If your kids have extra energy this holiday season (because, of course they do), Pittsburgh has plenty of places to channel it for good. Toy drives, park cleanups, food rescues, winter coat collections and more… this time of year is full of ways for families to roll up their sleeves and help neighbors (and help kids learn more about showing kindness).
Whether you’re looking for a one-hour feel-good project or a bigger way to give back, these local organizations are ready for you.
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive
The Children’s Museum is again hosting one of Pittsburgh’s sweetest winter traditions: the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive. From Nov. 13 through Dec. 18, families can donate new or gently used sweaters of all sizes, with a special need for children’s sweaters this year.
You can drop off donations daily at the Children’s Museum (8 a.m.–7 p.m.). If you donate during museum open hours (10 a.m.–5 p.m.), you’ll receive one free admission pass for a future visit—an easy way to build a giving moment into a family outing.
Several local partners are also serving as collection sites, including YogaSix South Hills, Club Pilates South Hills, StretchLab Mt. Lebanon, Orangetheory Fitness Wexford, MADabolic North Hills, Club Pilates North Hills, Row House Fitness North Hills, the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon, and E.N. Miller Antique Mall in Verona.
So hunt around your home for gently used and like-new sweaters that you can donate. And consider raising funds among family and friends to buy some new sweaters to donate, as well.
Families looking for a fun way to give back together can also join the Mister Rogers’ Kindness Yoga Class at Ross Park Mall on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 8:30–9:30 a.m., where one donated sweater covers the cost of class.
All sweaters are distributed to nonprofit agencies supporting children and families throughout the region. Over the past 25 years, this drive has delivered more than 50,000 sweaters to keep kids and families warm across the tri-state area.
Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh (BCAP)
BCAP’s after-school program has grown steadily over the past four years and now serves 90–100 elementary-age students across four South Hills school districts. The program offers a safe, welcoming space for Bhutanese-American and other refugee and immigrant children, with homework help, tutoring, social-emotional support, and activities led by community partners.
Kids hear from local library staff, healthcare professionals, and visitors who introduce them to new skills and career possibilities. BCAP hopes to expand into middle and high school programming as the community grows.
Families can get involved in several ways: Volunteers ages 15 and older (with appropriate clearances) are welcome to help with homework, reading support, tutoring, sports and enrichment activities. Families can also donate gently used board games, card games, LEGOs, magnetic tiles and craft supplies to help keep students engaged during downtime. In winter, hats and gloves are especially needed — students often arrive from other countries without them, and BCAP would love to have extras on hand for kids to borrow.
Donations of books, snacks, and classroom supplies are accepted at their office Monday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For volunteer sign-ups or donation drop-offs, contact Katherine Mirt at kmirt@bcap.us or via cell at 412-909-6577.
Hello Neighbor
Hello Neighbor works to make Pittsburgh a welcoming place for refugee and immigrant families, many of whom arrive feeling isolated or unsure how to navigate a new city. Their family-focused mentorship model is one of the most meaningful ways for local families to help.
The six-month Mentorship Program pairs volunteer families with newly arrived families for friendship, support, shared meals, playdates and everyday connection. Matches are made intentionally, based on children’s ages, interests, languages and goals, and families receive training and ongoing support throughout the program. Young kids are encouraged to participate, making this a true whole-family volunteering experience.
For older teens and adults, Hello Neighbor also offers the Study Buddy program, which provides online tutoring for refugee and immigrant teens for two hours per week during the school year (volunteers must be 16+).
Families who want to get involved can learn more about the Mentorship Program right here and can apply directly right here. Get Study Buddy details here and get tutor applications here.
North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO)
NHCO supports families across the North Hills throughout the year, and the holidays are when community support matters most. With uncertainty around SNAP benefits and many families facing food insecurity, NHCO is encouraging families to donate nonperishables or organize their own mini-drives to help keep the pantries stocked.
Kids and their families can truly make a difference. This season, two Shaler Area siblings continued their annual family food drive for the sixth year in a row—collecting hundreds of pounds of food. Families can also take part in NHCO’s Holiday Toy Collection, happening now through Dec. 8. Last year, 821 children received new toys, games, and gifts through this effort. Donors can shop from NHCO’s Amazon Wish List or drop off new items at any NHCO office.
Extra donation hours are available at the Allison Park office on select weekends in November and December, in addition to regular weekday hours (9 a.m.–4 p.m.) at all locations. NHCO also operates food pantries in Allison Park, Millvale and the North Boroughs, with emergency food available anytime.
One of the most family-friendly volunteer options through NHCO is the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, where families can sign up for two-hour bell-ringing shifts at Kuhn’s Market in Allison Park or Walmart in Gibsonia. Kids can join in by singing, dressing festively, or simply helping ring the bell — making it a fun way to support NHCO’s programs during the holidays.
For dates, donation hours, and volunteer sign-ups, visit nhco.org or contact their main office at 412-487-6316.
Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
Pittsburgh families who want to get outside and give back together can join the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s seasonal Stewardship Days. These small volunteer events are open to individuals, teens, and families and include hands-on work like trail care, habitat restoration, mulching, litter cleanups, and other projects across city parks.
There is no formal age minimum, but some sites and conservation tasks can be more physically challenging than others. So families are encouraged to review event details and reach out with questions to find the best fit for younger kids.
In late fall and early winter, Stewardship Days often focus on leaf and debris clearing, invasive species removal, litter pickups, and trail maintenance. That’s a good option for families looking for a simple way to care for their neighborhood park together. While the Conservancy doesn’t currently offer a formal independent volunteer program, families interested in ongoing park care can connect with UpstreamPgh’s Urban EcoStewards program to “adopt” a spot and tend it over time.
To find upcoming Stewardship Days and other volunteer-friendly events, visit pittsburghparks.org/stewardship-days or pittsburghparks.org/events.
Photo courtesy of Play It Forward.
Play It Forward Pittsburgh
Play It Forward Pittsburgh offers one of the easiest, most hands-on ways for families to volunteer together during the holidays. The annual toy drive collects gently used toys and games for children up to age 12, and families can help at every stage of the process.
Donation drop-offs are accepted at locations across the region through Dec. 5 (see full list here), and families are also welcome to organize their own neighborhood or school toy drives and bring everything directly to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Volunteer opportunities run daily from Dec. 8–13, with tasks that include unloading, sorting, and organizing toys for the big distribution event. There are no age limits, making this a rare volunteer opportunity where kids of all ages can participate alongside parents or caregivers. Families who love a hands-on project often sign up for the “shopping” event days as well, helping get toys ready for pick-ups.
Click here to sign up for volunteer shifts. To get donation details and drop-off locations, visit www.playitforwardpittsburgh.com.
Photo courtesy of 412 Food Rescue.
412 Food Rescue offers one of the most flexible, family-friendly volunteer options in Pittsburgh. Families can become “Food Rescue Heroes” by downloading the Food Rescue Hero app and claiming food rescues — quick deliveries of surplus food from grocery stores, wholesalers, or restaurants to local nonprofits serving neighbors facing food insecurity.
You can volunteer as often or as little as you like, and kids can ride along with an adult to see how small actions can make a real difference.
Families can also help through the Good Food Project, where volunteers assist staff in transforming rescued ingredients into meals and grocery items for distribution. Teens and adults can sign up for cooking, packing, and prep shifts, and families can volunteer together when space allows. For groups, the “Food Rescue Takeover” lets friends, sports teams, corporate groups, or school clubs see how many rescues they can complete in a single day.
Families can also host mini-fundraisers or promote the app in their communities.
To get started, download the 412 Food Rescue app to your phone or visit 412foodrescue.org. For volunteer support, call 412-277-3831 or email info@412foodrescue.org.
Seneca Valley high schoolers filling personal care packs at Global Links.
Global Links’ in-person family volunteer days are fully booked for the holiday season, but families can still make a meaningful impact right from home by assembling the organization’s Personal Care Kits project. Each kit contains seven essential hygiene items — basic things that directly support health, confidence, and daily stability.
Families can take on this project together by shopping for the items, assembling the kits at home, and dropping them off at Global Links. Shopping lists, packing instructions, and full details are available on the Global Links website. These items aren’t covered by SNAP benefits, which makes them especially hard for many families to afford.
Global Links distributes the completed kits through its network of food pantries and social service partners across Western PA, and demand has surged in recent months — even exceeding what they saw during the height of the pandemic. (Read a first-hand description of volunteering with Global Links right here.)
Another option: Global Links also offers quarterly family volunteer days throughout the year for those who want to get hands-on in the future; families can stay updated by signing up for their e-news or checking their volunteer page. You can also e-mail sbodow@globallinks.org.
JFCS Pittsburgh
JFCS offers several ways for families and teens to support refugee families, older adults, and neighbors experiencing food insecurity throughout the winter season. Families with children ages 12 and up can volunteer together at the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, helping unload food, stock shelves, sort items, and prepare emergency food bags.
High school students can also volunteer independently in multiple programs, including visiting older adults through AgeWell Visits, mentoring or assisting staff in Youth Services, and supporting pantry operations.
Families looking for at-home or donation-based projects can host a coat drive, diaper drive, food drive, or hygiene kit drive (items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, soap, shampoo, razors, and period products). JFCS also welcomes families to join its blanket-making initiative—groups can host their own blanket day or participate in the community blanket-making day on Jan. 16. Completed blankets are given to immigrant families served by JFCS.
Winter needs include coats and cold-weather accessories such as gloves, mittens, and hats.
For volunteer sign-ups and more details, visit www.jfcspgh.org/volunteer or email Cristy Lagnese at clagnese@jfcspgh.org.
Students from North Allegheny High School’s Interact Club teamed up with Northern Allegheny Rotary Club to help students at Grandview Elementary School through The Education Partnership’s Adopt-A-School program.
The Education Partnership
The Education Partnership welcomes volunteers of all ages to support teachers and students across the region. During the holiday season, families can sign up for Saturday volunteer shifts during teacher shopping days, when educators visit the Resource Center to select needed classroom supplies. Volunteers help organize materials on the floor, check teachers in as they arrive, hand out CORE bags, and assist with making STEAM kits when needed.
Families can also volunteer during the week, supporting one of the Partnership’s core programs: Adopt-A-School, the Teacher Resource Center, or the STEAM Hub. (Note: Volunteers under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.)
Holiday gift needs this year include coats, snacks, Squishmallows, blind boxes, Pokémon cards, and small items teachers can give to students for gifting to their parents, such as candles, gum, and Starbucks mugs. Donations can be dropped off at the Education Partnership loading dock Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Families can also host mini supply drives at home or school; The Education Partnership’s team can share guidelines and materials for those interested. For volunteer sign-ups, click here.
Sorting and organizing donations at Foster Love Project requires an army of volunteers.
Foster Love Project gives Pittsburgh families a really tangible way to support kids entering foster care. Their annual holiday bag drive runs through Dec. 13 and invites families to “pack a bag” of new items for a child who is moving into foster care. The organization provides a required contents list, so donors know exactly what to include.
It is the kind of project that works well as a teachable moment at home: Family members can shop together, talk about how some children move with little or none of their own belongings, and then drop completed bags at the Center for distribution to foster agencies. Families can also host a bag-packing party, gathering friends, classmates, or neighbors to assemble multiple bags at once.
In-person volunteer events at the Center are scheduled for Dec. 20 and Jan. 10 for volunteers ages 16 and older. Those shifts focus on checking and tagging assembled bags, so they are ready to go out to agencies. Beyond the holiday drive, Foster Love Project has ongoing needs to keep its free shopping center for kids in foster care fully stocked.
Families can purchase items through several Amazon wish lists for center needs, haircare, books, and more, and have them shipped directly to the Center at 463 S. Trenton Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15221. More information, including bag drive details and wish lists, is available at www.fosterloveproject.org. Questions can be sent to info@fosterloveproject.org.
Allegheny County DHS Holiday Project
Allegheny County’s DHS Holiday Project has already matched every child on its 2025 list with a sponsor. But families can still help make the season brighter for kids receiving county services. This year, the program is asking community members to purchase gifts through its Amazon Wish List, which is filled with the most-requested items. These gifts help ensure that children who are newly added to the list will also have something special to open during the holidays.
Families who prefer to shop in person can donate new, unwrapped gifts at several county drop-off sites: the North Park, South Park, and Boyce Park administration buildings, as well as the County Office Building downtown. Donations are accepted Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Dec. 12 this year.
Photo at top of story courtesy of Foster Love Project.