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There are several opportunities to support local families and youth during this holiday season. Local non-profit organizations working with families as well as West Philly-elected officials are currently holding holiday gift and toy drives:

• Third District Councilmember Jamie Gauthier is hosting a Holiday Toy Drive at her office at 1400 JFK Boulevard, Room 586. You can drop off donations there through Thursday, Dec. 15 or purchase toys online – browse 3rd District wish lists on Target and Amazon.

• People’s Emergency Center (PEC) and Youth Service, Inc., are collecting gift cards for local families and youth experiencing homelessness:

“Providing gift cards offers people experiencing homelessness who are about to move to permanent housing an opportunity to select housewares, cleaning products, toiletries, self-care products, and decor items that really make a house a home. For other families and youth, selecting their own clothing, shoes, outerwear to increase the confidence of children going to school, youth with no family support, and parents going on a job interview or beginning employment. Gift cards to local fast-food restaurants and stores can bring cheer and offer teens and parents the opportunity to participate in social activities with their peers.” Continue Reading

The Friends of Clark Park continues working on the new master plan for the park, which includes gathering input from the community. All interested community members and groups have another chance to learn more about the plan and discuss in person their vision for the park, which stretches from Baltimore Ave. to Woodland Ave. from 43rd to 45th St. FCP will hold an Open House session on Thursday, Dec. 14 in Rosenberger Hall which is the Saint Joseph’s University (formerly USciences) building at the south end of Clark Park.

The event will provide an opportunity for an open discussion and interested community members can stop by the open house at any time between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m.

The first Clark Park Master Plan Open House took place at the Farmers’ Market on Nov. 19., and the results will inform this open house.

The goal of the master plan is to set the vision for future park development and investment plans. It is expected to be completed early next year.

The long-anticipated opening of the new brewery and winery in the red-brick firehouse building, former Dock Street West location at 50th and Baltimore, is happening on Saturday.

Carbon Copy will open on Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. The menu includes craft beer and wine, pizza and vegetable-focused snacks prepared in the wood-fired oven, well-known to old Dock Street customers.

The new restaurant is owned and run by beer and wine making specialists with a 20-year experience in food service, Brendon Boudwin and Kyle Wolak. The newly renovated space has a brighter, “more inviting” design with a goal of creating a “relaxing neighborhood restaurant and bar for locals.” Continue Reading

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.

The Cobbs Creek community is invited this Wednesday, Dec. 7 to come see the recently opened West Philadelphia Boys & Girls Club, located at 5843-55 Catharine Street. Caring People Alliance is celebrating the grand opening of this long-awaited facility with a ribbon cutting followed by an indoor coat giveaway and mobile food pantry for the community.

Community members are invited to visit the mobile food pantry presented by The Print Foundation, Inc. and select a new children’s coat in the newly refitted gymnasium. The event kicks off at 3 p.m. and goes until 4:30.

The 25,000-square-foot Boys & Girls Club provides two floors of classrooms, a large multi-purpose room, and a gym with a pull-down screen and a professional basketball court. The entire building is handicapped accessible.

“We are very excited to bring this full-service, state-of-the-art facility to the community,” says Jerry Macdonald, president and CEO of Caring People Alliance. “It features an early learning center and after school programming. In the future, it will offer teen and senior programming.” Continue Reading

Get in the holiday spirit with the first ever uCity Square Holiday Fest! The uCity Square Holiday Fest features a local artisan marketplace, great for holiday shopping, alongside food trucks El Tlaloc and Grilled Salmon Stand and a beer and wine garden by Wissahickon Brewery and Chaddsford Winery.

Holiday Fest also offers FREE family-friendly activities including live music performances and DJs, holiday karaoke, a pop-up ice skating rink, photos with Santa, a kids ornament craft workshop, hot chocolate giveaway, and more.

Vendor fees benefit Theatre in the X, a neighborhood theater for the West Philadelphia and African-American community.

uCity Square Holiday Fest takes place at The Lawn at uCity Square (37th & Filbert) on Friday, Dec. 9 from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Rain date is the following week on December 16 and 17.

For the full schedule and list of vendors, visit www.thelawnphl.com/events. If you’re coming, please register here.