West Philly squatter Jessica Meyers now officially owns this rowhome (with the red bench) near 52nd and Funston.

Awesome news for Jessica Meyers, the heroine of our story “Jessica Meyers, squatter-turned-homeowner, wins bid for home, and loses donations,” originally published in July, 2013. Her dream of home ownership officially came true last week when she paid off the remainder of the auction balance owed for the abandoned rowhome at 52nd and Funston where she had squatted for the past eight years. The Public Housing Authority signed over the deed to the house last Wednesday, NBC Philadelphia reported.

Jessica says going to closing was “amazing.”

“I can’t believe it came to realization and that I came up with the money in two months. It’s a true testament to not giving up,” Jessica told West Philly Local. Jessica landed the winning bid for the legally-abandoned PHA-owned site in July, and had to come up with the remainder, which she partially raised through two online fundraisers, money she received from friends, part-time jobs and selling some of her belongings at flea markets. Some of her friends, though, told her during the two months to just give up. But she didn’t.

Jessica is now putting together a press packet with a letter of request for donation to building material companies like Home Depot, Lowe’s and local lumber yards stating why she needs building materials.

Halloween is just around the corner and many families are starting preparations – stocking up on candy, purchasing or making costumes and decorating their homes. Some less fortunate families, including the homeless families assisted by local nonprofit Families Forward (FFP), will need help creating memories for their children this October that will last a lifetime.

FFP is organizing an annual Halloween Party and expect to have over 100 children in attendance. You can help make it a memorable event by donating the following items:

• New or gently used costumes (clean and in good condition)
• Snacks (chips, pretzels, juice, and cookies)
• Candy
• Halloween decorations
• Toys or stickers
• Toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss

If you have friends, family members, co-workers or neighbors who may have old costumes lying around, ask them to donate them to the children at FFP. With your contribution these children will be able to dress up in their costumes just like other kids for the Halloween party on October 31.

You may drop off donations at FFP’s emergency shelter located at 111 N. 49th Street any day of the week before 7:00 p.m.

To coordinate a drive or donate any of these items above contact Grace Hightower, Director of Fund Development at 215-240-4828 or ghightower@familiesforwardphilly.org.

A man in his 20s is in critical condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania this morning after being shot in the neck near 53rd and Chestnut Streets, a block from where thousands of residents will form a human chain on Saturday in opposition to gun violence.

While the number of homicides in the city have dropped considerably this year, the drumbeat of shootings rolls on. Some 1,800 shootings have been reported in the city so far this year, according to police statistics. There have been more than 2,000 gunpoint robberies so far this year. That’s why the group Hands Across Philadelphia (Facebook page) is organizing a human chain along 52nd Street on Saturday to bring awareness to the gun violence epidemic.

The chain will include many members from Mothers in Charge, moms whose children have died in acts of gun violence. The idea is to bring everyone in the community together regardless of race, ethnicity or income to highlight a crisis that impacts everyone in the community.

The event begins at noon 10:30 a.m. and the chain will run along 52nd Street between Woodland and Parkside avenues.

Th American Red Cross does tons of great work in the city. In our neck of the woods, they run the Red Cross House at 4000 Powelton, which provides families displaced by disaster in the area a well-appointed, private, free place to stay. This Saturday the Red Cross is gathering about a dozen barbecue vendors in the parking lot at 39th and Market streets for a cook-off.

This thing runs from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature a cook-off among some of the area’s leading BBQ restaurants and vendors. Several local bands will provide the music and there will be plenty of activities for kids.

All proceeds will benefit Red Cross House and Red Cross disaster relief efforts.

In the last 24 hours, 34 people needed Red Cross assistance after their homes were destroyed by fire. 32 of those people are now staying at the Red Cross House in West Philly.

Click here for ticket info.

My Task Master, a West Philadelphia based professional organizing business that helps others achieve peaceful and efficient environments for home, work, and play, is holding a suit drive this week to benefit Dress for Success of Philadelphia. They are accepting women’s clothing items for donation that are like new, clean, and current (not more than 3 years old). If the item is something you’d wear for a job interview, they’ll accept it.

The drive will also accept interview appropriate fall and winter blouses, slacks, skirts, shoes, scarves, jewelry, and bags. Special need exists for clothing sized 00-2 and 14+ as well as shoes size 8.5+. All donations are tax-deductible.

The mission of Dress for Success Philadelphia is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Over 10,000 women in the greater Philadelphia area have been referred to Dress for Success Philadelphia since 2008 to receive clothing, confidence, and career boosts.

Donations will be accepted through Thursday, Sept. 12. Please email Emily Anderson at: emily@mytaskmaster.net to schedule a drop-off or to request more information. Please include “suit drive” in the subject line. You may also drop off your donations to My Task Master’s table during the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll on Thursday. Their table will be located near 47th Street on Baltimore Avenue.

The Mill Creek Farm, the pretty terrific urban farming project near 49th and Brown, is hosting a mixer/fundraiser on Thursday called … wait for it … “weed dating”!

This thing kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a weed identification lesson, then you’ll “jump right into weeding and a few rounds of getting to know the person across your row,” according to the invitation. All of that weeding will be followed by music and refreshments. 

Now there is a charge for this thing – it is a fundraiser after all – and there is a limited number of spots. Admission is $12 and you can order tickets here. It is also BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug) and is restricted to those 21 and over. No farming experience necessary, but dress to get dirty.

This is from the event Q & A:

Q: What does my ticket price support?

A: Your ticket supports Mill Creek Farm’s educational and food security programs for the fall of 2013. Mill Creek Farm is dedicated to improving access to healthy food, buidling a healthy community and environment, and promoting a just and sustainable food system – and we couldn’t do it without you!

Q: I am gay, can I participate? or I just want to meet like minded people, can I participate?

A: Everyone is welcome. While we can’t guarantee that there will be a match for every attendee, we do hope that we will meet some great friends in the process.