COVID-19 phone hotline helps Mt. Lebanon, Dormont assist those in need
Many of the Mt. Lebanon and Dormont residents who are using the Neighborhood Aid program organized by the two municipalities are older adults.
“They aren’t necessarily very comfortable on the Internet searching for information, themselves,” Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Mindy Ranney said. “So it’s been especially helpful to have the live phone support that Neighborhood Aid has been providing. That’s 40 hours a week of dedicated municipal staff from Dormont and Mt. Lebanon answering the phone.”
By calling 412-253-4104 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, residents either can speak to someone directly or, if another call is being answered, leave a message that will be returned in short order. The other point of contact is by visiting neighborhoodaid.org.
Courtesy of Rachel Alyson, Lovas Photography
Joanna Bouldin
Ranney provided an update about Neighborhood Aid, which was formed to provide guidance through the COVID-19 crisis, during Mt. Lebanon Commission’s April 29 meeting held through a videoconferencing platform.
She credited municipal staff members Bethany Bachman of Dormont and Sandy Kyper of Mt. Lebanon, whom she called “hotline heroes,” in taking more than 100 calls and online requests in the program’s first two-plus weeks.
“As we’ve hoped, most of the requests can be answered directly from either Sandy or Beth,” Ranney said. Others have been referred to entities such as Allegheny County Health Department, United Way and the office of state Rep. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon.
More than 100 residents from Dormont and Mt. Lebanon have volunteered for Neighborhood Aid, Ranney said, and about 20 have been working with errand-type requests, such as picking up essentials for people without means of transportation. Another service has been connecting residents who are making face masks with the ones who need them.
“We’re learning on the job, every day, where to direct residents, what services are open, what services are being provided by what organizations, and doing that connection,” Ranney said. “And that’s the main piece that Neighborhood Aid offers.”
Dormont council member Joanna Bouldin and borough manager Benjamin Estell joined the discussion session remotely to express gratitude to Mt. Lebanon for the combined effort.
“It’s obvious that this crisis does not see municipal boundaries, and we really don’t know what the coming months are going to bring for our communities,” Bouldin said. “I have no doubt that we are going to be stronger and safer because of this partnership. So I just wanted to say, ‘thank you.'”
Craig Grella, Mt. Lebanon Commission president, agreed.
“The relationship has been great, and it’s been nice working together on this,” he said. “As long as there’s need in the community, this will stay open. We know it’s there, just by the number of calls.”