With everything from a hectic schedule to a needy boyfriend keeping us busy, it’s easy to forget about those who really need our help. Luckily, these local organizations make it less challenging (and more enjoyable) than ever. Think of it as your guide to appeasing the Karma police–in style, of course.
Favorite Place to Volunteer: Philly PAWS
Let’s face it: as much as you’d like to spend your days feeding the needy or rescuing injured animals, there’s no way to land such a gig and still keep your day job. Lucky for you, PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) runs numerous weekend events in every Philly neighborhood, making it easy to spend a few hours with some lonely pooches or felines in the market for a new home. Your efforts never feel like work, and you’ll quickly learn why the shelter is so heavily staffed by volunteers. The hours are flexible, the people are nice and the animals are ridiculously cute. What more could you ask for?
Favorite Selfish Way To Be Charitable: AIDS Thrift
This two-story thrift shop is packed to the brim with books, homewares and used duds spanning the generations. The prices are awesome, with a sizeable $1 rack and most of the garments are in superior condition. Tags often have messages scrawled across them about how much of the proceeds go to charity. When you’re sauntering about town in a new outfit for under $10, you’ll realize the organizations being supported aren’t the only ones benefiting.
Favorite Way To Do Good For Mother Earth: Arcadia Boutique
Arcadia has gotten a tremendous amount of positive press since it opened in the fall of 2007, and it’s not just ramblings of our city’s greenest citizens. With shirts crafted of bamboo and glammed up with sequins, of-the-moment recycled accessories and a denim wall as covetable as Imelda Marcos’ shoe collection, Arcadia has all its bases covered. Granola garb is a thing of the past; environmentally conscience folks are no longer prisoners of their Birkenstocks, Arcadia has arrived in Northern Liberties to act as their style salvation.
AroundPhilly Staff
