Several opportunities to help those made homeless by the Windermere Court Apartment fire are available around the neighborhoods. The Red Cross closed down its shelter at the Locke School yesterday after helping 132 people, including 10 children. But those folks still need help.

Many of you have passed along stories of donating clothing to the Salvation Army West Philadelphia Community Center at 5501 Market St.. That’s still an option. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The phone number is 215-474-1010. The Red Cross is also still accepting cash donations at their website.

Here are some ways to help in the neighborhoods:

• The neighborhood pub Local 44 (44th and Spruce) is hosting a clothing drive on Monday, Jan. 17 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be tables set up in front of the pub on Spruce Street for people to drop off clothing and for those displaced by the fire to pick up stuff they need. The idea here is to get people clothing that they need right now, so leave your worn out Bermuda shorts at home and dig out a winter coat. Spread the word to anyone who might know someone from Windermere Court who needs help.

• Wake Up Yoga West is holding a vinyasa yoga class on Friday, Jan. 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. to benefit fire victims. All proceeds from the class, which will be taught by Emily Wishnick, will go to the Red Cross. No minimum donation is required and all levels of practitioners are welcome. You are also welcome to bring clothing to the class, which Wake Up will pass along to the University City District for distribution to victims. You can donate on their website (pay for the class) here.

• Mariposa Co-op (4726 Baltimore Avenue) is collecting food and warm clothing for victims today and tomorrow. Their hours are 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• City Kitties has set up an emergency fund to help care for pets affected by the fire. Many people took their pets with them and they now need shelter, food and health care. City Kitties is helping provide that and the West Philly-based organization is also trying to reunite pets with their owners. To donate go to their website here.

• The University City District is collecting clothing , coats, shoes and personal hygiene items at its offices at 3940-42 Chestnut St. from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The district will pass them along to the Salvation Army.

This is what we have so far. We will add more ways to help to this as we hear about them. If you know of other events or ways to help, please put them in a comment below.

At least three or four surviving cats have been pulled from apartments devastated by fire yesterday at Windermere Court Apartments. The feline aid organization City Kitties is offering help to pet owners whose cats survived the fire. The West Philadelphia-based organization has established an emergency fund for boarding, pet sitting, follow-up veterinary care, food, litter, carriers, and other basic needs.

For those affected by the fire, a form is available here to apply for funds. That same link provides a Pay Pal button for those who want to donate to the fund.

They write:

“We will not be able to write checks directly to victims, but will be able to purchase supplies for you, reimburse expenses, or pay vendors directly (veterinarians, boarding facilities, etc) up to a specific amount.”

Many residents were able to take their pets with them when they evacuated, but don’t have a place for them now. The PSPCA is housing many of those and the vet hospital at Penn is providing free medical care.

There are a number of ways people in the neighborhood can help out the victims of yesterday’s fire at the Windermere Court Apartment complex at 48th and Walnut Streets.

The Salvation Army center in West Philadelphia at 5501 Market St. is accepting a variety of donations, including clothing and linens. The center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Although the main entrance is on Market Street, it is easier to access from the back on Arch Street, where the door to the storage facility is located.

Here is an interview with Natasha Rush of the Salvation Army:

The Red Cross Philly, which is operating the shelter at the Locke School at 4550 Haverford Avenue is asking donors not to bring cash donations or clothing to the shelter. The best way to donate to the Red Cross, which is providing emergency supplies and spending money for the victims as well as connecting them to counseling and other types of services, is to donate on the website.

Here is an interview with Dave Schrader with the Red Cross:

Brace yourselves. Death Bi Chocolate, the annual bake sale fundraiser for BiUnity, is this Saturday afternoon at A-Space (4722 Baltimore Ave.). If any of your New Year’s resolutions involve stopping or cutting down on your chocolate intake, then you need to put them hold for a day. This is worth it.

Death Bi Chocolate features large and small quantities of chocolate for sale in a variety of forms. Friendly folks will also be playing board games during the sale that are open to anyone. The sale runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

BiUnity is a social and support network for bisexual people, their family and friends. The all-volunteer organization has monthly discussion groups and events, including a movie night.

Mummers don’t float your boat? There are alternatives on New Year’s Day if you are looking for something to do a little closer to home. Here are a few things to do on 1X4 (1-1-11).

• Philadelphia’s seventh Pecha Kucha night will be held at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave.) Jan. 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Japanese word for “chit-chat,” Pecha Kucha (peh-CHAK-cha) nights involve lightening quick presentations by innovators, thinkers and all around interesting folks. The rules are simple. Wired magazine summed them up well: “Say what you need to say in six minutes and 40 seconds of exquisitely matched words and images and then sit the hell down.” Basically, you get 20 slides, 20 seconds each.

According to organizers, Vol. 7 will feature talks about girls who rock, podcasts about Philly, goats that groom urban spaces, and more! The suggested donation for the night is $5.

• One way to work off the hangover blues is to share your pain. One place to do that on New Year’s Day is Local 44 (44th and Spruce Streets), our friendly neighborhood pub, which is celebrating its second anniversary (yep, they opened Jan. 1, 2009) with a day-long brunch. They will have fare for veggie and meat lovers alike and a lengthy anniversary draft list.

• Perhaps the best way to get your mind and body right is with some good old fashioned acupuncture.  Philadelphia Community Acupuncture (50th and Baltimore, above Dock Street) is open both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. They offer affordable acupuncture on a sliding scale.

West Philly storyteller Juliet Hope Wayne is one of Philadelphia Weekly’s Noisemakers of the Year. The alternative weekly writes: