By: Lindsay Moreau - editorial@aroundphilly.com A Philly newcomer, Lindsay Moreau is a big fan of smiling, staying fit and buying shoes. A native of New York, she’s got a knack for common sense, being realistic and laughing like you’ve never heard before. She’s short in size, but packed with fun and pumped to discover her new hometown.
Philly has a lot to offer, but what do you have to offer Philly? With just a little time you can help spread some good throughout the city and get some karma points while you’re at it. I volunteered my time at two local organizations to see just how easy (or demanding) these jobs actually are. Below are my experiences (and top picks) plus a few other organizations that could use your help!
One of Philly’s greatest volunteer organizations, Philadelphia Cares, makes volunteering super easy. Four times a year, Philadelphia Cares puts out a volunteer calendar listing all the opportunities, times, dates, locations and contact information. After a quick sign-up process online, you’ll find dozens and dozens of volunteer options ranging from assisting families, senior citizens and people with disabilities, to hunger relief, community revitalization and education assistance. With the contact information at your fingertips, all you have to do is send a quick email or make a phone call directly to the volunteer leader and you’re signed up.
Through Philadelphia Cares I signed up to tutor elementary school kids at the Northern Home for Children in Manayunk. Volunteers come for just an hour on Wednesday or Thursday nights and help kids finish their homework or work on math or reading skills. You can help out once, twice, or randomly whenever you have time. Some of the kids can be a handful, but they are excited to have some one-on-one time and help with their work. Plus, the leader and volunteer organizer, has a lot of experience and does a great job of pairing up kids with volunteers. Staying after to play video games with the kids during free time earns you extra points!
It is a whirlwind hour of energy, but for the amount of time it takes to watch one episode of LOST (not that I would ever miss an episode), I did my good deed for the day and left a kid confident in his work and ready for school the next day.
I also spent some time at Cradles to Crayons, an organization that collects and distributes items for needy children throughout the area. Volunteers simply help organize and sort the donated items in the warehouse. The people who run Cradles to Crayons really make the experience; they don’t just delegate, they are right there working alongside of you. Currently the Cradles to Crayons warehouse is located in Horsham, but they’re in the process of moving to a new place in West Conshohocken so it’s easier for city-located volunteers. The new location will be double the size and help more than double their capacity for giving.
During my time there, all the volunteers were helping prepare for the big move. When I walked in, there were aisles of shelves, filled with supplies and by the time I walked out less than three hours later, we had organized, boxed, bagged and broken down almost everything. We were a small group, but as one volunteer said, with just a few hands working together we accomplished things at an astronomical rate.
Cradles to Crayons accepts new and gently-used clothing, books, toys, baby items and school supplies for kids age 1 to 12 and hosts individual volunteers as well as families, groups and corporate volunteers. The volunteer manager tells us a little about the organization, volunteering there and their big move in the video below.
An extra perk: Philadelphia Cares and Cradles to Crayons both participate in the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day. Volunteer for a couple of hours and get a free ticket to a Disney park!
Check out these other organizations for more ways to volunteer in Philly:
Volunteer at the shelter and help socialize, bathe, and transport the animals. All pet lovers welcome.
Rebuilding Philly Assist in homeowner projects for the less fortunate. Those skilled in the trades are especially needed, but anyone capable of holding a hammer or paintbrush is welcome.
Through Philadelphia Cares I signed up to tutor elementary school kids at the 
I also spent some time at 
Help out at this literacy program by donating books or even recording books on tape. Great for people who love to read….and hear their own voice.
