Do you like chess and enjoy working with kids? Then consider this volunteer opportunity at the Walnut Street West Library. The library’s Chess Club, which meets every Wednesday from 5:15-7 p.m., is looking for volunteer chess coaches to help its young members, 6 years to 13 years of age. You don’t have to be a chess master, just patient when working with kids.

The Chess Club won the first place in the 2017 MasterMinds Scholastic Summer Chess League Championship.

The library is located at 201 S. 40th Street (corner of 40th and Walnut).

If you are interested to volunteer on a regular basis – once a month or more – please contact Mary Goldman: marylgoldman@gmail.com.

The Woodlands’ Grave Gardeners program, which launched in 2016 and quickly became popular, is seeking a new group of volunteers to tend to cradle graves at the cemetery beginning this spring. These cradle graves were designed to be planters in the Victorian era, and volunteers will be tending to their assigned graves throughout the entire growing season (March – November).

Volunteers will receive guidance from the Woodlands through workshops, demonstrations and other events, as well as a wide variety of plant material. They’re also welcome to plant their own additional plants. Workshops will held in February and March to give gardeners a knowledge base for their work and more historical context for the program.  Continue Reading

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on Monday, Jan. 15. Here’s a list of events and Day of Service opportunities for local residents. Visit mlkdayofservice.org/volunteer for more volunteer opportunities in Philadelphia.

• MLK Events at Penn

Penn’s MLK Day of Service activities begin with a breakfast for volunteers, and includes a college fair, sprucing up various locations around West Philadelphia, recording audio books to promote literacy and more. It concludes with a candlelight vigil. More details can be found here.

The Day of Service kicks off Penn’s Annual MLK Symposium for Social Change, two weeks worth of events and activities (from panel discussions to film screenings to performances and lectures) that are centered around social justice. For more information, go here.  Continue Reading

Cedar Park Neighbors in cooperation with area churches and other nonprofit organizations, will again prepare and distribute food baskets for those in need during the holiday season. The 2017 CPN Holiday Food Drive is currently underway. The suggested donation is $36. Support at this amount will help CPN supply meals for two families.

In 2016, CPN was able to reach over 150 local families.  Continue Reading

“Love Your Park” Fall Service Day has been scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 4 with thousands of volunteers stepping outside to help clean and prep city parks for winter. There are many beautiful parks in West Philly that need volunteer help as well this Saturday.

Cedar Park Neighbors’ Park Committee is looking for a few volunteers for Love Your Park Service Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: “Come out to meet your neighbors, enjoy the cool fall weather, and help beautify Cedar Park! No gardening experience is necessary. Gloves, tools, and refreshments will be provided.” Walk-ins are welcome, but advance registration is helpful. RSVP by e-mailing contact@cedarparkneighbors.org

Fall cleanups will also take place in Clark Park (43rd and Chester), Barkan Park (50th and Spruce), Saunders Park (39th and Powelton), Malcolm X Park (51st and Pine), and other local parks. Check out the map of parks here and register to volunteer here. Registration closes Friday, Nov. 3 at noon.

Photo courtesy of LoLa 38.

Over the past year, a creative placemaking project, LoLa 38, helped bring art installations, community gatherings and other events to Lower Lancaster Avenue. On Oct. 14, a closing celebration for LoLa 38 will take place near the intersection of Powelton Ave. and N. 38th St. with over five hours of live music and dance performances by such well-known artists and groups as Chill Moody, Raheem DeVaughn, Philadanco, Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble, and many more. The Soul Farm Community Festival will also feature local art and food. The event will kick off at 2 p.m.  Continue Reading