Neighborhood Resilience Project

This week, we’re highlighting the Free Health Center, one of our Health and Well-being programs. The Free Health Center provides free primary and behavioral healthcare and dental services to those who lack insurance. At no cost to our patients, we are able to provide essential tests, procedures, prescriptions, and a relationship with a primary care provider that they would otherwise pay hundreds of dollars to access. How do we do it? With the help of our dedicated staff, volunteer medical professionals, and donations from people like you. If you’re interested in volunteering, follow this link (https://buff.ly/45z8DaK ) and use your skills as a force for good today.

This week, we’re highlighting the Community Support Department. The Community Support Department offers a variety of services, including a food and clothing pantry, a grocery distribution, emergency assistance with rent and utility bills, free lunch every day, a community dinner every Wednesday, and fun programs and activities throughout the day. This past week the Community Support Department hosted an Eastern European day, and it was a blast! Scroll right to see pictures. If you or your group would like to volunteer to prepare and serve our Wednesday community meals, or to distribute groceries to our neighbors on Mondays or Tuesdays, feel free to sign up at the link below. https://buff.ly/409Dec0

This week, we’re highlighting the Backpack Feeding Program–one of our Community Support programs! One of our most well-known services, each week this portion of our ministry provides 9 non-perishable food items to 1,500 children in the Pittsburgh area to supply them with food over the weekend. We want no kid to go hungry after they go home from school, and the Backpack Feeding Program makes that desire a reality. Every week, we pack these bags by hand through the generous support of volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer your time, follow the link below! https://buff.ly/409Dec0

We are thrilled to announce that our recent open houses were a tremendous success. We were honored to host the supporters of “The Inaugural 2024 Resilience Bowl” who share our commitment to building resilience and fostering positive changes in our neighborhood. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who attended, contributed and helped make these events possible.

So, how does the Neighborhood Resilience Project implement Trauma Informed Community Development day-to-day? It’s implemented through our 3 program areas: Community Support, Health and Wellbeing, and Leadership Development. In our Community Support program area, critical socioeconomic resources offered in the spirit of unconditional love become opportunities for building meaningful relationships. Some of the programs it encompasses include our Backpack Feeding Program, Therapeutic Groups, Food and Clothing Pantry, Document Recovery Program, and our Emergency Relief rental and utility assistance program. Health and Wellbeing encompasses community-based interventions that focus on health and wellbeing. It includes programs like our Trauma Response Team, Free Health Center, Micro-Community Interventions, and our Community Health Deputies. Finally, in the Leadership Development program area, as people heal they are empowered to lead in their own communities through opportunities to serve in our Trauma Response Team, Micro-Community Interventions, Community Health Deputies, Free Health Center, and other programs. In addition, our organization trains groups locally and from all over the nation in the principles of TICD, empowering them to implement the framework in their own communities. Want to learn more about the programs we just mentioned? Stay on the lookout as we post highlights of some of our key programs throughout the coming months, in our Program Highlights Series!

Today we are exploring Trauma Informed Community Development (TICD). TICD is the framework by which the Neighborhood Resilience Project facilitates community transformation.

We have been blessed this summer to enjoy fellowship with a number of visiting groups. We have had visits from three youth groups–from Indianapolis, IN, Burwick, PA and a visit from the Antiochian Village Arch Week Group. Their labors tremendously supported the organization in the day to day work and in supporting our brothers and sisters in need.

Happy Labor Day!

Blessed Feast Day of St. Moses the Black - the patron saint of the Neighborhood Resilience Project. A quote from St. Moses inspires our work this day and every day: “If a man’s deeds are not in harmony with his prayer, he labors in vain.” May the work of our organization always be done with prayer.

Yesterday our staff at Bedford Dwellings held a health fair featuring a mobile dental unit and pediatrician’s unit. Because of their hard work, children who cannot otherwise access a doctor were able to get treatment. And at the end of July our Community Health Deputies held a clinic where they distributed vaccines and wellness checks. Here at the Neighborhood Resilience Project, we are hard at work reducing the death gap!