Stephanie Badstibner of McKeesport recalled waiting in line overnight to be one of the first moms inside the Play it Forward Pittsburgh Toy Drive.

It’s a free toy store where families can peruse thousands of items from cars and trucks to dolls and blocks.

The mother of five wanted to be there early so her children would have presents under the tree on Christmas morning.

“I have been in a situation where I didn’t have enough money to buy toys,” said Badstibner, who has volunteered for the toy drive for six years. “So that’s why I volunteer now because I want to help another mom or dad or grandparent. It’s a good feeling.”

On Thursday, she and family members and friends helped shop for others inside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. Families register and can pick up toys they ask for that are pre-boxed on Friday or can shop themselves on Saturday.

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review Trucks are lined up nside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, on Dec. 16 at Play it Forward Pittsburgh.  

This is the 11th year and the need continues to grow as do the donations, said Heather Starr Fiedler, of Cheswick, who is co-founder of Play it Forward Pittsburgh with Amy Kier Reinhart of Mars. The organization began when the two mothers had adjoining offices at Point Park University, Downtown Pittsburgh. Their children had outgrown some toys and they decided to start collecting gently used toys to donate to kids in need.

They shared a post on Facebook and trucks and bicycles started rolling in one by one.

This year, more than 100 businesses and community groups collected toys, many started collecting in October. Fiedler said there are more than 1,000 families signed up for 4,000 children.

“People are so generous,” she said. “And our volunteers are wonderful. Some come every day. And the businesses and groups who collect toys for us are wonderful.”

Fielder and Reinhart decided to use a hybrid system – both boxed toys and shopping — to accommodate those who might not want to come into the convention center because of the pandemic. More and more families are opting to have everything pre-boxed, Fiedler said.

There aren’t any openings for more families this year, but the organization is always looking for volunteers and partners to collect toys to keep the event going. Most are gently-used toys. There are some new items.

They deliver them to the convention center. They arrive by car, by bus, by U-Haul. One of the donators is a moving company so the toys arrived neatly packed inside the moving truck.

“It’s gotten bigger every year,” she said. “It truly is a community effort. The Pittsburgh community is wonderful. We have wonderful support and the volunteers are wonderful.”

Heather Ross, of Verona, has been volunteering for years.

“There is definitely a need for this,” said Ross, who has been there setting up since Monday. “Don’t throw something away if it can be used. Donate it to us, and we can find a family who can give that toy new life. We will find homes for these toys. It’s about sharing in a larger community.”

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review Inside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, on Dec. 16 are some dinosaurs available at Play it Forward Pittsburgh.  

Ross said she sees so many families who volunteer together because it is something they can share. Many recipients come back to volunteer.

“That’s wonderful to see because it means we made a difference in their lives and they want to do the same for someone else,” Fielder said.

That’s exactly why, agreed Badstibner.

“My kids think the convention center is Santa’s workshop and they are helping Santa find toys for kids,” she said. “It’s about paying it forward and teaching kids. We also get to meet really nice people, and we talk and share struggles. I remember carrying bags of toys from here on the bus because I didn’t have access to a car. People were staring at me instead of helping me. You have to think about what people might be going through.”

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