Winter holidays are approaching fast, and residents have a chance to make them brighter for local kids by donating toys. The Office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) is again hosting a toy drive for West Philadelphia children. There are two ways to participate in the drive – toys can be purchased directly through one of the registries or dropped off at the District Office located at 606 S. 52nd Street.

“Every child deserves to feel the warmth of the holidays,” Councilmember Gauthier said in a statement. “By participating in the 3rd District Toy Drive, you’re not just giving gifts— you’re sharing hope, joy, and the magic of the season.”

Please note that only new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the District Office. The hours are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Here are the links to the registries:

Target Toy Registry

Amazon Toy Registry

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For many years, local community organization, Cedar Park Neighbors, in collaboration with area churches and other nonprofit organizations, has been preparing and distributing food baskets for neighbors in need during the holiday season. This holiday season is no exception. As always, to make this great initiative a success, CPN is holding their annual Holiday Basket Drive. Suggested donation this year is $45, which will help feed two families.

Donations are accepted online at: https://donorbox.org/holiday-basket. Payments can also be sent to: Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Baskets, Calvary Community Center, 4740 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.

CPN members and volunteers will be packing and distributing the baskets on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at Renewal Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of 47th and Cedar Avenue. Please feel free to contact the event organizer, Michelle Lewis, at mlewis1071@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer or are interested in donating bulk items. Also, feel free to ask any questions by email.

As always on #GivingTuesday, we’re encouraging our readers to show their appreciations for West Philly-based non-profit organizations. Throughout the day, we’ll be posting/sharing messages from West Philly non-profits in this post and on our social media. Please consider supporting a local cause today with your donation or volunteering. Also, check out our Civic Life/Neighborhood Resources page where you can find information on many other West Philly non-profit organizations and community groups.

It’s #GivingTuesday and HopePHL’s first birthday! This year, we helped 1,000 children experiencing homelessness, supported 1,500 West Philly residents, and prevented 55 evictions. Please help us reach more people with a tax-deductible gift: https://t.co/JwONHnwvpm. pic.twitter.com/pzyyxkviHM

— HopePHL (@hope_phl) December 3, 2024

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Improvements are coming to Malcolm X Park in 2025, and community members have a chance to learn more and provide feedback at a community meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6-7 p.m., at 24 S. 52nd St. Those who are unable to attend the meeting are invited to fill out an online survey – click here!

Improvements will include some general site maintenance, including new benches, curb repairs and a playground redesign. The survey invites families with children to provide feedback on what types of updates they want to see at the playground.

The meeting is organized by The Friends of Malcolm X Park community group in cooperation with Philadelphia Parks & Rec and the Office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District).

The city’s Office of Multimodal Planning and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) are hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to provide information and get feedback on the 47th Street Traffic Safety Project, which aims to improve traffic safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers from Chestnut Street to Kingsessing Avenue.

The project was first presented in 2023, along with the 48th Street Traffic Safety Project, but the redesign and repaving phases were put on hold earlier this year since more public input was needed. The initial plan included such changes as conversion of a portion of the street, between Paschall and Market, to one-way vehicle traffic.

Blocks along 47th Street from Chestnut Street to Paschall Avenue is on the City’s Vision Zero High Injury Network (HIN).

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A great West Philly tradition, the Peoplehood Parade & Pageant, is returning on Saturday, Nov. 9. The family-friendly event, featuring giant puppets created by Spiral Q as well as drumlines and banners, will kick off at 1 p.m. at the Paul Robeson House (4951 Walnut St). The line-up begins at 12 p.m.

The parade will proceed to Clark Park at 45th and Kingsessing, where performances will take place, starting approximately at 2:15 p.m.

The annual event, which has been held since the 1990s, promotes diversity, civic engagement and creativity. The longtime organizer is the West Philly-based arts organization, Spiral Q, which works with artists, activists and community members and groups to create the giant puppets and banners for the event.

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