As parents and caregivers, we’re always trying to teach our children compassion, kindness, understanding, and caring. It’s the season for counting our blessings and giving back and it’s important for our children to be a part of that. Volunteering as a family can have a significant impact on inspiring children; to have them want to make a difference and engage with the community.
I hope this list provides you with inspiration and information on unique ways to not only spend time together as a family, but also find family volunteering projects in the Pittsburgh community.
Family Volunteering Project
Sharing Projects with North Hills Community Outreach
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: “Sharing Projects” are a great way for youth and groups to get involved. Students, parents and teachers are always invited to volunteer and donate to workshops such as the Winter Coat Shop, Thanksgiving on Every Table, Holiday Toy Shop and Sharing Winter Warmth.
National Family Volunteer Day with Pittsburgh Cares
- Date: November 22nd
- Cause: Community improvement
- Details: Pittsburgh Cares welcomes everyone ages 3+ to participate in a series on projects from 8:30am-12:00 noon at the Lincoln Park Community Center. Online registration is required and there are limited spaces available. $20 donation per person.
Fall Food Share with Pittsburgh Community Food Drive
- Date: Ongoing through November 27th
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, in partnership with Giant Eagle, invites volunteers as young as 4 years to participate in raising awareness for childhood hunger. Volunteers greet Giant Eagle shoppers by offering a printed suggested shopping list and encourage shoppers to either buy the most needed items on the list or make a cash donation at checkout. You can register online at participating Giant Eagles here.
Family Life Fund Fashionista Bruncheon for Jeremiah’s Place
- Date:November 8th
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: A perfect mother-daughter date with a cause! Fashionistas of all ages will enjoy this benefit luncheon to benefit Jeremiah’s Place- the community’s first crisis nursery is now open for 24/7 childcare. Tickets for the 4th Annual Family Life Fund Fashionista are $100 and include brunch, a runway show, silent auction, raffle baskets, boutique shopping and more. Purchase tickets here.
Plant a Tree! with Friends of the Riverfront
- Date: November 1st
- Cause: Community Improvement
- Details: Join the Friends of the Riverfront on November 1st to plant trees along the South Side and Baldwin segments of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Register online! There are also additional tree planting opportunities on November 8th in West Homestead, and Pleasant Hills on November 15th.
- Date: Ongoing;
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: Help transform the lives of men, women and children in need by volunteering or donating to this local organization that provides a home for the homeless, food for the hungry and hope for the hopeless in Pittsburgh, PA.. There are a variety of opportunities available!
Downtown Beautification Saturdays
- Date:Ongoing, every Saturday
- Cause: Community Improvement
- Details: Join friends every Saturday from 10am to 2pm to participate in projects including weeding & seeding, removing rubble, painting, and more! Sign up online.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: There are so many ways to volunteer! Children under 14 years old can decorate bags before filling them for charity projects. Read more about it here.
Winter Family Cares Day with Pittsburgh Cares
- Date: December 8th
- Cause: Community Improvement
- Details: Pittsburgh Cares is calling all family volunteers to reach other children & families in need at the Toys for Tots Warehouse. Bring your whole family to Winter Family Volunteer Day and start the season off right! $20 donation per volunteer. Find more information here.
Vincentian Collaborative System
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Varied
- Details: After the application process, they’ll match your ages, interests, time and location with ongoing projects. Find more information here.
Used Goods Donations & Food Drives
Mr. McFeely Sweater Drive at Children’s Museum
- Date: November 13th – December
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: Visit the Children’s Museum on November 15th for their annual Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive with a special appearance by Mr. McFeely. The museum is accepting new and gently used adult and children’s sweaters in a bin in the Museum’s lobby from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm daily through December 12.
- Date: November 1-22
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: Receive $1 on your Fun Card for every canned good you bring into Fun Fore All from November 1st – November 22nd (limit 5 items per guest). All can goods being donated to Gleaners Food Bank of Cranberry Township.
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: Braddock’s Free Store 15104 receives surplus and donated goods and redistributes them to our neighbors in need at absolutely no cost.
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Children and families in need
- Details: Donate your gently used items for children ages 0-16. They accept toys, books, games, stuffed animals, electronics, sporting equipment, bikes and movies. Their mission is to collect gently used toys and offer them for free to families in need.
St. Jude Recycled Card Program
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: St. Judes
- Details: Used cards are made into new “green” cards by removing the front and attaching a new back. The result is a beautiful new card made by children and volunteers and is sold online to benefit St. Jude.
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Pregnant Women, children and adoptive families
- Details: Genesis House, established in 1983 is a maternity care facility. The residence center is for women who are pregnant over the age of 18 and in need of shelter and the only residence of its kind in southwestern Pennsylvania. You can help by donating new or gently used baby and maternity clothing/supplies.
Women’s Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Women and children in need
- Details: Support victims of intimate partner violence by donating your smartphones & cellphones to Women’s Center & Shelter. They are traded for monetary donations to put towards operating costs and helping victims.
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Varied
- Details: After the application process, they’ll match your ages, interests, time and location with ongoing projects.
New Toy & Food Donations
Stuff a Bus “All Things Frozen” Toy Drive
- Date: November 29th
- Cause: Holiday giving
- Details: Any child who brings a new/unwrapped toy to Top That Frozen Yogurt on November 29th will receive frozen yogurt sundae at a discount and get a meet and greet with the Frozen Princess! All toys will go to helping 96.1 Stuff a Bus.
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Children’s Hospital
- Details: Donate new toys, games and other play, art and diversionary supplies to help children to cope and adjust to illness and hospitalization.
- Date: Through December
- Cause: Holiday giving
- Details: Dates and times for drop off locations are being announced soon!
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: Donate time, money and non-perishable food items to support the local Jubilee Soup Kitchen that focuses on helping those faced with poverty, illness or joblessness.
- Date: Thanksgiving through Christmas
- Cause: Holiday giving
- Details: The Goodfellow Toy Fund is on a mission to make sure every child receives a toy for the holidays. You can easily donate online!
Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: Help the Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry by donating good to provide emergency and supplemental food to those who qualify for food assistance.
Gifts for Children of Incarcerated Parents
- Date: Ongoing
- Cause: Children & families in need
- Details: Lydia’s Place offers help to female offenders and their dependent children rebuild their lives and to become productive members of the community. You can help by donating new toys for children of incarcerated parents for the holiday season.