New Sun Rising

Friday, September 11, 2009 - Millvale, PA

Fifteen volunteers from Pittsburgh's division of MEDRAD spent their recent Day of Caring with the Millvale Community Library. The ingredients for this highly successful volunteer day combined the muscle of MEDRAD volunteers with logistical support from the United Way and Pittsburgh Cares, to meet the needs of the library.

This year MEDRAD celebrated their 10th annual Day of Caring. “Every year, we look forward to the chance to give back to our communities on the Day of Caring. This year, in particular, we hope that our efforts make a genuine difference for these organizations, some of which are really struggling to meet the needs of the clients they serve,” said MEDRAD President and CEO John Friel (http://www.medrad.com/newsroom/display-press-release.html?PRid=246).

Thanks to the leadership of MEDRAD employee and Millvale resident Linda Lang-Glabicki, and Millvale's resident farmer Tom Walker, the Day of Caring focused on transforming the gravel parking lot behind the library into a garden (see pictures below). Linda's passion to engage her workplace and the needs of her community were instrumental in making this day run smoothly. Tom's farming experience and knowledge were on display as he ran the garden operations. This wonderful team of volunteers brought plenty of laughter, smiles, and hard work to accomplish the following:

• Raking and removing 8 yards of gravel from the garden;
• Rototilling, and working 8 yards of topsoil into the garden to greatly improve soil quality;
• Planting decorative landscape flowers and plants;
• Demolishing walls, stairs, and a door inside of the library;
• Creating the first of what will be a series of raised garden beds;
• Planting annual rye grass seed throughout the shade garden, and raised garden beds to provide more soil nutrients in the spring;

New Sun Rising and the Millvale Community Library send our warmest THANKS to Linda, Tom, and all of the MEDRAD volunteers who helped make this day a success! We also send our sincere appreciation to the following businesses who supported this day financially and through material donations. We encourage you to support these organizations that are supporting our community.

• Kelly Art Glass provided funding to purchase topsoil, plants, food, and materials for the day (http://www.kellyartglass.com/)
• JML Landscape Management donated topsoil (http://www.jmllandscape.com/)
• Medicap Pharmacy donated tasty pies from our Millvale neighbors at the Nova Cafe (http://www.medicap.com/)
• Borough of Millvale picked up and hauled away all of the gravel debris (http://www.millvalepa.com)
• Jean-Marc Chatellier's French Bakery donated pastries (http://www.jeanmarcchatellier.com/)
• Best Feeds Garden Center LLC donated perennials (http://www.bestfeedsgardencenters.com)
• Brenckle's Farm & Greenhouses donated shrubs (http://www.brencklesgreenhouse.com)
• McTighe's Garden Center donated mums (Rt.8, Glenshaw, PA 412.486.1909)
• Vecenie's Distributing Company donated beverages (http://www.beersince1933.com)