Help Kids In Pittsburgh
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Let’s Reclaim Valentine’s Day For Good!
If you’re like me, when you think about Valentine’s Day it’s a little bit like, ugh that’s a Hallmark holiday and it’s not even a real thing. Apologies for anyone that really loves it. Don’t get me wrong, I love love! So it’s always bothered me a little bit that this perfectly good day is focused on forced romanticism.
So I decided to do something about it.
Here in Pittsburgh, I work at a refugee resettlement agency, go to graduate school student studying public policy and am a new mom. I have a full plate! But my life got even crazier over the past month since the inauguration when the world I live in (supporting and helping refugees) was pushed into the media by the President's ban on refugees, attack on women and discriminatory policies targeting Muslims and People of Color. Some of our new refugee families are scared and many have small children. Many children face discrimination, feel isolated and alone including immigrant children, anyone whose parent is incarcerated, children in the foster care system and many other kids who could use extra love and attention.
I wanted to find a way to tell newly resettled refugees, immigrants and children in need that many Pittsburghers support them, that they are welcome here, they are loved and they are wanted.
I created an event where all Pittsburghers are invited to make Valentine's Day cards showing their support. This event is FREE to attend and FAMILY-FRIENDLY.
This has come together in just a few days! The event space was donated. I want to have free crafting supplies on site, coffee and breakfast items. All Valentine's made at the event will be distributed by me (and some of my friends) to nonprofits around the city who work with kids. I have been talking to groups including the Pittsburgh Public Schools ESL programs, local refugee resettlement agencies, the Islamic Center, Kingsley Association, the Latino community and Homewood community organizations. I've arranged to have artists, art teachers and crafty people on-site to help anyone who is less than crafty. Being good at card-making is not a pre-requisite! (I should know, my card skills are on-par for a third-grader and that might be insulting their talent). For any babies and kids too young for crafts there will be a play area, story-time and a sing-along area.
I'm also working hard on having refugee, immigrant and underserved families at the event so people from all communities can interact and create relationships. Working at a refugee resettlement agency, people ask me EVERY DAY how they can help and this is a great opportunity to meet some new neighbors.
So why am I raising money? I'm asking for donations to help with everything else we need to make this event a success including:
- Craft Supplies
- Coffee and Water
- Breakfast and Various Food Items
- Fliers printed and distributed, especially to groups that don't use Facebook or speak English
- Signage
- Paper products and clean up items
I'm asking for $750 to cover all of these costs. ALL DONATIONS not used on supplies will be donated to the leading local refugee resettlement agency, Northern Area Multi Service Center's Community Assistance and Refugee Resettlement Program.
Thank you for considering making a donation! If you'd like to attend, event details are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/285822681833053
Date: Saturday February 11th
Where: The Shop, 621 N Dallas Ave (btwn Formosa and Kelly)
Time: 9AM-12PM
If you’re like me, when you think about Valentine’s Day it’s a little bit like, ugh that’s a Hallmark holiday and it’s not even a real thing. Apologies for anyone that really loves it. Don’t get me wrong, I love love! So it’s always bothered me a little bit that this perfectly good day is focused on forced romanticism.
So I decided to do something about it.
Here in Pittsburgh, I work at a refugee resettlement agency, go to graduate school student studying public policy and am a new mom. I have a full plate! But my life got even crazier over the past month since the inauguration when the world I live in (supporting and helping refugees) was pushed into the media by the President's ban on refugees, attack on women and discriminatory policies targeting Muslims and People of Color. Some of our new refugee families are scared and many have small children. Many children face discrimination, feel isolated and alone including immigrant children, anyone whose parent is incarcerated, children in the foster care system and many other kids who could use extra love and attention.
I wanted to find a way to tell newly resettled refugees, immigrants and children in need that many Pittsburghers support them, that they are welcome here, they are loved and they are wanted.
I created an event where all Pittsburghers are invited to make Valentine's Day cards showing their support. This event is FREE to attend and FAMILY-FRIENDLY.
This has come together in just a few days! The event space was donated. I want to have free crafting supplies on site, coffee and breakfast items. All Valentine's made at the event will be distributed by me (and some of my friends) to nonprofits around the city who work with kids. I have been talking to groups including the Pittsburgh Public Schools ESL programs, local refugee resettlement agencies, the Islamic Center, Kingsley Association, the Latino community and Homewood community organizations. I've arranged to have artists, art teachers and crafty people on-site to help anyone who is less than crafty. Being good at card-making is not a pre-requisite! (I should know, my card skills are on-par for a third-grader and that might be insulting their talent). For any babies and kids too young for crafts there will be a play area, story-time and a sing-along area.
I'm also working hard on having refugee, immigrant and underserved families at the event so people from all communities can interact and create relationships. Working at a refugee resettlement agency, people ask me EVERY DAY how they can help and this is a great opportunity to meet some new neighbors.
So why am I raising money? I'm asking for donations to help with everything else we need to make this event a success including:
- Craft Supplies
- Coffee and Water
- Breakfast and Various Food Items
- Fliers printed and distributed, especially to groups that don't use Facebook or speak English
- Signage
- Paper products and clean up items
I'm asking for $750 to cover all of these costs. ALL DONATIONS not used on supplies will be donated to the leading local refugee resettlement agency, Northern Area Multi Service Center's Community Assistance and Refugee Resettlement Program.
Thank you for considering making a donation! If you'd like to attend, event details are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/285822681833053
Date: Saturday February 11th
Where: The Shop, 621 N Dallas Ave (btwn Formosa and Kelly)
Time: 9AM-12PM
Organizer
Sloane Davidson
Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA
