The annual Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Basket Drive has kicked off. CPN, in collaboration with area churches and other nonprofit organizations, will again prepare and distribute food baskets for neighbors in need during the holiday season.

A suggested donation is $45. This amount will help the organizers feed two families in their commitment to “neighbors helping neighbors.” In the year before the pandemic, CPN was able to raise enough money to reach over 200 local families (800 people total).

As always, volunteers are an integral part of this event. Help is needed on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore), where the baskets will be packed and distributed. Please feel free to contact CPN at mlewis1071@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer or donate bulk items for the drive.

For more information and to submit your donation, go here.

Today is Giving Tuesday, the day when we’re reminded of all the hard work done in our community by local non-profits and community groups.

Throughout the day, we’ll be posting messages from local non-profits and encourage you to support them with your donation or volunteer work. You can also find a list of local organizations on our Civic Life page. Continue Reading

The City’s Department of Streets has opened registration for residents and groups who want to participate in this year’s Spring Cleanup, the annual citywide cleaning, beautification and greening program.

This year, the event will be held on Saturday, April 2. Individuals and organizations are invited to submit their projects, such as park and neighborhood cleanups, or register as volunteers.

The Spring Cleanup activities include trash pick-up, sweeping sidewalks, removing graffiti, painting benches, planting bulbs and more.

Project registration deadline is Friday, March 18. Volunteers registration closes on Friday, April 1.

The program launched in 2008 and since then a total of 200,000 volunteers have removed more than 11 million pounds of trash.

To register your project idea or as a volunteer, please go here.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is this Monday, Jan. 17 and many events celebrating his legacy have been scheduled around the city, virtually and in-person. Here’s a list of some events and volunteer opportunities happening in West and Southwest Philadelphia and on-line. Also, check out the list compiled by the Office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.

To explore additional MLK Day volunteer opportunities in Philadelphia, click here.

Thursday, Jan. 13 & Friday, Jan. 14:

Sam Pollard Film Screenings – Virtual Event

Scribe Video Center is hosting an online screening of two films by acclaimed filmmaker Sam Pollard. On Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m., join Scribe for a presentation of MLK/FBI, and on Friday, Jan. 14 at 7:00 p.m. there will be a presentation of Two Trains Runnin’, followed by a conversation with Sam Pollard. The screenings and conversation will be presented through the Crowdcast platform. Click here for more information and to register. Continue Reading

After a very challenging couple of years, it’s important to remember about all the hard work done in the community by local not-for-profit organizations. There’s a chance to support them today, on #GivingTuesday. Today, we’ll be posting messages from local non-profits so that you can support them with your donation or volunteer work. Also, please check our Civic Life page for the list of local organizations. Continue Reading

Two local non-profit organizations are seeking volunteers to work with Philadelphia children on their reading and writing skills or to help with other tasks.

• Mighty Writers, which has been focusing on providing food and literacy during the pandemic, is looking for volunteers who love writing and want to share that love with young people. Volunteers at Mighty Writers (over 400 every year!) are writers, playwrights, filmmakers, artists and business professionals. Volunteers all have three things in common: compassion, patience and a willingness to learn from the students.

Currently there are two ways to volunteer with Mighty Writers – by offering 1:1 writing attention to a child, or supporting the organization’s food and diaper distribution efforts. Continue Reading