On October 20th, Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest (Friends) will partner with Sojourner House MOMS to plant trees around MOMS House facilities in East Liberty. Sojourner House MOMS is an organization that provides permanent housing to help rebuild families torn apart by addiction and poverty. Through this project, Friends will bring together MOM House families with other dedicated local residents for a truly community –driven revitalization of the East Liberty neighborhood. The community improvement project will take place on Tuesday, October 20th, from 3:00-6:00p.m. at Sojourner House MOMS located at 5545 Black Street in East Liberty.
On Tuesday, over 70 volunteers will plant 20 tress along Black and Hays Streets to restore the once verdant tree line. Residents, families and members of the wider East Liberty community, along with 50 Home Depot team associates from Home Depot stores around the area will be in attendance to make the day even more special. “The Home Depot’s core values of ‘Giving Back’ and ‘Doing the Right Thing’ are a perfect fit for the impact we’re trying to make in this community,” said Danielle Crumrine, Executive Director of Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest.
A number of special guests will be in attendance at the event. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will attend and speak, as will Sojourner House Executive Director Joann Cyganovich. This campaign to make housing in Pittsburgh healthier, greener and more affordable through trees is made possible in part by a $10,000 National NeighborWoods Grant from the Alliance for Community Trees and The Home Depot Foundation. Friends of the Urban Forest is one of ten organizations nationwide that received this highly competitive challenge grant in support of urban forestry and affordable housing partnerships.