This summer brings a season of gratitude from TMC staff to our Merton Center members, friends, and supporters. Many thanks to Jan McMannis and Tony Buba for hosting the annual Cornerstone Garden Party at their warm, inviting home. TMC remains almost entirely member-funded and our Cornerstone Sustainer donors give us the independence to speak truth to power and the flexibility to respond fluidly to calls for solidarity.

We were also glad to see many of you at the annual TMC picnic, celebrating the East End Community Thrift Store and the joyful crew of Thrifty volunteers. For more than twenty five years, Thrifty has created ccommunity space while keeping prices low and giving away thousands of dollars in free vouchers through local shelters and social service agencies. Special shout out to Thrifty founder Shirley Gleditsch, longtime Thrifty manager Shawna Hammond, and everyone who’s made this great space possible.

We also stayed hard at work on the political front. We held a militarism and war economy teach-in at the statewide retreat of the PA Poor People’s Campaign, hosted a Mapping PGH Power Elite training on researching fracking corporations, and continued our work in Wilkinsburg with the Our Water Our Rivers campaign.

Thanks to everyone for all you’re doing to live close to peace and justice.

Originally published VOL 49 No.7, September 2019