Leetsdale Mayor Sandra Ford is known in her community as someone to bring concerns to and who cares deeply about people.

She has organized various senior luncheons and holiday events, is in her fourth year as head of the borough’s food pantry and oversees the police department, among other duties.

“People from other municipalities tell me how involved I am as a mayor, but I thought that’s what a mayor’s supposed to be,” Ford said. “People usually come to me and think I’m the voice of the town. If they have a complaint they come to me. If they have suggestions, if they want to know something they call me.”

The longtime resident also has a segment at council meetings called “Community Shoutout,” where she highlights the good works of others.

However, fellow borough officials felt it was time Ford received honors and Council President Maria Napolitano successfully nominated her for the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs’ Distinguished Service Award.

“I feel honored and humbled that they picked me for this award,” Ford said.

The PSAB is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the state’s borough governments.

It was unclear how many nominations there were this year.

PSAB officials did not return multiple calls seeking comment by press time.

Ford served on council 2001-05. She was appointed to fill the unexpired term of her husband, Bob Ford, and later won the election later that year. In 2021, Ford became the first woman elected Leetsdale’s mayor.

She is the third of three Leetsdale officials to receive the award in as many years.

Council President Maria Napolitano, who nominated Ford for her award, received it last year, and Council Vice President Osman Awad received it in 2023.

“I think we have the best council we ever had right now.” Ford said. “They work very hard for the borough. They try to be fiscally responsible. They are not in it for other reasons. They are just in it to help Leetsdale.”

Napolitano spoke highly of Ford’s commitment to others in the nomination letter.

She noted the mayor tripled the efficiency of the food pantry during her tenure, going from 20 to 60 households per month served.

Every month, food pantry recipients receive two bags of food, including healthy choices and produce, packed and delivered by the mayor and community volunteers.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank provides about 1,500 pounds of food per month to Leetsdale. It also certifies the volunteers in food safety. The pantry has also received several grants as a result of Ford’s efforts with funds going toward supplies and equipment.

Napolitano said about 10% of borough households benefit from the pantry.

“This is very important in our low-to-medium income borough, where an estimated 40% of residents receive social security, 166 people are disabled, every fourth household has an elderly living alone, and new immigrant and refugee families need all the help they can get,” Napolitano wrote in part.

Ford is a member of the garden club and Fourth of July committee. Her annual Christmas party at Leetsdale Manor often gets more than 50 seniors mingling. Participants also get presents from the Quaker Valley Salvation Army.

Ford said the high-rise events are open to all borough seniors, and it brings her joy to see everyone come out.

“It’s the time where they can come out of their apartment, talk to the other residents, give them something to do,” Ford said. “Once every couple months we do something.”

Prior to entering public office, Ford worked for the H.J. Heinz Company as a complaint investigator and in public relations for 25 years. She also worked as an office manager for the Beaver County Courts and at the local district judge’s office, where she retired in 2019.

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