Public school students in West Philly need our help now more than ever. Budget cuts have led to closed school libraries and hits to literacy programs. Luckily, the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) is doing its best to keep elementary school kids reading – but they need volunteers.

WePAC, which opens and staffs closed elementary school libraries, is seeking volunteers for the upcoming school year to help students develop literacy skills. Volunteers will read stories to children and help them select and check out books. Most elementary schools in West Philadelphia no longer have open libraries, according to WePAC. The program keeps the libraries open at no cost to the school.

This fall, WePAC will be serving Anderson, Blankenburg, Cassidy, Cook-Wissahickon, Gompers, Heston, Lea, Leidy, Longstreth, McMichael, Powel and Rhoads elementary schools.

WePAC volunteers serve as literacy assistants in K-2 classrooms and help run after-school newspaper clubs in several schools. As these programs grow, many new volunteers are needed. The minimum time commitment is 2-3 hours each week.

Orientation sessions begin this week and continue through August. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit WePAC’s website at www.wepac.org or call (215) 990-6084.

The Walnut West Chess Cadets are in need of volunteer staff to assist in conducting a weekly class and acting as mentors to our young student players. You do not need to be a “Master” chess player, but knowledge of the game would be very helpful.

Kids range from 1st to about 8th grade in age. The club is going into its fourth year and has experienced rapid growth and recognition at the city-wide tournaments where we compete during the school year. It is a very rewarding experience for the right person. The club meets on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the library, 201 S. 40th Street.

You can contact Joe Clarke, 215-626-7332 or philly.joe.c [at] gmail.com or Ms. Susan Ben at the Walnut West Library, 215-685-7671.

Here’s one of the holiday volunteer opportunities. Project MEOW is looking for foster parents for their cats this holiday season.

Project MEOW adoptables (like Dewey, pictured) are nurtured in individual foster homes, allowing for personal assessments of their character, to make the best matches possible with their future forever homes. Project MEOW covers medical and health care, promotes the cat’s adoptable status, and reviews the adoption applications – you provide food, litter, toys, and most rewarding of all, the love and attention the kitty needs. Please contact projectmeowadoptions[at]gmail.com to meet your holiday cuddler, and give the gift of fostering.

Project MEOW is an all-volunteer, animal welfare group that humanely reduces the stray cat population in West Philadelphia through rescue, trap-neuter-return and building strong relationships with the residents who feed and care for stray cats.

We’d like to spread the word we received from Niesha Kennedy, a volunteer neighborhood cleanup coordinator with Philadelphia Community Corps/United Philly. Niesha is in charge of scouting locations and taking requests for and organizing cleanups from beginning to end.

Niesha’s first cleanup is scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 1, at 53rd and Delancey (between Pine and Spruce), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The block is small, with senior residents who want to help clean it. But more people are needed to make this work. All cleaning supplies will be provided. See the flyer below for more details of the cleanup.

The Walnut West Library Chess Club is in need of volunteer coaches to assist in conducting a weekly class and acting as mentors to the young student players. You do not need to be a Master player, but knowledge of the game would be very helpful.

The club is going into its fourth year and has experienced rapid growth and recognition at the city-wide tournaments held every month of the school year. It is a very rewarding experience for the right person. The club meets on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the library, 201 S. 40th Street.

To apply or for more information, contact Joe Clarke at: philly.joe.c [at] gmail.com

iPraxis, a non-profit organization located in the University City Science Center, is looking for volunteers to help students prepare for science fairs. Lea Elementary (47th & Locust) is one of the schools where help is needed. See the flyer below.