Melanie Schuler of New Kensington knew she could not sit idly by after what she suspected were drug overdoses in her apartment building earlier this month.
She has lived in the city for decades and is one of many residents in the Kensington Manor Central Towers high-rise along Fourth Avenue.
Schuler said a man was hospitalized and a woman died in what she believed were separate drug-related incidents.
“I just know we have to come together, (and) we have to get these drugs out of here,” Schuler said Saturday.
“We can’t all just turn our heads and act like it’s not there.
“If nobody takes initiative, nothing’s ever going to get done.”
She reached out to several local ministries about a week ago looking for people to come and pray for the building.
What resulted was a rally against drugs and violence in the parking lot and playground at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, across the street from the high-rise.
About 70 people participated in the event coordinated by the Rev. David Trent of Chosen Generation Ministries.
There were musical performances accompanied by a handful of children waving gold and purple flags. Some also held signs with the messages, “Do Better. Our Children are Watching”; “Repent and turn back to God while you have time”; and “Stop Killing Each Other.”
Volunteers put on a free barbecue cookout. They brought children’s clothes, shoes, diapers and Narcan for families to take home.
Trent said he grew up in the New Kensington/Arnold area. He moved back a few years ago following the deaths of his son, Tim, and daughter-in-law, Jonelle, both of which Trent said were drug related.
“I took it very seriously because three years ago the Lord called me back here because I had a son and a daughter (overdose),” Trent said when he got Schuler’s call. “Both of them died months apart, him and his wife. That’s why God called me back here — to work the streets.”
Trent, a former Georgia pastor, said his New Kensington congregation is in the process of establishing a women’s shelter to help those impacted by drugs improve their lives.
He was very pleased with Saturday’s turnout and believes it’s just one of many positive things in motion in New Kensington.
The Rev. Darryl Johnson of Mt. Calvary Missionary urged attendees to not let their outreach stop at the end of the rally.
“We’re up against all kinds of things out here right now,” Johnson told the crowd. “The enemy is busy, but guess what? The Lord has never stopped his job, amen.
“What he requires is each and every one of us to get on up and do what we can. What we’re trying to remind each and every one of y’all today (is) every everybody can bring something to the table.
“You’ve got to believe in yourself first.”
Johnson also prayed for several people in the crowd as members from other churches took their turn at the microphone briefly preaching or singing.
“All of us grew up here together,” Johnson said of the collaboration. “All of us here support each other’s churches. All of us have been on the high side and the low side.
“You can see this is community and outreach. This is what it’s all about. A lot of people feel discouraged. We’re here to remind them that God loves them.
“Everybody has their own style, but we all work well together.”
Schuler said she was grateful for the response from the churches and the community.
“I’m glad the reverends showed up,” she said. “I’m just hoping that these people realize and take this in and really accept it and try to change their lives. A lot of the people that I know personally that are into the drugs, there’s a few of them here (at the rally). Hopefully, it will help them.”