South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace

06/12/2026

Please join us in wishing Rev. Eileen Smith a happy birthday weekend. We appreciate her leadership and all she pours into SPCP and the community.

06/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the SPCP Community Collective Meeting on June 11.

We were grateful to hear from Mayor Corey O’Connor and gather with community partners. We were honored to present Carrick High School Principal Dawn M. Fitchwell with the Special Peacekeeper Award.

The meeting also gave us time to share updates from those doing important work across our communities.

Thank you to all who continue to show up and work together for safer communities.

06/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the SPCP Community Collective Meeting on June 11.

We were grateful to hear from Mayor Corey O’Connor and gather with community partners. We were honored to present Carrick High School Principal Dawn M. Fitchwell with the Special Peacekeeper Award.

The meeting also gave us time to share updates from those doing important work across our communities.

Thank you to all who continue to show up and work together for safer communities.

06/12/2026

On June 11, Moms Demand Action and CeaseFirePA honored Violence Interrupters and Outreach Workers. It’s good to see those doing this important work recognized for their commitment in service to the community.

06/12/2026

On June 9, the South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace Peacemakers/CURE team took part in CPR, AED, and Stop the Bleed training. Being trained in these skills helps us continue to be prepared and better equipped to respond when our community needs support.

06/10/2026

Summer Food Help

As summer gets closer, many children lose the school meals they count on during the year. USDA says nearly 30 million children take part in school breakfast and lunch on an average school day. When school is out, that support is harder to reach.

That gap matters. Food insecurity can affect a child’s growth, health, mental health, and psychological development. Research also shows food insecurity is linked with lower neighborhood safety and higher violent crime rates.

We know peace is not only about stopping violence before it happens. It is also about meeting basic needs, reducing stress, and helping families stay supported. Caring for children and families is part of building safer homes and safer communities.

Let us, together as a community, ensure that the most vulnerable among us are taken care of. We have all heard it takes a village, so now it's time to show up and pull our resources together by doing our part. Find a local community organization and see how a donation or your time may help.

If you are in the Pittsburgh area and need food support this summer, here are a few resources.

Please share this information with a family, neighbor, or friend who may need it.

Fresh Fridays on the Hilltop
Allentown, at 209 Allen Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15210, on the second Friday of each month at 2:00 p.m. (to volunteer, reach out to [email protected] or 412-586-5807 ext. 2)

Garfield Jubilee Association Inc. 5323 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224. Free Summer Food Service Program. June 22, 2026 – August 21, 2026. Breakfast 8:30 am to 9:30 am. Lunch 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. All children up to 18 years old (No Adults). For more info, call 412-404-7353 ext. 250

Brashear CARES Food Pantry
320 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
Open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone: 412-431-2236.

Fairhaven food pantry and clothing closet
2415 Saw Mill Run Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15234
Open to all in need, 24/7, 412-882-2544.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Find Food
Use their food finder or call 412-460-3663 x655.

PA 211 Southwest
Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for live help finding nearby food pantries and meal sites.

06/09/2026

Carrick SummerFest 2026

Come out and enjoy Carrick SummerFest 2026 on Saturday, June 27, from 11 AM to 4 PM at the Love Carrick Pavilion, 1529 Brownsville.

It will be a fun day with music, food, activities for all ages, and time to enjoy the community together. Please see the flyer for full details.

06/09/2026

Jeremiah’s Place - Hilltop Open Enrollment

Jeremiah’s Place, Southwestern Pennsylvania’s only crisis nursery, is hosting an open enrollment event on June 10 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Knoxville Library.

Jeremiah’s Place provides free emergency childcare for young children and is expanding services to better support families in the Hilltop area.

Please check the flyer for full details.

06/08/2026

June is PTSD Awareness Month.

PTSD is a trauma-related mental health condition that can affect veterans, survivors of violence, and anyone who has lived through or witnessed a traumatic event. It is more common than many people realize. The National Center for PTSD says about 6 out of 100 people in the United States will have PTSD at some point in their lives. NIMH says 3.6% of U.S. adults had PTSD in the past year.

The effects of PTSD are not always easy to see. Some people may struggle right away. For others, symptoms may show up later. No one should have to carry that alone. At SPCP, we know peace is not only about reducing violence in our streets. It is also about healing, support, and making sure people have access to care when trauma affects their lives.

If you or someone you know may need support, help is available.

National support
988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

PTSD: National Center for PTSD
Phone: 802-296-6300
[email protected]

Allegheny County
Resolve Crisis Services
Call 1-888-796-8226
Walk-in center: 333 N. Braddock Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15208.

Center for Victims
24-hour crisis hotline: 1-866-644-2882.

06/08/2026