PLEASE READ: IMPORTANT- Volunteer Drive
Patricia Graham
Want us to MAINTAIN our current hours of operation? We need YOUR HELP!
Volunteer members keep the doors of the PTLL open. Since the PTLL’s inception, it has been an all-volunteer run co-operative with NO paid staff handling its operation. More than 40+ years later, the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library is still going strong due ONLY to continued volunteerism of our volunteer members. Our hours are completely determined by volunteer numbers and availability, without growth, our hours of operation will be limited. On the other hand, with significant growth of our volunteer memberships we can potentially offer additional hours of operation (more afternoons & evening hours). Many PTLL families have requested expanded hours, but without growth in our volunteer members we cannot consider this.
To help increase our volunteer membership base, we will be running a Volunteer Drive. The drive will track the number of new volunteer members and how close we are to our goal (see below). The progress will be communicated visually in the play space on the bulletin board next to the lending library/office.
To keep our current hours of operation and potentially open another shift, we need at a minimum 10 more volunteer members (this will bring us to a total of 100 Volunteer Members). To expand our hours further (potentially another afternoon & evening shift) we need another 20 new volunteers (total 120 Volunteer Members). Our goal is to reach 120 VOLUNTEER MEMBERS. If we surpass this goal, we can continue to extend our hours EVEN MORE!
What is stopping you from being a volunteer member? As a volunteer member, you volunteer either one 2 hour or two 2 hour shifts per month (depending on whether you select a V2 or V4 membership). Check out our membership page for more information on V2 vs. V4 membership: http://pghtoys.org/get-involved/membership/).
As a volunteer member:
- You will be given a basic training on how to fulfill the volunteer duties, which include: opening and closing the play space, greeting visitors, answering questions, and checking toys in and out of the toy library.
- Your child is your first priority when you are volunteering. All duties as a volunteer are secondary.
- Your membership includes any adult who is caring for your children (babysitter, grandparent, etc). Volunteer hours may also be performed by any caregiver of your children who has completed the required volunteer training.
- How are you scheduled? You let us know the days & times that work for you. Volunteer schedules are created 3 months at a time, therefore you can pick shift preferences and block out specific times/dates you will be unavailable.
- If you cannot make your shift (we know things come up last minute!) you can trade shifts and pick up a shift later in the month.
- If you work during the week- we have Saturday morning hours to pick from.
- We offer prenatal leave from volunteer responsibilities when you welcome a new child into your home.
- Did I mention that volunteer memberships are very inexpensive? If you visit our space or lend toys even 1 time a month, the membership more than pays for itself.
- Lastly, volunteering is a GREAT way to meet some amazing people J
We hope that you consider becoming a volunteer member to help us to continue to grow as an evolving leader and model in creative play & a resource for the entire Pittsburgh community. We would like to encourage any non-volunteer members and non-members to consider becoming a volunteer member. Please contact membe...@pghtoys.org if you would like to switch your current membership to volunteer. NEW members can purchase their membership online at http://pghtoys.org/get-involved/membership/ OR you can submit a paper application with payment at the front desk in the play space.
For any other questions, please contact pt...@pghtoys.org or mark...@pghtoys.org.
Thank you!
