A Campaign for Working Families volunteer at work. (Photo courtesy of CWF)

Looking for a meaningful way to make an impact in West Philly this winter? Campaign for Working Families (CWF) is recruiting volunteers for the 2026 tax season.

Each year, thousands of Philadelphians rely on free, trustworthy tax preparation to access the refunds and tax credits they’ve earned. Through CWF’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, trained community volunteers help low- to moderate-income families file accurate tax returns at no cost. Your time and compassion can directly support residents in reducing financial stress, building stability, and keeping more money in their pockets.

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West Philly Tool Library’s new location.

The West Philly Tool Library, which is currently in the process of moving out of its long-term location on south 47th Street, has announced its new home. Unfortunately, the non-profit organization, which had to find a new location because its lease on S. 47th Street had not been renewed, is not going to be located in West Philly anymore. It’s moving southeast to Grays Ferry. The good news is that their new location at 1223 S Harmony St is only 0.7 miles away from their previous location.

Moving out of West Philly was not an easy decision for the Tool Library folks.

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The Enterprise Center CDC will host a Turkey and Coat Drive on Friday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Malcolm X Park (51st and Pine) to provide relief to local families in need as they navigate between rising grocery prices, mass layoffs, and cuts to SNAP. The Enterprise Center CDC announced that the drive will support 300 families and will focus on West Philadelphia residents.

Each family will receive a complete Thanksgiving meal kit including a turkey, corn, gravy, stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, cranberry sauce, butter, and cornbread mix. Residents will also have the option of receiving a coat and other winter attire, including a sweatshirt, hat, socks and gloves.

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West Philly-based City Councilmember, Jamie Gauthier, recently introduced Bill No. 250768, the “Stop Trashing Our Air” Act, to bar the City from entering into new contracts for the burning of trash. On Monday, Nov. 17, the Council’s Committee on the Environment will hold a public hearing on this bill, and public testimony is invited.

In introducing the bill, Councilmember Gauthier made three main arguments for its approval:

• Burning trash emits highly toxic ash into Philadelphia’s air. Currently the City sends over a third (37 percent) of our trash to the Reworld (Covanta) incinerator in Chester City, the country’s largest incinerator and Southeastern PA’s largest industrial polluter. Many studies confirm that toxic ash created by trash incinerators contributes to illnesses like asthma and cancer, which today affect disproportionately large numbers of City residents.

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A great West Philly tradition is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The 25th Annual Peoplehood Parade & Pageant, Spiral Q’s hand-made people-powered celebration of solidarity, creativity, and courage, is on Saturday, Nov. 8. It’s a day of participatory theater, live music, giant puppets, and a celebration that reminds us of our collective power and the importance of joining together.

Peoplehood starts with a parade that marches from the Paul Robeson House to Clark Park where the day culminates in a Pageant performance that celebrates the city’s vibrant communities, and collective vision for a more just and joyful Philadelphia. Peoplehood isn’t just a single Parade day, but a month-long art-making and community building process that takes hundreds of artists, organizers, families and students to create.

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University City District (UCD) is asking community members who live, work or visit the area –  defined roughly as between 50th Street and the Schuylkill River, and from Spring Garden to Woodland Avenue (see map below) – to complete a University City Community Survey, which will help the organization to get feedback in its ongoing efforts to “improve quality of life within the neighborhood.”

The short survey, which takes about 5-10 minutes to complete, asks community members about what issues are most important to them and will help UCD’s future services, events, and offerings. To access the survey, click here.

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