When Cami Teacoach was 3, her mom took her volunteering.
So, when Cami’s own son, Bennett, was the same age, she followed suit. But there weren’t any good opportunities for her toddler to learn the value of helping others.
That’s when she took matters into her own hands, founding VolunTOTs of Southwestern PA in 2021, a nonprofit that provides real volunteering opportunities for children 3 and older.
After all, age is just a number, in Teacoach’s view.
“They’re enthusiastic. They feel very proud at being helpers. They want to help people, and they can help people,” said Teacoach, who lives in Marshall with her sons, Bennett, now 8, and Will, 6.
The group is for “tots, tweens and everybody in between,” said Teacoach, 37.
“You’re never too young to learn the value of helping a fellow Pittsburgher,” Teacoach said.
The group is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a free community birthday party Feb. 21 at the Kingsley Association in Pittsburgh’s East End. The party will host two sessions — 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. — with free children’s activities and information about the group.
Registration is required at voluntots.org.
This year also marks more than 3,000 followers on the VolunTOTs Facebook page and providing nearly 100 volunteering opportunities throughout Pittsburgh and beyond.
Volunteering doesn’t always come naturally, and it seems that everyone is busy. But when parents hear about it and see the good things they do, they’re inspired to join, Teacoach said.
The benefit is far-reaching.
“We see a real uptick in civic pride and engagement. We see kids who want to learn about being a good citizen, who want to be involved in the community,” said Teacoach, who has master’s degrees in social work and public health with an emphasis on maternal and child health.
Adults also report seeing a positive change in their child’s behavior after an event, she said.
VolunTOTs partners with local organizations for volunteering opportunities, including Hello Neighbor, Jeremiah’s Place, the Gardens of Millvale and senior living communities throughout the Pittsburgh suburbs.
One of the largest events of the year is participating at Thanksgiving food drives, including at Temple Emanuel in the South Hills and Discovery Christian Church in Mars. Between both locations, families collected and packed more than 350 Thanksgiving food boxes in November for local families experiencing food insecurity.
In March 2021, a year into the covid pandemic, members put together more than 3,000 treat bags to thank local “health care heroes” and delivered them to health care professionals at 27 facilities.
VolunTOTs, a 501(c)3 organization, is structured regionally in the northern, southern, eastern and western areas of Pittsburgh and also within the city itself.
Danielle Cuomo of Marshall, who serves as the VolunTOTs Steering Committee’s northern representative, has been involved since the beginning.
“For me, as a parent, I’ve believed that teaching our kids to volunteer is about showing them that kindness is an action that we take, not just something that we say. Having volunteered with my kids since they were able to walk, it’s helped them to recognize that their actions matter,” said Cuomo, a mother of three.
Her 8-year-old daughter, Capria Savena, and a friend sorted and packed food donations in November at Discovery Church in Mars for local families in need.
Though they are both young, this is something they’re perfectly capable of doing, Cuomo said. It’s a simple way to show them that something they may take for granted, like food, isn’t always a reality for others.
“It hasn’t been about raising our kids to be perfect but rather raising them to show up for others,” Cuomo said. “At VolunTOTs, we say that no hand is too small to help.”
Teacoach is an example of how learning these skills benefited her later in life. Helping others eventually became habitual for Teacoach. In fact, one of the first things she did in college was seek out volunteering opportunities.
“It became routine because of my family life,” said Teacoach, a Cleveland native.
Families are invited to join the VolunTOTS Facebook Group to stay up to date on volunteer opportunities and to learn more about getting involved.
Overall, Teacoach’s philosophy is to start young when it comes to helping others.
“You don’t know the impact you could have on a child,” she said.
