The West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (WPCA), which promotes social change through the arts and curates the historic Paul Robeson House & Museum located at 4951 Walnut Street, is celebrating its 36th Anniversary today and has some great news to share with the community!

The organization was recently awarded a $135,000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. The funding will be used to hire a new executive director, who will be the first paid leader in the organization’s history. The nonprofit WPCA has always relied on volunteers.

The new executive director will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the WPCA and the Robeson House & Museum, as well as ensure its sustainability.  Continue Reading

Local organizations, groups, and/or causes are invited to apply for the 2020-2021 cycle of Mariposa Food Co-op‘s Round-up For Change program.

Through the program, which is now in its third year, Mariposa’s member-owners and shoppers “round-up” their purchases to the nearest dollar, and the extra change is then donated to program recipients. The first recipient will be selected for September 2020 and the cycle will run until August 2021.

Organizations whose missions or objectives carry out one of the following will be considered:  Continue Reading

We have shared information on what’s happening at local restaurants and eateries and how you can order food (takeout or delivery). Some restaurants have also posted information on how you can help their workers during the pandemic. University City District’s UC Dining Days website provides information on dozens West Philly restaurants. Check it out here.

But what about other businesses that have been affected by the coronavirus? An online resource, Support PHL, has been created to support businesses that were closed following Governor Wolf’s directive to help spread COVID-19 in the state. There you can find information on many West Philly businesses – barber shops, gift and flower shops, fitness studios, cafes and bars, art studios, and more. There is also information on various COVID-19 relief funds and resources for small businesses.

For more information and to donate to small businesses, go here. For relief funds, check out this page.

Curio’s spring show, Everybody, was postponed indefinitely (Photo by Rebecca Gudelunas)

Curio Theatre has postponed their spring production, EVERYBODY, indefinitely. The show had been scheduled to open on April 25th and was supposed to conclude Curio’s 15th season.

“We take the safety of our community very seriously, and based on current health guidelines, we felt we had no other choice but to postpone,” reads an e-mail announcement from Curio’s Managing Director Gay Carducci and Artistic Director Paul Kuhn. “… Keeping our artists and staff safe is something we do not take lightly, but this was a difficult decision to make on behalf of an entire community — a decision that impacts actors, designers, and backstage theater makers.”  Continue Reading

West Philly-based Mercy Catholic Medical Center – Mercy Philadelphia Campus (former Mercy Philadelphia Hospital), is accepting medical supply donations from the community to support its COVID-19 response.

The hospital is accepting donations for the following unopened items:  Continue Reading

We’ve been getting requests from people looking for places where they can donate unwanted clothing. The City has an online database for disposal, recycling and donation options in the area, including clothing donations. We have compiled clothing donation options in the West Philadelphia area in the list below (if you know of more options, please let our readers know in the comments below).

If you have some unwanted professional clothes that you want to donate, check out Career Wardrobe, an organization that helps people looking for jobs look more presentable during interviews. They accept donations of clothing, footwear, accessories, and toiletries at their drop-off locations in Spring Garden and in Lansdowne, Pa. Click here for more info.  Continue Reading