CCN Out and About: Serving the Community and Raising Awareness!
Read this article and more in the Northern Star 2025 Newsletter!
Survive & Thrive Community Health & Wellness Fair
On Saturday, June 14, 2025 Crisis Center North hosted its inaugural Survive & Thrive Community Health & Wellness Fair at The Castle Consortia in McKees Rocks. This event was designed with the goal of removing barriers between community members and healthcare resources.
Approximately 176 adults and children from the McKees Rocks community were in attendance throughout the day. 136 Health & Safety Giveaway Bags were distributed to adult attendees; each giveaway bag – packed in slice-resistant, RFID-protected, lockable pouches – contained harm reduction, hygiene, and safety supplies: Narcan (x2), fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips, sharps disposal container, nitrile gloves, safety cards containing DV information and hotline numbers, CCN medical tracking diary, CCN personal panic alarm, CCN hand sanitizer spray, CCN lip balm/SPF stick, CCN purple ribbon hot/cold pack, CCN personal hygiene kit, and a scroll pen detailing the health effects of DV and means of getting in touch with Crisis Center North. 28 Wellness Pouches were distributed to youth attendees; each contained a CCN lunch/freezer pouch, CCN aluminum water bottle, CCN health & safety coloring and activity book, CCN cooling towel, reversible waterproof backpack, safety cards, hand sanitizer, and a scroll pen.
Most event attendees were local to the McKees Rocks area. Word of mouth traveled quickly and individuals from the immediate area - and as far as Monroeville, PA - steadily streamed in for the entirety of the time that the food trucks were present. The availability of free food at a walkable distance was essential to bringing in attendees, and every individual who received a meal ticket spent time exploring the resources inside The Castle. Upon departing, Kona Ice and Smokehouse BBQ provided a supply of food to be held for attendees.
2025 PRIDE: Showing Our Support!
Crisis Center North was on hand for the 2025 PRIDE Festival, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. A great time was had by all who attended, and CCN spread the word about dv stats relating to LGBTQ+ populations, the availability of services to the community, connecting to underserved populations, and showing community support!
Barrel and Flow: Community and Arts In Action!
For the fourth year in a row, Crisis Center North was offered a tabling spot at the nation’s #1 beer, music, and arts festival – Barrel and Flow. The festival celebrates black artists, musicians, and brewers as they collaborate with other breweries and artists from the Pittsburgh area. Over 4,000 people attended this year’s festival. We were able to offer attendees a rundown of the services we offer and provide information about relationship abuse and the help that is available through Crisis Center North! A highlight of every year, Barrel and Flow brings together people of every race and gender for a day of good times, good friends, and lots of laughter.