Faces of the Valley: Natrona's Patty Babinsack is a volunteer any group would relish

Natrona resident Patty Babinsack believes it takes work to build a better future.

The 79-year-old is willing to do the heavy lifting.

A lifelong resident of the small Harrison neighborhood along the Allegheny River, Babinsack has volunteered thousands of hours to making the Alle-Kiski Valley a region that boasts successful cultural, religious and educational sites.

“You have to have dedicated people to make something a success,” she said. “If you’re born and raised in an area, you have that blood running through you.”

Babinsack is a longtime volunteer for Friends of the Library, a group that raises money for the Community Library of Allegheny Valley in Harrison, the Allegheny Valley Hospital auxiliary and Guardian Angels Parish.

“Patty is a fantastic volunteer,” said Suzy Ruskin, library director. “She is always ready to help and is a wonderful asset to the library and the community.”

People who sign on to the library’s advocacy group are tasked with raising the site’s profile, whether it’s through stuffing envelopes or staffing tables at holiday events.

In her neighborhood, Babinsack joined the grassroots group Natrona Comes Together about a year after it was founded. She has served as treasurer for the 16 years since.

She raises her hand for almost any task — from running children’s crafts at Natrona’s park to applying for grants.

The group has helped the community flourish through quality-of-life projects that include transforming an empty field into the now-vibrant Community Park with a concession stand. There are concerts, visits from the Pittsburgh Zoo, tree plantings and picnics throughout the year.

Activities aim to gather neighbors and build the community — and Babinsack said it’s working.

“It’s been very good for the spirit,” she said.

“I love the playground. I think that’s a big feather in our cap. Seeing people using it all the time and all the different groups that come, it’s nice.”

Natrona Comes Together also is behind the huge community garden on the corner of Federal Street that turns out free produce for anyone in need.

For years, members have worked to create a Penn Salt museum after purchasing one of the row houses that were company homes for the former manufacturer.

In 2012, Natrona Comes Together landed a grant from the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation to help purchase a Gothic Revival cottage along “Pigeon’s Row.” It’s working to secure mementos and artifacts from the company’s heyday.

Babinsack believes people from far and wide will be drawn to the museum once it opens, and it will be especially dear to those born and raised in Natrona who recall “when the town was booming.”

The group is eyeing an opening date next year.

“And then Natrona Comes Together again,” Babinsack said.

She is humble about her contributions, saying she is part of larger groups of well-meaning people who work well together and formed friendships along the way.

Born and raised in Natrona until her late teens, Babinsack moved from the neighborhood but never went far. She lived in Brackenridge and Tarentum before marrying and settling back in Natrona.

She raised nine children in a big old house that was converted from the former St. Ladislaus convent, just down the street from the recently closed church.

“Natrona is a good place to raise children,” she said.

“We all know each other, we went to school and church together, and we all work together,” she said. “That continues today.”

She once worked as a teacher’s aide in the Highlands School District.

Babinsack works hard to ensure the next generation continues the volunteerism.

During the Nov. 8 general election, she volunteered at her local polling place — with some of her children and 20 grandchildren.

“That’s something we’ve been doing for years,” she said. “You have to teach them.”