10 organizations where Pittsburgh families can volunteer together
Families reap lots of benefits by volunteering together. Promoting personal growth and developing empathy for others are just the beginning. Making a difference in the world can deepen your family bond as you work together on a meaningful project. First find an issue you care about, then jump right in. These 10 organizations will get you started.
Animal Friends
Do you have a household of animal lovers? Animal Friends might be the perfect spot to volunteer with your family. Kids need to be at least 13 and have a parent alongside. It’s a wonderful way to help our furry friends. Tasks might include:
- socializing with rabbits, cats and dogs;
- lobby greeting; shelter and grounds maintenance;
- or assisting with special events.
Orientation and animal behavior classes are part of the training.
Animal Friends offers ideas for kids who are too young to be official volunteers. They can distribute the Petsburgh Press newspaper to friends and neighbors, for example. Or join the Street Team to help get the word out for pets in need of homes. Just the print the flyers and post throughout your neighborhood.
The Education Partnership
Now in its 10th year, the Education Partnership provides supplies to students and schools in need. The nonprofit currently services 110 local schools and their 45,000 students. Teachers can “shop” for supplies in the free Teacher Resource Center or take advantage of the STEM Lending Library.
Kids can help within the Students 2 Students program with fundraisers like lemonade stands or bake sales, holding coin drives or setting up a school supply collection of scissors, markers and paper.
Teens and parents can volunteer in the Resource Center warehouse. Tasks might include unpacking and organizing supplies into homework kits and prepping supplies for teachers. Help is needed to greet teachers, restock supplies and help carry materials to their cars.
The good feeling comes from knowing kids will have basics like crayons, pencils and notebooks that are needed to be successful in school.
Ronald McDonald House
Families are at the heart of the Ronald McDonald House mission of caring for those whose children are undergoing medical treatment. The goal is to keep those families together so parents can spend more time at their child’s bedside. With that in mind, it makes perfect sense that families are a big part of its legion of volunteers. Here are a few of the ways to help:
- Organize a Family Social Hour to help lower the stress level for those caring for sick kids. A movie night might include a DVD rental and snacks. Bring a craft activity for a fun session of creativity. Or coordinate a session of cookie baking and decorating.
- The Meal Program works for groups – up to 12 people – who prepare a meal in the Ronald McDonald House commercial kitchen. It’s an ideal opportunity for you to bring your prep-cook kids and provide sustenance to appreciative families. You’ll find guidelines, meal inspiration and a calendar where you can pick your date.
- Another fun way to volunteer with your kids is to assemble Welcome Bags. Have them consider thoughtful and fun items for RMH kids. Packaged snacks, juice boxes, coloring books, puzzles and craft items will help keep kids busy and offer a positive outlook.
Bethlehem Haven
More than 600 volunteers help Bethlehem Haven keep their doors open every year. The Haven offers emergency shelter for homeless women, serves both women and men in its health and wellness clinic, and works with others in the day program. Lunch and dinner are provided daily.
High school kids are welcome to volunteer when accompanied by an adult. Teens can help prepare and serve meals; organize activities like bingo, games or crafts; and help coordinate fundraisers.
Kids under 12 are not permitted on-site without special approval but Bethlehem Haven offers plenty of suggestions for them, too:
- An activity box, for example, can be made from a decorated shoebox filled with cards, puzzle books and small games.
- Make placemats and centerpieces to brighten up the dinner table or artwork for the bulletin board.
- Group projects might include collecting new socks or towels.
Snow Angels
When the weather outside is frightful, there is no better gift than to clear the walk and steps of an elderly neighbor. Snow Angels, organized by the City of Pittsburgh, matches you and your kids with a neighbor who needs your help. Removing hazards like ice and snow keep the frail and disabled safe from slips and falls.
Sign up online to request your specific neighborhood and be connected with a nearby neighbor. A family armed with snow shovels can quickly and efficiently clear icy paths while fostering warm relationships within your community.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Over 5,000 volunteers helped the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank feed hungry families in 2018. But even more volunteers are needed to support the mission. Working with the Food Bank helps kids understand how other families struggle with basic needs.
Kids as young as 6 can participate in Family Volunteer Days. Sign up for one of two shifts scheduled on Saturdays twice a month. The 1-hour commitment might include packing bags with enough food for a child to get through the weekend. Take advantage of the behind-the-scenes tour of the Food Bank and its operations. A grownup must accompany every two kids under 12.
The Repack Center offers shifts for ages 12 and older Mondays through Saturdays. With a lot of donations delivered to the warehouse in bulk, the job here is to repack food into family-sized packages for distribution.
Coming up this summer, from June through December, is the chance to head to the fields for gleanings. Kids from age 7 and up can take part in rescuing produce left in a field after harvesting. As the season approaches, sign up for Glean Alerts, kind of like a Bat Signal for Food Bank superheroes!
Foster Love Project
Andrew and Kelly Hughes’ commitment to helping Allegheny County’s 2,500 foster children was the impetus for their Foster Love Project, a nonprofit they launched in 2014 to help ease the transition for kids in and out of home placements. Foster Love provides travel bags to replace the plastic bags that hold their few personal items. The Foster Love bags are packed with pajamas, a blanket, stuffed animal, socks, toiletries and a book. The Foster Love donation center allows foster parents to shop for free supplies and clothing for kids.
Volunteers of all ages keep the operation clicking along. Families with kids 5 and older are welcome to sign on to a shift. Tasks include sorting donations, folding clothing, straightening shelves, cleaning and helping shoppers.
Global Links
This is big picture stuff. Global Links helps deliver critically needed medical supplies to the needy both locally and around the world. Working with health institutions in Pittsburgh and throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, about 2,500 volunteers go through surplus supplies that would otherwise end up in landfills. About 300 tons are rescued and put to good use annually.
You and your kids can sign up to schedule a volunteer shift, where you will sort and pack medical supplies. Schools and community groups are welcome to participate together to help spread medical relief to those who need it most.
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
All ages are welcome to volunteer at Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Kids under 18 need an adult present, making it ideal for families. Choose a project from one of the conservancy’s five regional offices:
- Take photos and video or help file and catalog them.
- As spring approaches, plant trees in parks and along trails.
- Starting in March, help maintain and restore the WPC’s 12,000 acres of nature preserves. Tasks include clearing invasive plants and maintaining hiking trails.
- In April, community gardens require help clearing and planting flower beds. The 130 garden projects welcome all skill levels. Teaching and learning are part of the joy.
No matter what you choose to do, appreciate the family time spent helping our community.
Beverly’s Birthdays
Everyone loves a party! Beverly’s Birthdays throws parties for kids from families in need with the help of an enthusiastic army of volunteers. Last year alone, more than 3,000 kids celebrated their birthdays with this organization.
Birthday volunteer staff generally begin at age 18 but can include teens ages 15-17 when accompanied by an adult. You’ll help with set up and clean up. In between, you’ll lead games, supervise play and serve refreshments. Newbies receive a Beverly’s Birthdays T-shirt – or can come dressed as a superhero.
Another family opportunity for all ages is to volunteer as a Birthday Treat Bag Sponsor. You will be told the party theme and the number of bags needed for a specific party. It’s up to you and your kids to be creative in filling the bags with fun stuff.
Check out the calendar to register and commit to upcoming dates.
