Will Gladstone, an amateur birder, was in his 5th-grade science class when he first heard of the blue-footed booby, a beautiful, eye-catching bird. He learned that the population of this particular bird was in decline. Will decided to raise money to support conservation efforts. As he was brainstorming ideas, he looked down at his feet, and suddenly he had an idea. Feet, he thought, blue feet! He decided to sell bright blue socks and donate the money to environmental organizations trying to help the birds. His younger brother Matty joined him in his effort as his partner. The boys started the Blue Feet Foundation (BFF) in 2016.

In the beginning, it was a challenge for the boys to gather support for their cause. They decided to ask a better-known conservation organization to sponsor them. However, none were willing to do so. “They didn’t agree to it because we were just kids,” says Will.

Although this was discouraging, the two persevered. Finally, they came across an organization they hadn’t heard of before: the Galapagos Conservancy (GC). Its mission was to support conservation in the Galapagos Islands. These islands are home to about half of the world’s blue-footed boobies. They offered to highlight the foundation in the protection’s newsletter. It boosted the BFF’s credibility.

Four years later, their hard work paid off. They amassed over 18,000 Instagram followers and 10,000 Facebook followers. They sold 18,000 pairs of socks, sending them all across the globe. Orders have come from 50 different countries. If you visit the picture gallery on their website, you’ll also see blue socks being modeled by a few famous people, including members of the Blue Man Group and a Boston Bruins hockey player.

Although the population of these birds in the Galapagos has declined significantly over the past 20 years, we have seen some hopeful signs. These include an increase in young birds. However, there is still work to be done. Although the decline in population is slowing, it’s not reversing. Elderly birds are dying faster than chicks are being born.

Community partners need you!

●Swissvale Farmers Market

We’re looking for students to help us set up and take down our tent and spend the morning under the tent with us. Activities include some heavy lifting (optional), engaging with community members, picking up litter, handling small sales and lots of breaks!

Time: September 10, 8: 30 am-1:15pm

●Food Pantry Distribution   

The CHS. Food Pantry needs volunteers to assist during preparation and distribution each week. This involves sorting food, stocking shelves, preparing the outdoor market and assisting families. Customer service skills are important as volunteers may be assisting families directly. Understanding different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds is helpful.

Time: September 1-December 22, Wednesdays Thursdays: 1:30pm-6:00pm

●Garbage Olympics       

Join us for the Garbage Olympics! A Pittsburgh wide competition between neighborhoods to see who can get the most litter and garbage off our beloved city streets!

This year, we are competing against each other as well as the entire city! Teams A.B and C will race to see who can get the most garbage collected! Students of all ages are available.

We’ll have all the supplies ready, and will explain the rules to everyone before the event starts.

Time: September 17, 8:00 am-11:00 am.

●Tutoring assistant       

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is actively seeking tutoring assistants for the 2023-2024 school year. As a tutoring assistant, you will offer a positive attitude and coaching to help children to stay on track during the in-person tutoring session. Additionally, you will help provide academic assistance in the form of reading, writing, grammar, pronunciation and math to school-aged children. Volunteers should be able to commit to eight weeks in the fall and may sign on for an additional eight weeks in the spring.

Time: September.28—November 16, Wednesday from 4: 30 pm—6: 30 pm

The reference desk staff at Louisiana’s public libraries pride themselves on answering their customers’ questions.

Then came the flooding of 2016. Suddenly the questions became more urgent. People wanted to know how to contact Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, where to get help paying bills and even where to find a homeless shelter. Some visitors seemed to need much more than what the library’s reference sources could give them. They needed someone who could spend more time with them, advise them on who to call for assistance and what documents they’d need.

The library turned to Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge (VOAGBR), a nonprofit organization it had worked with before. Then three evenings a week, VOAGBR would send social workers to three library branches.

Melissa Peeler, a benefits specialist at VOAGBR, taped her sign — with its red, white and blue Volunteers of America logo (标识) — up in the reference section. But other than a poorly-dressed man in the comer, no one made eye contact all evening. Finally, the man walked to Melissa and asked her what she was doing.

“I’m here to talk to folks who need social service help,” she said.

“I need a place to sleep,” he said.

Melissa gave him a list of shelters. “VOAGBR runs the Drop-in Center near this shelter,” she said, pointing to an address. “There are showers and computers you can use. You can even get a photo ID.”

“Really?” the man said. “Thanks!”

Word got out. People began to take notice of Melissa and come to her with questions that the librarians weren’t generally equipped to handle.

Most people had never heard of VOAGBR. But one day, a man came in and, seeing Melissa’s sign, made a beeline for her. “Hey, I’m with you guys,” the man said, proudly pulling out an ID with the VOAGBR logo he’d gotten at the Drop-in Center. “I don’t know what I would have done without you!”