ave., supporting preservation of the site. They maintain a Facebook site and sponsor social and fund-raising events.