Just a week before Philadelphia public schools reopen for the 2016-2017 school year, a number of local businesses and organizations are holding school supply drives.

• PB & Jams PHL and Sofistifunk are hosting The Back to School Jawn on Wednesday, Aug 31, from 6 – 9 p.m. The event will take place in Cedar Park at the Taco Angeleno location (5019 Baltimore Ave.). Please bring some new school supplies for neighborhood kids heading back to school, and enjoy tacos and nachos from Taco Angeleno, sweet treats and shakes prepared by PB&Jams, and music by Sofistifunk. This is a low-cost event, and there’s no cover charge. For more details, check out the event’s Facebook page.

• Philadelphia Forman Mills stores, including the 48th and Market location, will be collecting school supplies for the 6ABC “Stuff a Backpack” Drive through Wednesday, Aug. 31. There will be a collection bin at each participating Forman Mills location. Suggested donation items include: number 2 pencils, colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, glue and glue sticks, markers (thin and thick), pen/pencil pouches, folders, child scissors. Items must be new and unused. Please don’t bring lunch boxes, food, or money. The store hours are: Mon-Sat 9 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. – 7 p.m..  Continue Reading

We’re sad to report that Robyn Biv, co-owner of Black Orchid Foods (Facebook page), the West Philly vegetarian and vegan catering service, was recently hurt in a house fire.

A fire erupted in her home near 51st and Kingsessing that destroyed her kitchen – where her business is based. Robyn suffered burns and was hospitalized. She has made a huge impact on the Kingsessing area by feeding many people for free or using a “sliding scale” with dietary restrictions always in mind. Some of you may have also tried the food served by Black Orchid at the most recent edition of Go West! Craft Fest.

While Robyn is recovering in the hospital from burns to her face, eyes, arms and hands, her friends set up a GoFundMe page to help her with some expenses.

Please follow this link if you would like to donate and support Robyn with your messages: https://www.gofundme.com/2dw1lek

Instead of dumping unwanted stuff bring it to PennMoves locations until June 1.

This is this time of year again when we say good-bye to many of our neighbors and start welcoming new ones. Those who are leaving usually leave a lot of stuff behind, so if you are one of those people and are looking for information on how to get rid of stuff you don’t want to take with you or if you want to pick up what has been left, read on.

Since 2008, PennMoves has collected unwanted items from students, such as clothing, furniture, appliances, books, etc., at the end of each school year, and this year is no exception. The collections began on April 27 and will go on until June 1 at various locations across Penn’s campus. Not only students can bring their stuff, off-campus residents are also welcome to drop off items at one of the donation sites.

Since 2013, PennMoves has been working with Goodwill instead of organizing a big sale of all the collected stuff (much to the disappointment of many locals). The last sale was held in June 2012. In addition to clothing and housewares, you can also bring used electronics, functional or not. PennMoves is also teaming up with Philabundance, and is collecting nonperishable, unopened food. Also, in support of The Vietnam Book Drive Project, books of all kinds will be collected to be shipped to Vietnam for use in classrooms and free libraries.  Continue Reading

Philly PAWS, a local pet rescue organization, is raising money for its Grays Ferry location. The Grays Ferry shelter is undergoing a major overhaul that “includes creating a new dog adoption and foster care office, replacing a broken washer with a commercial-grade machine, and replacing old computers and furniture,” according to the PAWS website.

When the renovations are complete, the Grays Ferry location will be able to accommodate a growing staff, serve more adopters, and rescue more homeless pets.

Their goal is to raise $7,500 and they have already raised $5,100 as of 3:45 p.m. on Thursday. Every contribution to this project will be matched thanks to the generosity of two anonymous PAWS donors.

If you want to help, go to this page for more information and to donate.

Along with Caribbean Cuisine Week, which supports young Caribbean athletes participating in this month’s Penn Relays, Dining Out For Life will also be held this week – on Thursday, Apr. 14.

Proceeds from Dining Out For Life go to fund ActionAIDS, an organization providing education, prevention and comprehensive support services to people living with HIV and AIDS throughout the Delaware Valley region.

Started by an ActionAIDS volunteer in 1991, Dining Out For Life is now held in several cities throughout North America. Last year more than 200 restaurants and thousands of diners raised nearly $200,000, and this year, about the same number of participating restaurants will donate 33 percent of their day’s food sales.  Continue Reading

An organization tasked with helping to settle Afghan, Syrian and Congolese refugees arriving in the city is looking for donations of everything from mentorship and language teachers to dishes and used furniture.

Jess Hinchey of the Nationalities Service Center (NSC) told the Spruce Hill Community Association Board last night that some 600-800 refugees a year settle in Philadelphia, many in West Philly.

She said that the organization is always looking for volunteer help and donations.

An SHCA board member suggested taking advantage of “Penn Christmas,” when departing students  leave behind furniture and other items on the street at the semester’s end, to provide items for refugees.

More information about volunteering and donations is available at the NSC website here. You can also email Michelle Fauber at: mfauber@nscphila.org