Edgeworth woman embraces a myriad of volunteering opportunities in Sewickley
Karen Galbraith of Edgeworth exists in a volunteer vortex.
“My interest is in sustainability volunteering, and I got my start with Sustainable Sewickley,” Galbraith said.
From there, she now volunteers with the Village Garden Club of Sewickley (first vice president of membership), the Little Garden Club, Sewickley Civic Garden Council (president), Child Health Association of Sewickley (board member), Sweetwater Center For the Arts (board member) and at The Kid’s Community Closet in Sewickley.
“My mother was always very involved and giving of her time. When I volunteer, I feel grateful that I have the ability to help, and whenever I’m in any meeting I want to do more. It makes me happy and fulfilled,” Galbraith said.
She works part-time mentoring and handling communications for The Nurture Program, a nonprofit in Pittsburgh providing tech space support for mothers with children from infancy to age 3.
The 44-year-old Chicago native moved to Sewickley with her husband and three children in 2020.
“We moved here in the middle of the pandemic. It was a choice, and we randomly picked Edgeworth. My husband works in the IT industry, and Pittsburgh is up-and-coming and more affordable than the (San Francisco) Bay Area or Boston,” said Galbraith, who resided in Boston for a decade.
Galbraith said living in Edgeworth is a delight and she ramped up her volunteer hours after her three children were older and more independent.
“My time really opened up, and I started here because it was covid and I didn’t know anyone,” Galbraith said. “There’s so many nonprofits in Sewickley alone, and it’s really easy to get involved.”
Look for Galbraith on Tuesdays at The Kid’s Community Closet, a free community space sharing children’s clothing inside St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 616 Washington St. in Sewickley.
She’s volunteered at the “free-cycle” space for a year and encourages the “reduce, reuse and recycle” component of the clothing outreach.
All donated clothing is free, and there are no applications required or income requirements.
Visitors can “shop” the room and choose any clothing.
The closet debuted almost two years ago. Galbraith hopes to spread the word about the clothing outreach.
“We want more people to take advantage of this community resource, and it’s sustainable, too,” Galbraith said.
Winter coats are always in demand when winter hits.
Sizes available are from birth to teen.
“I try not to bother the people. I just want them to look around and do their thing. I want them to feel comfortable,” she said.
Shoes, sports clothing and shoes and children’s clothing may be dropped off at the church office.
The Rev. Ryan Kobert of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church said Galbraith is dedicated and a valuable volunteer resource.
“She brings a lot of connections to the community. She knows a lot of moms and her willingness to get the word out and explain that this is not just a charity but also a sustainability project for the community,” Kobert said.
Galbraith earned a Ph.D. in English literature from Marquette University.
Jane Austen is her favorite author.
When she’s not volunteering, she enjoys researching her family genealogy.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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