The safety of our community is our highest priority. We will be following CDC & Allegheny County COVID-19 protocols for volunteers and recipients. We ask that everyone follow current CDC regulations including hand washing, social distancing and mask wearing during volunteering, distribution and group collection activities.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

Volunteer
Play it Forward is volunteer driven and we can not do it without you. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. We encourage you to bring your children along.
We need help collecting, sorting and distributing
to help families in need.
"Volunteering with Play it Forward is an amazing experience!
Sharing this experience with my daughter (who is 6) is truly magical. To see her compassion for others while enjoying what she is doing to help other families is remarkably inspiring!
Such a warm and loving environment!" -A. Zimmerman
Play it Forward is volunteer driven and we can not do it without you. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. We encourage you to bring your children along.
We need help collecting, sorting and distributing
to help families in need.
"Volunteering with Play it Forward is an amazing experience!
Sharing this experience with my daughter (who is 6) is truly magical. To see her compassion for others while enjoying what she is doing to help other families is remarkably inspiring!
Such a warm and loving environment!" -A. Zimmerman
Volunteer Information:
Someone will be there to welcome you and help you get started. Thank you!
- Entering the Convention Center
- There will be additional security this year because the Convention Center is serving as a courthouse through the month of December so any volunteer entering the Convention Center will go through a metal detector and bags will go through an x-ray machine just like at an airport.
- Max number per shift
- There will be no more than 50 volunteers in the space per 2-hour shift. Volunteers will work in zones and be asked to stay in their zone while working to promote social distancing. Zones will have no more than 10 volunteers and families and groups will be kept together.
- Mask policy
- Play it Forward will enforce a strict face covering policy for all volunteers and guests. Everyone entering the space will need to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth at all times. No food or drink will be allowed in the space this year.
- Distancing
- We will ask volunteers and guests to maintain proper social distanced as defined by the CDC whenever possible. Even when distanced, masks will need to be worn.
- Gloves, cleaning supplies
- Volunteers and guests are encouraged to bring their own gloves should they choose to wear them. Cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer will be provided.
- The toys will be sprayed with an electrostatic sprayer as they enter the premises and before they are sorted and organized by volunteers.
- Children
- This year, due to COVID safeguards, we are asking that all children be supervised by an adult. If your child’s group is volunteering, we ask that adults stay and assist with volunteering. All groups or parents with younger children (12 and under) must remain in the same zone during their shift. We know kids love to run around, but we need to be mindful of limiting that movement this year.
- Volunteer Jobs (Zones)
- This year, volunteers will be asked to pick a zone to work in for the duration of their shift. These zones/jobs include
- Unloading vehicles/deliveries
- Cleaning/sanitizing toys using electrostatic sprayer
- Distributing toys from uploading zone to specific tables. (people choosing this job will be moving throughout all zones)
- Organizing toys within a specific toy category (i.e. trucks, dolls)
- Selecting/packaging toys for distribution (people choosing this job may be moving through multiple zones)
- This year, volunteers will be asked to pick a zone to work in for the duration of their shift. These zones/jobs include
Someone will be there to welcome you and help you get started. Thank you!
Transportation and Parking Info - Parking for volunteers Monday-Friday will be self-serve and subject to the rates set by the Parking Authority.
David L Lawrence Convention Center Website - http://www.pittsburghcc.com/directions.php
ParkPGH - ParkPGH is a very useful application available on the iPhone, the web, text messaging and a call-in service. It supplies real-time information about parking availability in all Cultural District garages, calculating the number of available spaces every 30 seconds. Learn more: http://www.ParkPGH.org
On-Street Meter Parking - Click here for frequently asked questions about the Pay-by-License Plate Meters.
Street meter hours are Monday – Saturday 8:00 am-6:00 pm and metered lots are Monday- Saturday 8:00 am -10:00 pm.
- On-street parking may be available (payable be credit card or coins at meters) and is free after 6 pm on most streets
- Garage parking rates are listed below for garages close to the Convention Center. Most go down to a flat rate after 4 pm.
- Saturday rates are typically the same as the evening rate ($5-8 at garages).
David L Lawrence Convention Center Website - http://www.pittsburghcc.com/directions.php
ParkPGH - ParkPGH is a very useful application available on the iPhone, the web, text messaging and a call-in service. It supplies real-time information about parking availability in all Cultural District garages, calculating the number of available spaces every 30 seconds. Learn more: http://www.ParkPGH.org
On-Street Meter Parking - Click here for frequently asked questions about the Pay-by-License Plate Meters.
Street meter hours are Monday – Saturday 8:00 am-6:00 pm and metered lots are Monday- Saturday 8:00 am -10:00 pm.
Parking Garage Information - For garages close to the Convention Center
David L. Lawrence Convention Center Garage
Penn Ave. and 10th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 visit website Number of Parking Spaces: 700 Parking After 4PM Rate: $3.00 Parking Weekend Rate: Closed except events Parking Event Rate: $13.00 Parking Max Daily Rate: $30.00 Parking 2 Hour Rate: $8.00 Eighth St./Ft. Duquesne Blvd. Lot Eighth St and Ft Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 visit website Telephone: (412) 323-4455 Number of Parking Spaces: 273 Parking After 3PM Rate: After 3 PM $15.00 Parking Weekend Rate: $15.00 Parking Event Rate: $15-$20 Parking Max Daily Rate: $15.00 Parking 3 Hour Rate: $15.00 Eleventh & Smallman Lot 1101 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Telephone: (412) 323-4455 visit website Number of Parking Spaces: 259 Parking After 4PM Rate: closed Parking Event Rate: $15.00 Parking Max Daily Rate: $12.00 Parking 3 Hour Rate: 4a-9:45a=$12.00, after 9:45a=$5 |
10th & Penn Lot
10th St. and Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Telephone: 412-323-4455 visit website Number of Parking Spaces: N/A Parking After 5PM Rate: After 5 p.m. Mon-Fri = $14.00 Parking Weekend Rate: Sat = $13.00, Sunday closed except events Parking Event Rate: $14.00 Parking Max Daily Rate: $14.00 Smithfield/Liberty Garage 629 Smithfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Telephone: (412) 391-1952 visit website Number of Parking Spaces: 596 Parking After 4PM Rate: $6.00 Parking Weekend Rate: $6.00 Parking Event Rate: $6.00 Parking Max Daily Rate: $20.00 Parking 3 Hour Rate: $10.00 Grant Street Transportation Center 55 11th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Telephone: (412) 560-2003 visit website Number of Parking Spaces: 991 Parking After 4PM Rate: $5.00 Parking Weekend Rate: $5.00 Parking Event Rate: $5 Parking Max Daily Rate: $13.00 Parking 2 Hour Rate: $6.00 |