Many kids in the Philadelphia area will be cold this winter because their families can’t afford heat or warm clothes. To help local children stay warm, neighbor Jeannette Bennicelli is organizing a winter coat drive for Cradles to Crayons, a local non-profit that provides children living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need. If you have new or used winter clothing or coats for children aged infant through 17 years old that you would like to donate, please email Jeannette at: jbennice2@gmail.com to arrange the donations.

UPDATE: Jeannette sends many thanks to all those who responded to this post and donated coats and says that she welcomes more donations (deadline is Monday, Dec. 17).

More than 100 Henry C. Lea Elementary students have been invited to spend a day at the University of Pennsylvania this Saturday (Dec. 1) when they become honorary college students during College Day 2012. The goal of this event (held three times each year) is to “excite students about the college experience, so they will be motivated to work hard in middle and high school and strive for a college education.”

Lea students are expected to come in the morning and stay until about 4 p.m. Penn students will be mentors throughout the day, sharing their college experiences with the kids and showing them around the campus. College Day participants will also take a mock Wharton management course and complete a class project – working in groups, they’ll design products that college students would want to purchase. At the end of their visit, Lea students will see a performance of Penn dance and singing groups.

Check out these awesome holiday events for the whole family coming up at Walnut West Library. Thanks to volunteer group Friends of Walnut West Library for organizing many of them!

• A Zoo on Wheels is coming to the library on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m. and bringing Outrageous Reptiles. It’s a great chance to come face to face with snakes, turtles and crocodilians to learn about diverse reptilian lifestyles and the importance of these animals in a variety of ecosystems.

• On Saturday, Dec. 1, from 1:30-3:30 p.m., Lauren Leatherbarrow will lead a wreath making event at the library. This event is being co sponsored by the Friends of Walnut Street West Library and the University City Garden Club. Frames and fresh balsam will be available as well as pine cones. Donation is $10. If you want a bow on your wreath you need to bring 10 feet of wire edge ribbon. Lauren will teach how to make the bows. Attendance is by pre-registration only with the head librarian, Heather Sparks. Space is limited since each person needs a large work area. No previous experience is necessary. Pre-register by calling 215-685-7671 or by email at: sparksh@freelibrary.org.

• On Saturday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the library is holding a Big Holiday Book Sale. Books for all ages will be available, so come and find the perfect gift!

• On Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the library invites neighbors to the Children’s Holiday Concert featuring piano students of David Shunskis.

For information on other upcoming events and to see how you can support the library, visit: http://www.wswlibraryfriends.org/

This Saturday, families with young children are invited to a fun and educational event: the Parent Infant Center, which provides early learning and after school care for infants to grade 6 and is dedicated to promoting literacy and pre-literacy as a family activity, is organizing a Family Book Fest at the Rotunda (40th & Walnut). This is a free event and open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There will be lots of reading, crafts and other family fun activities for ages 7-under. WXPN’s Kathy O’Connell, host of Kids’ Corner, will join in with read-aloud stories, followed by a concert with Two of a Kind.

Bring a slightly used children’s book for the swap table and take home some new stories to share with your family.

Here’s a couple of fun pumpkin carving and decorating events taking place in the neighborhood this weekend:

“Build it Bus” for pumpkin carving at Clark Park

Saturday Oct. 27, 1:00-2:00 pm

Woodland Presbyterian Church is hosting a Fall pumpkin carving and craft time in Clark Park. The “Build it Bus” will be there too! The bus is a place where kids can come and use woodworking tools to carve the pumpkins and make crafts. The first 50 to arrive will get pumpkins to take home with them. Look for the converted paratransit bus in the parking lot by the soccer field between 1 and 2 pm.

Pumpkin Day at Vineyard Community Church

Sunday Oct. 28, 1:00-4:00 pm

If you are looking for something fun and free to do this upcoming Sunday with your family, check out the annual Pumpkin Day event hosted by Vineyard Community Church. Due to the forecast calling for rain, it’ll be indoors, in the new church building located at 123 S. 51st Street.  If by chance the weather is gorgeous, the event will be held at Malcolm X Park (52nd & Pine). There will be plenty of fun things to do that involve all things fall, including pumpkin decorating, face-painting, fall crafts, jewelry making, games and prizes, and yummy fall treats!

This Saturday, Penn Museum celebrates the National Archaeology Day and invites folks of all ages for an afternoon filled with fun and adventures. A host of adventurous activities honor the fictional explorer-archaeologist Professor Henry Walton Jones (aka Indiana Jones). Here’s what will be happening at the museum tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m.:

Guests to Indiana Jones Day can join in a What in the World? game show; hear real archaeology adventure stories from a world-traveling National Geographic archaeologist; take part in a hands-on program using archaeology to solve a mystery; and even touch a real ancient mummy (without a curse!). Kids and families can take a literal “run in Indy’s footsteps” in an outdoor obstacle course, make Indy-inspired arts and crafts, follow a scavenger hunt for (not so) hidden treasures, and try movie-inspired cuisine (monkey brains, anyone?).

This is a free event with Penn Museum admission ($12 for adults; $10 for seniors [65+]; $8 for full-time students [with ID] and children [6-17]; and free for children under 6). Visitors wearing an Indiana Jones-style fedora receive $2 off the price of admission!

Indiana Jones Day is cosponsored by The Philadelphia Chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America. For more information about the event, visit this page.