PHL Community Volunteering - Women's Connection

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COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING

INTERESTED IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

The Philadelphia Chapter of Women's Connection sponsors Community Volunteering activities in the areas of children’s literacy, food insecurity, clothing distribution and support for other ad hoc nonprofit programs. These rewarding activities help improve the lives of the most marginalized adults and children in our region and create strong bonds among our participating members.

With government funding for nonprofits waning, volunteers are needed now more than ever! Please contact Mary Clifford or Madeline Sherry to learn more about our Community Volunteering programs or to suggest a nonprofit that might benefit from group volunteering.

Check our Event Calendar to register for upcoming activities.
Note that many volunteering activities are open to both members and non-members!

PHILADELPIA CHAPTER 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. Open to members and non-members. Virtual at this time.

> For more information, contact Sandi Slap by filling out the Achieve Now Interest Form.

Annual Children's Book Drive

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.

> For more information, contact Mary Clifford.

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

Broad Street Love

Broad Street Love provides stabilizing services to individuals experiencing deep poverty, including lunch services to hundreds of guests every weekday at their Philadelphia center city location. The meals are professionally prepared and made with locally grown organic ingredients. Women’s Connection volunteers assist with lunch service twice a month.

> For more information, contact Beth Hutter.

Reading Buddies - Historic Fair Hill

Reading Buddies are paired with local Northern Philadelphia partner classrooms where you can provide one-on-one reading support to young children and help them develop a love of reading. This is an ongoing weekly commitment. Historic Fair Hill’s staff can provide training, guidance and help with obtaining the necessary clearances.

> For more information, contact Madeline Sherry or Mary Clifford.

Family Promise

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

> For more information or to become involved, contact Susan Vineberg by filling out our Family Promise Interest Form. Note: This program's activities are not posted on our Event Calendar.

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.

> For more information, contact Hillary Herman.

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.

> For more information, contact Mary Clifford or Madeline Sherry.

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.

> For more information, contact Mary Clifford or Madeline Sherry.