#LOVEFROMPGH shows gratitude for essential workers

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Members of the Love From Pittsburgh Facebook group are on a mission to light up the region with an “illumination ovation” in gratitude for the essential workers in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

The group, which includes Nancy Shelton of Pleasant Hills, is pushing the #LoveFromPgh campaign, an effort led by Jenifer Evans, a Pittsburgher living abroad in London, England, whose heart will always belong to the city of yinzers, and Evelyn Castillo, who still calls the Steel City home. 

The group’s members have a deep sense of pride for Pittsburgh, yinzer culture and being neighborly, and they’re hoping Greater Pittsburgh residents, including those who live in the Mon Valley, will join them from a distance Tuesday and April 14 in a “synchronous round of applause and show of lights.” The display is a show of thanks to area “essential workers” in various industries who are working while stay-at-home orders are in effect.

The group encourages social distancing, but wants area residents to put lights in their yards or windows, on terraces, decks, balconies and porches and light them up at 8 p.m. Tuesday and again April 14.

The campaign members encourage area residents to take photos and videos of the lights and of themselves and their families standing in their windows or on porches, decks or balconies giving a round of applause for essential workers. They are asked to post them on various social media platforms along with #LOVEFROMPGH! or #LOVEFROMPGH hashtags. Those photos can also tag the Love from Pittsburgh Facebook page in the post.

“Our goal for these coordinated actions is to celebrate and thank our health care workers, first responders, grocery workers, delivery persons, utility workers, federal, state, county and local workers as well as everyone acting on the front lines who are making sure that we stay safe and cared for while we all social distance,” Castillo said. “We ask Pittsburghers everywhere to join in sending #LOVEFROMPGH.”

Shelton said those interested in participating can use holiday lights, porch lights, flashlights or simply light up their cell phone through their window or from their porch.

“Moms with kids, go grab your string lights and go put them up with your kids,” Shelton said, adding that everyone who has access to electricity and any type of light can join.

“We will join together in applauding the fortitude of the people on the front lines and will shine our lights in gratitude,” Castillo said.

The campaign is asking leaders of public buildings to turn on yellow or gold lights during the display.

Shelton said she got involved after Castillo sent her an email.

“She is a friend of mine and over the weekend she contacted her entire email list, asking if anyone would like to get involved,” Shelton said. “I would estimate around 10 to 12 people responded with a high level of interest.”

Shelton, an employee of Mon Yough Community Services and UPMC, is currently working from home but usually works closely with first responders in the McKeesport area and medical professionals at UPMC McKeesport. She decided to get involved because she is “concerned” about the needs of MYCS patients and her colleagues who “are on the front lines of taking care of people and are trying to come up with ways to meet all of their needs.”

“I live and work here in the Valley, so it kind of hit home for me,” Shelton said. “I had been asking for the past few days about ‘What can we do for people on the front lines?’

“Myself and a lot of people were trying to find a way to thank people who are considered essential workers. The people at the hospital, at Mon Yough and police officers and firefighters are the first ones that come to mind, but then you start thinking about the truck drivers and the postal employees and the grocery workers and everyone who is working so hard to give us all what we need.” 

Shelton works closely with area first responders to plan community events and thinks they’ll be grateful for a show of appreciation.

She is also going to call on area residents to participate in the “Hearts on Doors” campaign. She got the idea after reading an article about parents who conducted a campaign in Portland, Ore.

“Moms are getting out their construction paper with their kids and raiding their closets and making hearts and posting them in their windows or on their doors,” Shelton said. “Our hope with the lights is that anybody that is working, if they drive by in the evening during their shift, they’ll see the lights on and feel our appreciation. 

“If we put hearts on our doors and windows to show thanks, that allows it to be seen from the street during the day.”

Evans came up with the idea for the campaign while participating in London’s Clap for Carers event, a national applause effort aimed at saying thanks to workers in the United Kingdom’s National Hospital System while maintaining social distancing.

“Pittsburgh is a gateway city, so let’s see a wave build here and move across America, one that builds community spirit even in isolation,” Evans said. “It taps into our pioneering spirit, allowing us to create solutions as well as supporting those on the front lines, as we self-isolate.

“The simple act of shining our light, in any capacity, will demonstrate our support for those on the front lines and create an opportunity for the local community to be inspired to share their own expressions of gratitude, resourcefulness, creativity, connectedness, encouragement and love with Pittsburgh and the world.”