Thank You to Everyone Who Made Our Giving Tuesday Food Bank Fundraiser a Huge Success!
This month, Center for Coalfield Justice partnered with a pair of local food banks to raise money for lifesaving food pantry, school lunch, and meal box services in our area amidst cuts to SNAP, a state budget gridlock, and rising prices across our economy. Food Helpers, home of the Greater Washington County Food Bank, and Corner Cupboard Food Bank in Greene County are both stepping up and helping keep people fed during these difficult times; we were so happy to team up with both of them as recipients of our matching Giving Tuesday fundraiser to double the impact of our supporters’ donations. We released Partner Spotlight videos for both Food Helpers and Corner Cupboard to help share more about their mission and the work they do for our communities on our Youtube channel. Go watch them now!
45 amazing donors got us more than halfway to our goal of $5,000 by Tuesday and a pair of generous donations Wednesday morning allowed us to close the gap. With CCJ’s match doubling their impact, that means $10,000 raised for Food Helpers and Corner Cupboard! We also got to spend some time volunteering with both organizations. On November 24th, we helped Food Helpers unpack food items and load them into boxes for distribution ahead of their busy Thanksgiving week. On December 2nd, we joined Corner Cupboard outside the Greene County Courthouse for their 8th Annual Holiday Drive, soliciting monetary and food donations and spreading some holiday cheer on a snowy Giving Tuesday morning.
This was such an inspiring start to the giving season! Our power as a community is never more evident than when we come together to uplift the people working on the ground to support those in need. We are so grateful for each and every one of you who was able to donate to this fundraiser and can’t wait to find ways to continue making a difference in the lives of Washington and Greene County residents!
Residents are Standing up to Demand Transparency and Accountability as Big Tech and Local Government Push Data Centers in Our Communities
As we discussed in last month’s newsletter, there has been a tidal wave of news and announcements regarding data centers coming to southwestern Pennsylvania recently. This month, we began working with residents to learn about their questions and concerns, discuss ways to best protect their communities, and identify opportunities to make their voices heard by decision-makers. On November 17th, CCJ and PA Climate Equity Table brought members and residents to Harrisburg for our first ever Data Center Lobby Day. They had discussions with the offices of over 20 elected officials from across the state about how they can best protect Pennsylvanians from impacts of the data center buildout. On November 19th, we had an amazing turnout of over 150 attendees at our Greene County community meeting at the Carmichaels Activity Center to discuss the planned data center at the site of the former Robena Prep Plant. On December 4th, we had another 70 residents on hand for our Washington County meeting at Elks Lodge 776 about the CNX Resources-backed Zediker Megasite Proposal in South Strabane Township.
Both of these proposals are still in the early stages and will require permitting at the local level and the issue of data centers will continue to be an important topic impacting our area into 2026 and beyond, so we anticipate many more opportunities to participate in the public input process going forward. To connect with us about a data center proposal near you or to receive recordings or other resources from one of our recent events, please reach out to our Community Organizer sweeney@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org.
Update on Washington County’s Oversight of Harm Reduction Services and Opioid Settlement Funds
On November 20, the Washington County Board of Commissioners voted to send a letter of intent to Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs requesting that Washington County Drug and Alcohol Commission (WDAC) be stripped of their Single County Authority (SCA) status, which gives WDAC oversight over local prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery services. They proposed moving SCA status to Washington County’s Department of Human Services instead. The County previously relinquished SCA status in 2002. WDAC provides life-saving services to over 2,000 people per year and has overseen improvements in treatment outcomes for those struggling with substance use disorder in Washington County. Several supporters and affected residents from the Washington County Opioid Overdose Coalition, which CCJ works closely with on harm reduction issues, spoke out against removing WDAC’s oversight status at the County Commissioners meeting but the proposal moved forward by a 2-1 vote.
Additionally, on December 4th, Washington County received significant criticism from the Pennsylvania Opioid Trust Board for their management of national opioid settlement funds. More applications were rejected or delayed for Washington County than any other county in Pennsylvania and the Board commented that “something needs to be done differently” in Washington moving forward. The Board voiced support for the formation of a new task force to inform decisions on Opioid Settlement Funding distribution. Commissioners Maggi and Sherman have both proposed an independent task force recently, with Maggi noting that the County “has already distributed millions of dollars with only three county employees making these decisions” and calling WDAC’s lack of awarded funding “deeply concerning.” Nearly every other SCA in the state has received funds due to their proven expertise and ample resources.
Given the Opioid Trust’s current concerns about mismanagement and previous questions raised about some settlement fund recipients, it is alarming to consider what the County’s consolidation of power under and removal of additional oversight as the SCA could mean for saving lives in Washington. If you are interested in this issue or want to get involved, please contact gavyn@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org or call 724-226-3550.
BLOGS THIS MONTH
Human Services: SNAP & Food Insecurity
Posted November 17, 2025
Two million people in Pennsylvania are recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)–that’s 1 in 8 people, the majority of whom are children and seniors. This November, all two million of these individuals temporarily lost access to SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown. This critical resource helps to sustain families living with food insecurity. Withdrawing this resource from families, or even delaying payments, can have serious impacts on the stability of low-income families. Read More.
Food Resources in Washington and Greene Counties
Posted November 3, 2025
Folks in Washington and Greene County experienced hunger and cold this month due to cuts to EBT and LIHEAP benefits and others will continue to struggle financially this winter. CCJ has compiled a list of resources in our community that assist with grocery items as well as meals (including special holiday meals) that we encourage those in need to utilize. It’s also a great tool for those looking to volunteer or donate during the holiday season to find organizations doing great work that could use the extra help! Read More.
CCJ is Hiring!
We are excited to announce the opening of two positions with the CCJ team! The Community Organizer is a role for all levels of experience and will focus on connecting residents to our work, investing in community leaders, and responding to environmental, economic, and social justice issues affecting Greene County. The Community Development Specialist is a mid-level role that will lead CCJ’s work advocating for thriving communities and sustainable economic development in our area with a primary focus in Greene County. CCJ offers competitive pay, generous time off, full medical, dental and vision coverage, and retirement benefits. If you’re interested, please apply and be sure to share these opportunities if you know someone who you think would be a good fit. We can’t wait to continue expanding Team CCJ as we head into 2026!
TAKE ACTION
Reject S.B. 991 — Tell Senator Bartolotta Our Communities Don’t Want Fast-Tracked Data Centers!
After a summer of AI summits in Pittsburgh, an avalanche of data center proposals in Washington and Greene Counties, and growing calls by residents to slow data center development and protect communities, State Senator Camera Bartolotta has introduced a bill aimed at making it even easier for data centers to come online. Fossil fuel companies and elected officials are using the latest Big Tech obsession to find another use for fracked gas, coal and other fossil fuel products. Many data centers are planning to generate power on-site with new methane turbines, coal and gas-fired power plants that are ready for retirement are staying online. New gas and nuclear power plants are being built. And because data centers need constant electricity to avoid outages, they are investing in fleets of hundreds of diesel generators on-site for backup power.
Air pollution associated with these proposed power sources can harm the health of people living near them, including nausea, lightheadedness, skin rashes, aggravated or exacerbated asthma, worse birth outcomes, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, and even death. Data centers can also harm our health through noise pollution, raise prices for electricity and water, and increase the likelihood of blackouts and grid disruptions.
Senate Bill 991 would bring data centers online as soon as possible through an accelerated permitting approval process that allows construction to begin just months after applying and eliminates vital community input for these proposals. This bill is the opposite of what residents of Washington and Greene County need and have asked for. Impacted residents, including some who spoke directly with lawmakers in Harrisburg, have repeatedly called to slow down proposals and approvals, provide much more transparency and opportunities for local feedback, and negotiate binding agreements to protect and benefit local communities. Send a message to Senator Bartolotta now expressing your disappointment that she would back the interests of Big Tech billionaires instead of the people she represents.
S.B. 102 Punishes Communities That Protect Residents from Fracking – Tell Your State Representative to Vote NO Today!
Last year, Cecil Township won major protections for residents’ health by passing an ordinance prohibiting development of new unconventional gas wells within 2,500 feet of homes and businesses and 5,000 feet of schools and hospitals. This win came after a years-long fight and multiple hearings where residents voiced their concerns about the health impacts of fracking. Shortly after, Senator Camera Bartolotta, who represents Cecil Township in the Pennsylvania State Senate, introduced SB 102, a bill that would punish communities that implement ordinances like the one in Cecil. It would direct the PA Utilities Commission to withhold drilling impact fees from municipalities that “unreasonably limit” fracking without defining what makes a policy unreasonable. These impact fees are intended to compensate communities that are already burdened by oil and gas development, with funds usually going towards infrastructure projects, emergency preparedness, environmental protection, and reclamation services. The funds have nothing to do with future development, so cutting them off over policies that protect communities from further harm makes no sense and only serves to punish communities for advocating against corporate interests.
SB 102 forces municipalities to choose between protecting their residents’ health and continuing to receive funding that many of these communities depend on and are entitled to. This bill is a message: polluters are more important to our legislators than the communities that elected them. Learn more and tell your representative to reject this bill that would punish communities trying to protect themselves from the dangers of fracking.
Setbacks Save Lives: Support Fracking Buffer Zones in Pennsylvania!
We all deserve to breathe clean air, drink pure water, and raise our kids without fear of toxic industries in our backyards. But right now, oil and gas facilities are permitted just 500 feet away from our homes, schools, and hospitals. These operations have been linked to cancer, asthma, low birth weight and more in kids who grow up near them. We have the power to take action and move these dangerous facilities further away from our families. This goes beyond politics: we know that access to a healthy home is something everybody can agree on. That’s why last year, Cecil Township residents from across the political spectrum came together to win a new local zoning ordinance that increases the buffer zone between fracking and homes from 500 feet to 2,500 feet! Their victory is a blueprint that residents across Pennsylvania can use to win safer communities for their loved ones, no matter where they call home.
Together, we can bypass corruption and gridlock in Harrisburg by standing up for our neighbors and making change right here at the local level — all it takes is dedicated parents joining together to demand the safety and dignity we all deserve. Sign the petition below calling for common sense setbacks and learn how you can join the movement for safer homes and brighter futures in your town!
PUBLIC NOTICES
Read all of the latest relevant public notices from the past month for Washington and Greene Counties as of December 1st here.
UPCOMING CCJ EVENTS
There are no more CCJ Events planned for the rest of 2025. We can’t wait to see you again in 2026!
ALLY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
12/5-6 — Canonsburg’s Old Fashioned Christmas
12/5 – 4-8 PM, 12/6 – 12-8 PM on Pike St. in Canonsburg
Step into a Hallmark Movie and join the town of Canonsburg as it celebrates its 9th Annual Canonsburg’s Old Fashioned Christmas! Bring the whole family to check out the Christmas train display, take photos with Santa at the North Pole, join in on the tree lighting ceremony, and enjoy over 60 Christmas craft vendors and other activities throughout the festival.
12/6 — From Silence to Celebration: 20 Years Proud Gala
6 PM at the The George Washington Hotel
For 20 years, the Washington County Gay Straight Alliance, Inc. (WCGSA) has been a beacon of hope, acceptance, and empowerment for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies across Washington County. Now, we invite you to join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate our journey “From Silence to Celebration.” This special anniversary gala will honor the people, programs, and progress that have shaped two decades of advocacy and community-building — while looking ahead to the future we’re creating together. This event will include a welcome reception, dinner, speakers, live entertainment, raffles, silent auctions, and more!
Buy your tickets and get more information here.
12/9 — Upper Chartiers Creek Watershed Association Annual Meeting
6-8:00 PM at Washington County Conservation District
Join UCCWA, a member of the Washington County Watershed Association, for its annual meeting including a light dinner and a group role playing game designed for policy makers, non-profit leaders, educators, and the public to explore cross-sector climate solutions.
Register for free here.
12/12 — Krampus and Other Holiday Traditions
6:15-7:15 PM at RGB Coffee (Waynesburg)
Craving more spooky folklore from local supernatural experts following our Greene County Ghouls webinar in October? Visit our friends at RGB Coffee for a Haunted Hills and Hollows presentation on the darker side of holiday folklore, including the legend of Krampus, the infamous Christmas demon.
Free admission for all!
12/19 — Polar Express Activity Night at Eva K. Bowlby Library
6:30-8:30 PM at Eva K. Bowlby Library (Waynesburg)
On Friday, December 19th at 6:00 PM, Eva K. Bowlby Public Library will host an evening filled with festive holiday activities for families and attendees of all ages. The celebration will conclude with a special showing of The Polar Express beginning at 7:00 PM. Guests can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies throughout the event. Everyone is encouraged to come dressed in their coziest pajamas—grown-ups included!
To register, participants may call (724) 627-9776 or visit the library in person.
WEEKLY & MONTHLY EVENTS
Tuesdays & Saturdays — Greene County Flea Market
7 AM – 2 PM at Greene County Fairgrounds
Thursdays — Washington County GSA Game Night
5:30 – 8:30 PM at the CENTER on Strawberry
Second Friday of Every Month — Washington County GSA Free Friday Dinner
6:30 – 8:30 PM at the CENTER on Strawberry
Please RSVP to programs@wcgsa.org
Second Saturday Monthly — Free Food Pantry
9 AM – 12 PM at Lemoyne Center