Duquesne Light Partners with Light of Life for Street Cleanup

July 16, 2021

Volunteers from Duquesne Light Company (DLC) braved the rain July 8 to team with Light of Life Rescue Mission for a neighborhood cleanup near the nonprofit’s homeless shelter in Pittsburgh's Northside neighborhood.

The cleaning effort, bolstered by 11 DLC volunteers, is just one example of how intentional DLC employees are with their support for neighborhoods within the company’s service territory. One of DLC’s core values, embodied by its employees every day, is being selfless in serving the community — both on the job and through volunteerism.

Light of Life is a local, faith-based nonprofit that provides a variety of support services for anyone experiencing poverty, homelessness and/or addiction. These services include shelter, food and rehabilitation programs.

With several locations throughout the region, Light of Life focuses on support for neighbors in need. In 2020, it provided more than 250,000 meals and sheltered an average of 155 people each night.

During the July 8 event, DLC volunteers — armed with gloves, vests, trash pickers, buckets and garbage bags — worked on several streets and nearby homeless camps in the area.

DLC volunteers worked with Light of Life staff members to clean up garbage on streets and in homeless camps on the Northside to positively impact the community. (Photos: Light of Life)

"It was an honor to volunteer alongside co-workers to help clean up the roads and trails surrounding Light of Life's newest homeless shelter and learn more about the organization's inspiring work to lift others up," Matt McDonald, an electric vehicle marketing specialist for DLC, said.

“At Light of Life, we believe in loving each other well, which also includes loving our neighbors. Through our community cleanups, we extend that love by picking up trash and playing a part in keeping our Northside neighborhood clean. We could not do what we do without volunteers and are very grateful to DLC for sending a team to help,” said Doug Smith, director of development at Light of Life.

Doug Neal, an affordability specialist at DLC, said he was impressed to learn that Light of Life cleans the neighborhood every couple of weeks, and he was glad to help.

"It’s always a rewarding experience to give back to the community through opportunities like this one, and it was good to catch up with some of my co-workers that I haven’t seen since the pandemic started,” Neal said.

DLC employees strive to make a positive difference in the communities they serve. The electric utility provider also partners with several other local organizations for volunteer events, including: Lawrenceville United, Friends of the Riverfront and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

Visit DLC’s website to learn more about the company’s commitment to the community.