Be My Neighbor Day

BeMyNeighborDay
Five area YMCAs

March 21 & 22
Various times

Ready to be a good neighbor? The timeless song “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”—written by Fred Rogers in 1967 and used as the opening theme for his iconic television show from 1966 until 2001—is sung by kids and families in households, classrooms and playgrounds around the globe.

The first weekend of Spring—and what would have been Fred Rogers’ 87th birthday—is the perfect time to celebrate his lasting legacy of caring, kindness and tolerance. If you’re looking for a fantastic way to spend the weekend as a family, and help others, head to the annual Be My Neighbor Day.

Organized by The Fred Rogers Company, United Way of Allegheny County and WQED, Be My Neighbor Day is a wonderful opportunity for Pittsburgh families to learn about acts of kindness, participate in hands-on activities that directly benefit the community and promote a spirit of neighborly volunteerism.

Running on March 21 and 22, Be My Neighbor Day takes place at the Thelma Lovette YMCA, Baierl Family YMCA, Sampson Family YMCA, Western Area YMCA and Penn Hills YMCA.

The free event includes young child-friendly service projects, YMCA Healthy Kids activities and a sweater drive. Kids and families can work together with neighbors on completing craft projects, making snack bags, coloring placemats, donating sweaters and more—all to benefit local kids, families in need, senior citizens and people with disabilities.

Added bonus? You’ll get to meet Daniel Tiger!

View a complete schedule of Be My Neighbor Day activities.

Registration is recommended.

Doing something neighborly today? Share your stories and photos using #bemyneighbor.

Looking for more ways to celebrate the spirit and teachings of Fred Rogers? Attend Mister Rogers’ Day on Friday, March 20 at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, which features free hands-on activities and special events running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.