West Philly residents are invited to participate in the following job and volunteer training programs in West and Southwest Philadelphia:

University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is recruiting Science Lab Helpers for positions with the University of Pennsylvania. Applications are accepted through Friday, Sept. 15. This is the 4th cohort the program has built with the university. They are looking to hire entry-level, Science Lab Helpers who will earn $15/hour to start.

The Skills Initiative is seeking applicants who possess a high school diploma or GED; are currently unemployed; and live in the West Philadelphia zip codes of 19104, 19131, 19139, 19143, or 19151. Applicants with experience working in janitorial, housekeeping, labor, science lab or related fields are encouraged to apply. Program participants receive a performance-based stipend during the training and learn the skills needed to successfully connect to employment and a fulfilling career path.  Continue Reading

It wasn’t a very good start to the “Love Your Park” week on Saturday, May 13, with some of the events, like the annual Spruce Hill May Fair, being rained out. This week, there will be more chances to celebrate and help clean up your neighborhood park as the “Love Your Park” week, sponsored by Philadelphia Parks & Rec and local community groups, continues. On Friday and Saturday, festivities will be held at at least three West Philly parks – Clark Park, Cedar Park and Malcolm X Park. A couple of park cleanups have also been scheduled, and volunteers are needed. Here are more details:

Cedar Park (49th and Baltimore)

Picnic in Cedar Park: Friday, May 19, 6-8 p.m.

Residents are invited to bring their own picnic or pick up a dinner at one of the neighborhood’s great businesses and enjoy a beautiful spring evening with their friends and neighbors.

Service Workday: Saturday, May 20, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The service workday in Cedar Park has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 20 due to rain. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Help is needed planting annuals and perennials, pruning, weeding, and doing general clean up. Tools and gloves will be provided. RSVP here.  Continue Reading

The 2017 “Love Your Park” week kicks off on Saturday, May 13 with a Spring Service Day, and many residents have already registered to help clean up and beautify parks across the city. A lot more volunteers are needed. Here are some volunteer opportunities available in West Philadelphia:

Cedar Park
When: 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: S. 49th & Catharine Sts
What: Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Help is needed planting annuals and perennials as well as pruning garden bushes. (On May 19 from 6-8 p.m., join Cedar Park Neighbors for a Bring Your Own Picnic in the park)
Register to volunteer.  Continue Reading

The 10th annual Philly Spring Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and volunteer help is essential for the success of this event. 130 project sites have been registered in West Philadelphia on the Philadelphia Streets Department website. Residents can view the projects in their neighborhood and register to volunteer here.

The organizers of the following cleanup projects also would like to let community members know about their sites:

Philly Spring Cleanup at Kingsessing Recreation Center (50th and Kingsessing), 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Cleanup supplies will be provided, plus free coffee, water and snacks for participants. Sign up at http://PhillySpringCleanup.com. For more information, visit the Friends of Kingsessing Rec Facebook page.  Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of Bartram’s Garden.

Here’s a great and unique volunteer opportunity this spring and summer in Southwest Philadelphia. The Bartram’s Garden Community Boathouse has few dozen open volunteer spots for its upcoming season. In exchange for helping run free boating programs, volunteers have access to the fleet of kayaks, canoes and rowboats on the lower Schuylkill River.

The boating season at Bartram’s begins on April 22 and ends on October 29, 2017. Volunteers are needed to help with the following programs: Saturday Free Walk-Up Boating, Tuesday Sunset Kayaking, weekday rowboating trips, monthly kayak tours, and more, as well as during special events at Bartram’s Garden, such as Tidal Schuylkill Boat Parade, the Philadelphia Honey Festival, Harvest Fest, and the Southwest Philadelphia Fishing Derby.  Continue Reading

Neighbors now have a chance to get more involved with Kingsessing Recreation Center (5001 Kingsessing Ave.). A new official program within the center, Friends of Kingsessing, has recently been formed and their first official service event is being planned for next week.

The program is seeking volunteers to come out on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help paint the front offices and basement, along with a few light maintenance tasks around the building.

Future events will be held on a monthly basis (no-commitment is needed), dates TBA, and future projects will be based on the input from and skills of the volunteers who participate.

“The Advisory Council, the Rec center, and the community would be very grateful if you can make it to this event, as volunteers truly make this facility function,” reads a message on the group’s Facebook page. “Pass the word around and invite your friends to come too, the more help, the better!”

Neighbors interested participating in the event can RSVP to Will Tung at: tungwill@gmail.com or through Facebook. Coffee, water and snacks will be provided!