'Levia Is An Unstoppable Force For Good In Warren': Patch Community Leaer

WARREN, NJ — Without community leaders, Warren wouldn’t hum along nearly as smoothly as it does. We’d miss their contributions in big and small ways.

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize these often unsung community leaders and celebrate their contributions.

This submission comes from Laura Keller, a Warren reader who nominated Levia Spingarn Gabel.

How do you know this community leader?

Friend & neighbor

What does this community leader do?

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Why do you believe the community leader should be recognized or honored?

Levia is an unstoppable force for good in Warren. I have known Levia for 5 years, almost the entirety of my living in Warren. For as long as I have known her, she is constantly looking for ways to help those in need, support those who may be going through difficult times and all-around wants to build a more caring and inclusive community in Warren. In the middle of COVID, Levia helped a children-led volunteer group, the Kindness Crew, get outdoors and do trash cleanup in green spaces in town.

She built a small library near her house, allowing community members to take a book/leave a book. Over time, people began leaving small gifts and other tokens of appreciation for others to enjoy, building upon Levia's kindness for others. She takes the fruits, vegetables and herbs she grows in her yard's garden and created a farm stand where only an optional donation is appreciated. She then takes the funds she raises and provides it to local non-profits. She and her two sons also regularly volunteer: at the local food pantry, at the school and local libraries and at a community farm. She regularly cooks for the local fire department and helps organize meals for them.

In times of crisis, Levia springs into action to help. When a bus driver was injured in an accident, she helped organize letter-writing from students at his assigned school. When staff at the elementary school had to deal with a crisis, Levia bought dozens of tulips and left them in vases at the front entrance to the school.

Most recently, when racist and anti-semetic language was written on the equipment at the Warren playground, Levia organized a community shabbat where all were welcome not only to show support for the Jewish community but also to encourage acceptance-of-all in our growing and diversifying community. With only a few posts on Facebook, more than 40 people attended the event. Levia spoke at the event and my favorite quote was "May this be the first of many community gatherings where we share our uniqueness with each other and at the same time, learn just how similar we all are."

For these reasons, I recommend Levia for this community leader recognition. Warren wouldn't be the wonderful community it is without her.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the community hero?

Levia doesn't do this for any recognition or reward. She simply wants to bring good to her community and serve as a role model for her two sons.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.

Know a community leader who deserves a shout-out?

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