PGH Mobile Toolbox

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You bring the team.
We bring the tools.

Welcome to the PGH Mobile Toolbox, a first-of-its-kind resource in Allegheny County. This resource is perfect for volunteer groups and organizations who need landscaping tools for neighborhood cleanups, vacant lot beautification, or the implementation and maintenance of food gardens, green infrastructure, trails or general community gathering spaces.

The PGH Mobile Toolbox supports a growing network of residents who are ready to mobilize to transform their communities. This Toolbox season is made possible thanks to the support of our sponsor, UPMC Health Plan.

Interested in hosting your very own workday? Below is all the information you need to get started!

Booking the PGH Mobile Toolbox

  1. Submit an Intake Form – Select a date and tell us about your project and your specific needs for the workday. We encourage residents to partner with local community groups, nonprofits, block watches, etc, when submitting your intake form to strengthen the impact of your workday. For any future workdays, even if they take place at the same site, a new intake form must be submitted.
  2. Confirmation  – You will receive an email notification that your workday has been approved and booked on the PGH Mobile Toolbox calendar. You will then receive a phone call from a Grounded staff member to confirm your workday details and answer any questions that you may have.

Intake Form and Toolbox Booking

Click the button on the right to reserve the toolbox. Don't forget to check out our FAQ before booking the PGH Mobile Toolbox! Keep scrolling for more info.

Reserve the Toolbox

What to Expect During Your Workday

  1. Workday Setup – We ask that you meet the PGH Mobile Toolbox on site 30 minutes before the start time of the workday to assist with equipment setup. It is important to secure the proper parking space prior to the arrival of the PGH Mobile Toolbox.
  2. Sign Up and Safety – Sign in your volunteers using the waiver provided with the PGH Mobile Toolbox. After everyone is signed in, all volunteers will participate in a 10-minute tool safety demonstration given by our hauling contractor.
  3. Work Work Work! Facilitate your full workday from start to finish. Don’t be afraid to ask for the assistance of our contract hauler.
  4. Load Up and Roll Out – After the workday, help our hauler clean up and take a full tool inventory. Once the PGH Mobile Tool Box is fully loaded, it is time to roll out.
  5. Post Paperwork – Send us 3-5 quality photos from the workday, along with the volunteer sign in sheet, and report on how the workday went by completing the post workday survey.
  6. If you enjoyed your experience with the PGH Mobile Toolbox, feel free to make another booking!

For information about reserving the Toolbox outside of the regular schedule, call Grounded at 412 361 2099 Ext. 7 or email tom@groundedpgh.org

PGH Mobile Toolbox FAQ

Why is it on wheels?

When it comes to community projects, we find that there is often a lot of motivation, resources for events, and partnerships with service providing organizations; there is a shortage of tools available to communities to sustain the care taking and stewardship of their green projects. To make this resource as available as possible, we will bring the tools to you!

Who is it for?

Any resident of Allegheny County who is over 18 and has at least 5 volunteers from committed to assisting with the workday.

What is it for?

Any community serving cleaning and green effort that are led by and for the benefit of surrounding communities.

What comes in the Mobile Toolbox?

Once registered to use the Mobile Tool Box, you will have access landscaping tools, hand tools, and under special request, small power tools! For a full inventory of equipment available, check out the Tool Inventory. Don’t see what you need, call our office at 412 361 2099 ex 7 to put in a request. If we have multiple requests for the same tool, we may be able to add it to the inventory!

Do I have to haul that thing?!?

Absolutely not! We have hired a seasonal hauling contractor who will be delivering the trailer to your site. The contractor will also facilitate a brief tool safety training for your volunteers and even assist with your workday execution! Once finished, the contractor will haul the trailer away.

When is the Mobile Toolbox available?

Seasonally from May 1st through the end of October on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30am-4pm for single day increments. The resource will not be left overnight on site.

How do I get started?

Go to Lotstolove.org and submit the intake form. Please familiarize yourself with our terms and conditions before submitting. We will get in touch with you shortly after to schedule a phone call. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Grounded office at 412 361 2099 ex. 7 to speak with Tom.

What is the Mobile Toolbox?

A mobile landscaping tool library stocked with a range of hand tools, equipment and landscaping materials available for FREE to resident groups and community organizations to use in the care taking and stewardship of vacant land and community green space. Registration for using the trailer will be facilitated through the online portal www.lotstolove.org/intake-form.