Last week, we published information about the annual Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Basket Drive. There are also a few opportunities to help local women and children in need this holiday season. Here’s information on some more holiday drives and donation opportunities:

Holiday Toy & Personal Care Drive at Local 44 (44th and Spruce)

Through Dec. 15

Join Local 44 once again this year in collecting toys and personal care items to benefit the residents of the People’s Emergency Center (PEC), a West Philly shelter that helps women and children battling homelessness. Bring your donations to the Bottle Shop at Local 44 any time through Thursday, Dec. 15. Click here for a list of useful personal care items accepted by PEC. NOTE: Please bring new and unwrapped items. 

Musical Play Group & Toy Drive at The Nesting House (45th and Baltimore)

Tuesday, Dec. 13, 3:30 p.m.

Join The Nesting House for musical play group featuring local musicians playing all the holiday hits. The Nesting House will also be collecting new and gently used toys for a local Women Against Abuse family shelter, so please consider bringing or buying a toy for those less fortunate this holiday season. The store offers 10% off purchases for the shelter on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Please call 215.222.7500 with any questions.

Purchase Gifts Through Amazon and Help Families at Families Forward

You can purchase your holiday gifts through AmazonSmile and help Families Forward Philadelphia (FFP) continue stabilizing homeless families. FFP has been supporting families for over 100 years and continues to be the City’s largest privately run homeless shelter for 65 families. The organization also provides services to an additional 80 families in transitional and permanent family residential units throughout West Philadelphia.

Here are some ways to help families this holiday season:
• Purchase toys/gifts for children and teens from their wish list (see Grace’s List on AmazonSmile).
• Purchase gift cards so FFP may buy gifts for families.
• Adopt-A-Family – Purchase items for a specific family. You will be provided with names, ages and genders of each family member.
• Purchase pillows, sheets, blankets, towels, wash cloths, toasters, can openers, irons and other small household items for families moving into transitional or permanent units.

For more information on how to help FFP families, click here or contact Grace Hightower, Director of Fund Development at 215.240.4828 or ghightower@familiesforwardphilly.org