Volunteers ensure kids in need get toys for Christmas
It takes a platoon of volunteers to assure toys get to kids in need Pittsburgh Cares cares
Back in May, Pittsburgh Cares got its first inquiry about how to help the Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots holiday collection.
“It was from a family group who comes every year,” said Amanda Trocki, executive director of Pittsburgh Cares, a nonprofit that coordinates the 400 or so volunteers for the annual toy drive.
“They wanted to make sure their spot was secure.”
After that call, the list was drawn up. That’s how it happens every year, said Ms. Trocki.
Pittsburgh Cares starts fielding calls in the spring — months before volunteers begin to collect, sort, pack and deliver gifts for children whose families can’t afford to put much under the Christmas tree.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Goodfellows Fund collects money from readers and partners with the Marine Corps to buy the toys.
Last year the fund raised $90,000. This is the 10th year Pittsburgh Cares has undertaken the task of deploying volunteers to the warehouse where the toys are stored and to other tasks to ensure children in need get holiday presents.
With an estimated 350,000 toys donated annually, there’s a lot of work to go around.
Yet there are always enough people ready to assist because Toys for Tots “is a hot commodity,” said Ms. Trocki.
“It’s a feel-good event where it really helps you appreciate what you’ve got during the holidays and lets you spread the cheer around too.”
No one who wants to help at Toys for Tots is ever turned down, she said.
“We try to find a spot for everyone” even if it means having volunteers show up for shorter shifts so that more can participate, she said.
“And if there’s a not a day or time that works for you with Toys for Tots, we can refer you to another project somewhere in the city that’s holiday-related and still needs volunteers.”
Pittsburgh Cares works year-round as a matchmaker between people who want to give back and nonprofits that need assistance.
It was founded 25 years ago by six friends who wanted to establish a central exchange for volunteer opportunities.
What started as a paper calendar of events has evolved into a digital system where individuals, corporations and other organizations can find nonprofits and causes that need volunteers.
Pittsburgh Cares engages about 12,000 volunteers annually in charitable work in Allegheny and surrounding counties.
The agency operates from a storefront office in Lawrenceville and has an annual budget of just under $500,000.
Toys for Tots is among its largest projects of the year because in addition to lining up volunteers, Pittsburgh Cares works to secure warehouse space for the toy distribution and handles requests from several hundred nonprofits including churches and social service agencies that need toys for their families.
“We’re honestly thinking about Toys for Tots all year round,” said Ms. Trocki.
She’s never surprised about the outpouring of help.
In a recent report from the Corporation for National and Community Service that ranked 50 large U.S. metro areas by their rates of volunteerism, Pittsburgh was seventh with a rate of 38.1 percent.
Minneapolis-St. Paul topped the list with a rate of 46.3 percent.
“Pittsburgh is a special place full of people who want to do good,” said Ms. Trocki.
At the warehouse in Robinson that serves as the main collection and distribution site this year, the holiday music playlist never stops and volunteers including Ms. Trocki are known to show up wearing Santa hats and reindeer antlers.
“I’m also a fan of the ugly Christmas sweater and this is another excuse to bring it out,” said the 31-year-old who has a long history of giving back to her community.
She majored in interior design at LaRoche College and her senior thesis project focused on homeless shelter design.
After graduation, she joined AmeriCorps, a volunteer public service program through which she was placed at Pittsburgh Cares.
She worked her way up to a job in corporate engagement and was named to run the agency a year ago.
All the toys will be distributed this year by Dec.15 at which point Ms. Trocki plans to “do the Christmas shopping for my family members.”
For volunteer opportunities, go to www.pittsburghcares.org.
To donate to the Goodfellows, use the coupon that appears with this story and send a tax-deductible contribution to the Post-Gazette Goodfellows, Box 590, Pittsburgh, PA 15230.
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