PHL Community Volunteering - Women's Connection

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COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING

Interested in making a difference?

The Philadelphia Chapter of Women's Connection offers a wide variety of Community Volunteering activities, including children’s literacy, food insecurity, clothing distribution and support for other ad hoc nonprofit programs. These rewarding group activities help improve the lives of the most marginalized men, women and children in the area and creates strong bonds among our participating members.

To learn more about our Community Volunteer programs, or if you know of a nonprofit where group volunteering could make a contribution, please contact Mary Clifford or Madeline Sherry.

To view or register for volunteering activities, check our Event Calendar for upcoming opportunities.

OUR VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS

Achieve Now Tutoring Program

This is a Reading Tutoring program for 1st and 2nd grade Philadelphia students. Achieve Now is part of the city-wide Read By 4th initiative, and partners with companies and law firms throughout Philadelphia. Tutors work with the same child for an hour at the same time each week. No prior experience teaching is necessary. Virtual at this time.

Contact Sandi Slap for more information.

Annual Children's Book Drive

Members: Read about the 2025 Children's Book Drive (October 6-17) and how to donate!

We sponsor an Annual Children's Book Drive in October of each year. It supports Philadelphia’s Early Literacy movement, specifically, the Read By 4th initiative. The Book Drive provides greatly needed books to Northern Philadelphia schools. Libraries have been re-opened and staffed, in large part due to the generous donations and the impressive efforts of Women's Connection volunteers.

Contact Patty Kaiser, Chair, for more information.

Additional Women's Connection participants:
Mary Clifford, Peggy Gordon, Pat Nelson, Myrna Sherman, Arlene Taylor, Jill Voshell.

Cooking for a Cause

Prepare meals, in small groups of other Women's Connection members, or alone, for people suffering from food insecurity. We coordinate with Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network to pick up our cooked meals and distribute them to those in need.

This program's activities are not posted on our Event Calendar.
Contact Susan Vineberg for more information or to become involved.

MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance)

MANNA prepares and delivers nutritionally sound and medically tailored meals to people who are housebound with serious illnesses across the Philadelphia region. MANNA relies heavily on the efforts of volunteers to keep their operation running smoothly. Women's Connection members typically work together in groups, under the guidance of experienced MANNA employees, to prepare food and pack containers in support of this essential service.

Contact Hillary Herman for more information.

Our Closet in Your Neighborhood (OCIYN)

Our Closet In Your Neighborhood (OCIYN) is one of the many important programs run by the Jewish Family Children’s Services (JFCS) organization in the Philadelphia region. OCIYN is a free mobile program that provides those in need with food and clothing, as well as access to services and benefits. Women's Connection members work together with the JFCS staff to ensure that available clothing items are presented in an organized way and are provided with dignity and respect in a warm and welcoming environment.

Contact Mary Clifford or Madeline Sherry for more information.

Jewish Family Children's Services Pop-Up Events

Women's Connection members participate in Jewish Family Children's Services (JFCS) pop-up events as needed, including making and packaging sandwiches and muffins in their Bala Cynwyd office to hand out at future OCIYN sites, and putting together care packages for refugees.

Contact Mary Clifford or Madeline Sherry for more information.