With all the great hospitals we in the Pittsburgh area, you can imagine they'd have some leftovers. These unused and unexpired items would end up being thrown away if it weren't for Global Links, an organization that recovers 300 tons of valuable surplus medical materials from our region's healthcare systems every year.

That's where you come in. Global Links needs volunteers to help sort and re-package those items so they are ready to save lives in resource-poor communities. They've set aside special "Volunteer Days" to do just that.

"Life-saving, not land-filling. That's the power of your time." Global Links

There's a "Family Volunteer Day" coming up on Saturday, December 15 from 1-3pm at their Volunteer Service Center in Green Tree. You'll learn about Global Links' mission, help sort and pack materials, and enjoy a snack while you reflect on the day. A donation of $10 per person/$30 per family offsets the cost of getting the items you sorted to where they're needed. As you can see from the pictures, families who participated in the last volunteer day look like they had a great time.

If you can't make December 15, or you'd like to volunteer with a group from work , your church or school , or just by yourself , there are lots of other opportunities, including volunteer times on weekdays. Global Links calls volunteering with them a real relationship-building activity. ?"When you do something to contribute to society beyond yourself, you feel good," they say on their website.

They want you schedule ahead of time, which you can do here . People under 18 must bring a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. And if you can't afford the donation for "Family Volunteer Day" there are scholarships from Global Links sponsor, UPMC. E-mail Stacy at gllvolunteer@globallinks.org or call her 412-361-3424 x205 to find out more.