Here’s a good opportunity to help a local cause and to get your energy back for the holidays. This Friday, Dec. 16 join a fundraising yoga class hosted by Wake Up Yoga (4916 Baltimore Ave.). All proceeds from the class will go to support the Saint Francis de Sales Christmas Outreach program, which provides gifts for children in West and Southwest Philly.

This is a restorative yoga class and it is perfect for beginners. Instructor Alane Benson (pictured) will teach you how to ease away tension, stress and fatigue using gravity as a prop, so you leave feeling rejuvenated and renewed.

The class will run from 7:45 – 9:15 p.m. No pre-registration is required. For more information go here.

Two more awesome holiday events are happening in the neighborhood this weekend.

• This Saturday, Dec. 10 come and see what Stanford Thompson (director of Play On, Philly!) and his student musicians at Saint Francis de Sales have achieved when they present their Holiday Concert. Guest conductor is Rossen Milanov, who has conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann. The concert begins at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium (917 S. 47th St., at Windsor Ave.). Admission is free.

• Are you up for caroling this weekend? If yes, come to Clark Park “B” (45th & Regent) on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 5:00 p.m. for the annual Clark Park Christmas Caroling. Sing traditional Christmas carols around the Community Christmas tree with your neighbors and enjoy some refreshments afterwards. For more information call 215-222-2255.

Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? If not, International House Philly (3701 Chestnut Street) invites you to  “shop ‘til you drop” at the International Holiday Bazaar tomorrow, Dec. 9. Come and check out great bargains from around the world at this all-day shopping event running from 1 – 7 p.m. when IHP’s Galleria gets transformed into a holiday village.

There will be something for everyone’s taste and wallet: crafts, food, jewelry, custom prints, toys and fashion from around the world.

Here’s another opportunity to shop local for the holidays. The University City Arts League (4226 Spruce Street) is opening its annual Holiday Craft Show and Sale on Friday, Dec. 2.

Over 30 artists and crafts people will be selling their work, including jewelry, hand-painted silk scarves, pottery, hand-made gift cards, small paintings and prints. All work is hand-made and reasonably priced.

The artisans at the Arts League Crafts Show include Kelly Ann Mifflin (jewelry, pictured), Ken Beidler, Priscilla Sepe, Art Cohen, Dave (Fatman) Fowler (pottery), and Aubrey Levinthal (paintings).

The show is running December 2 through December 15 with the following hours: Dec. 2 & 3: 6 – 9 p.m., daily hours: 3 – 9 p.m., weekend hours: noon – 6 p.m.

60 percent of the proceeds will go to the artists and the remainder to support community arts programs provided by the Arts League.

Here’s one of the holiday volunteer opportunities. Project MEOW is looking for foster parents for their cats this holiday season.

Project MEOW adoptables (like Dewey, pictured) are nurtured in individual foster homes, allowing for personal assessments of their character, to make the best matches possible with their future forever homes. Project MEOW covers medical and health care, promotes the cat’s adoptable status, and reviews the adoption applications – you provide food, litter, toys, and most rewarding of all, the love and attention the kitty needs. Please contact projectmeowadoptions[at]gmail.com to meet your holiday cuddler, and give the gift of fostering.

Project MEOW is an all-volunteer, animal welfare group that humanely reduces the stray cat population in West Philadelphia through rescue, trap-neuter-return and building strong relationships with the residents who feed and care for stray cats.

Don’t miss the Big Holiday Book Sale at the Walnut West Library (201 S 40th St.) this Saturday, Dec. 3. All books are in excellent, gift-giving condition. There will be a great selection of cookbooks, children’s books, quality non-fiction and coffee-table books. The sale will be held in the library’s community room from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

December is almost here and we will be paying a lot of attention to holiday events in the neighborhood. Please share any information on upcoming holiday events and volunteer opportunities in our area. Email us at: editor[at]westphillylocal.com.