The holidays are approaching fast and a lot of charitable organizations are stepping up their efforts to help those in need. This year has been especially hard for many families and children already at risk because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some of the holiday drives going on in West Philly this year.

Photo courtesy of ACHIEVEability

ACHIEVEability’s Children’s Holiday Gift Drive

“This year has been tough for all of us, especially West Philadelphian children. Virtual learning and quarantine have impacted these kids in so many ways… This holiday season help bring joy to a child in need by donating a special gift.”

Sign up to provide holiday gifts for those in need by December 6 by emailing Matt at mlafronz@achieve-ability.org. Indicate how many children you would like to sponsor. After that you will receive a link to an Amazon wish list for each child you are sponsoring. Purchase a gift(s) totaling up to $50 for each child you sponsor, and wrap and label the gift(s). Make arrangements to deliver all items to ACHIEVEability at 21 S. 61st St., Philadelphia, PA 19139 by December 13. If you ship the items directly to ACHIEVEability from Amazon, please include a gift note with your package, including your name and contact information. 

ACHIEVEability is also hosting an End of Year Donation Drive. Go here for more information and to donate.

People’s Emergency Center’s (PEC) Holiday Drive

PEC is asking that gifts be new and unwrapped. Due to COVID-19, PEC is requesting that donations be shipped and not dropped off in person this year. Please ship the donations to: PEC, Attn: Development Holiday 2020, 3902 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 between December 1 and December 17. Gift cards to local restaurants and stores can bring cheer and offer choices to teens and parents. Visit https://bit.ly/PECWish for gift ideas and links to cards that can be ordered online. Please send gift cards between December 1 and December 23 to PEC, Attn: Trish Downey, Holiday 2020, 325 N. 39th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Basket Drive

This annual campaign helps provide holiday meals to dozens of Cedar Park families. The drive usually launches right after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Last year, the campaign raised over $4,400. Keep an eye out for this year’s holiday fundraising efforts in Cedar Park by visiting the Cedar Park Neighbors website.

Families Forward Philadelphia 

Families Forward Philadelphia is hosting an annual Holiday Toy Drive and other fundraising campaigns for children and families in their emergency housing system. For more information on how you can help these families, go here.