The November Philly mutual aid and volunteering calendar
And free civic events
Every month I list as many Philadelphia volunteer opportunities as I can find, with most related to food distribution and rescue, harm reduction and community care. Since schedules run by small community orgs can change, please confirm with each group before attending.
Some volunteer sessions may be offered regularly, so if you see something interesting, check the link for more info to see if its offered another day.
To keep mutual aid information free, send me a small donation.
Sunday, November 1
Homies Helping Homies distro — 2300 Wharton St. 10 a.m. Food and essential-goods distribution at Wharton Square Park. Confirm on Instagram.
Punks with Lunch food and harm reduction — Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Reach out to confirm attendance on Instagram.
PAWS — Old City Adoption Center — 100 N. 2nd St. Cat care, socialization, feeding and litter cleaning. Volunteers are needed throughout the week and onboarding is required. Volunteer information can be found here
Monday, November 2
Broad Street Love meal service — 315 S. Broad St. Food and clothing distribution on weekdays. Confirm shift times here: Volunteer information.
Books Through Bars — 4722 Baltimore Ave. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Read letters from incarcerated people, select books and prepare packages for mailing. Orientation is required. Find out more here: Volunteer information.
Native Plant Prep Party at Sulimay’s with scientist Sarah McAnulty. Sarah always plans the most engaging and fun events and I’m planning to be here, myself. Find out more here.
Tuesday, November 3
The Sunday Love Project / Greater Goods — This grocery in Kensington needs volunteers for stocking, food packing and cleaning. Advance signup and Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance are required. Find out more here: Volunteer information.
Savage Sisters Recovery — Near Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Distro may include food, clothing, harm-reduction supplies and community support. Confirm the current schedule and volunteer availability here: Outreach information.
Wednesday, November 4
Share Food Program — 3111 W. Allegheny Ave. 9 a.m.–noon. Pack food boxes for seniors. Check the volunteer calendar for more information.
PAWS — PetSmart Cat Habitat — Broad Street and Washington Avenue. 9–11 a.m. or 6–8 p.m. Cat care and adoption support. Confirm registration here: Volunteer information.
Thursday, November 5
ACCT Philly — Pet Vaccines 101 — Virtual workshop, 6–7 p.m. Learn about dog and cat vaccination schedules, zoonotic diseases and local vaccination resources. Free. This is an educational event, not a volunteer shift. Event details.
Broad Street Love clothing distribution — 315 S. Broad St. Volunteers needed on Thursdays around noon–2 p.m. Confirm volunteer shifts before attending here: Volunteer information.
Friday, November 6
Free food picnic with Punks with Lunch and The Platia — Mifflin Square Park. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Deliver or hand out food and harm-reduction supplies, make bagel sandwiches and coffee, and learn about kit-making. Message me to RSVP.
Saturday, November 7
Schuylkill Center Wildlife Clinic — Clinic Cleaners — 304 Port Royal Ave. 10 a.m.–noon. Help maintain the wildlife clinic through laundry, sweeping and lobby cleaning. Volunteers must be at least 18, watch the required training video and register in advance. Registration and more info are online.
The Everywhere Project — Kensington outreach. Volunteers meet around noon, but confirm with TEP and sign up ahead of time.
Sunday, November 8
Homies Helping Homies distro — 2300 Wharton St. 10 a.m. Food and essential-goods distribution at Wharton Square Park. Confirm on Instagram.
Punks with Lunch food and harm reduction — Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Reach out to confirm attendance on Instagram.
Monday, November 9
Broad Street Love meal service — 315 S. Broad St. Food and clothing distribution on weekdays. Confirm shift times here: Volunteer information.
Tuesday, November 10
The Sunday Love Project / Greater Goods — This grocery in Kensington needs volunteers for stocking, food packing and cleaning. Advance signup and Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance are required. Find out more here: Volunteer information.
Savage Sisters Recovery — Near Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Distro may include food, clothing, harm-reduction supplies and community support. Confirm the current schedule and volunteer availability here: Outreach information.
PAWS — PetSmart Cat Habitat — Broad Street and Washington Avenue. 9–11 a.m. or 6–8 p.m. Cat care and adoption support. Volunteer information.
Wednesday, November 11
Share Food Program — 3111 W. Allegheny Ave. 9 a.m.–noon. Warehouse packing. Volunteer calendar has more info on shifts and what kind of skill set is best for each part of the process.
The Everywhere Project — LOVE Park, 15th Street and JFK Boulevard. (SEPTA: 15th Street/City Hall stations). 6:45 p.m. setup for LOVE Park outreach to hand out food, clothing, harm reduction supplies and more. Register before attending.
Punks with Lunch — Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. (SEPTA: Snyder Station). 1:30–3:30 p.m. Hand out food and harm reduction supplies. Find out more here.
Thursday, November 12
ACCT Philly — Adoptions 101 — Virtual workshop, 6–7 p.m. Learn how to prepare for adopting a dog or cat and find low-cost resources for pet care. Free. Event details.
Broad Street Love clothing distribution — 315 S. Broad St. Volunteers needed on Thursdays around noon–2 p.m. Confirm volunteer shifts before attending here: Volunteer information.
Friday, November 13
ACCT Philly — Careers with Animals: Youth Workshop — Wyoming Library, 231 E. Wyoming Ave. 3:30–4:30 p.m. Free workshop for young people ages 10 and older on careers in animal welfare, including veterinary technology, animal control and animal care. Educational event, not a volunteer shift. Event details can be found here.
Free food picnic with Punks with Lunch and The Platia — Mifflin Square Park. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Deliver or hand out food and harm-reduction supplies, make bagel sandwiches and coffee, and learn about kit-making. Message me to RSVP.
Saturday, November 14
Share Food Program — 3111 W. Allegheny Ave. 9 a.m.–noon. Warehouse packing. Volunteer calendar.
Love Your Park Weekend — Volunteers needed for cleanup in participating Philadelphia parks. You’ll help with park cleanups, planting and seasonal maintenance from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Check participating locations, registration and current details.
ACCT Philly — Urban Wildlife 101 — Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St. 11 a.m.–noon. Free presentation on safe interactions with raccoons, squirrels, possums, deer and other urban wildlife. Educational event, not a volunteer shift. Event details cn be found at the link.
Sunday, November 15
The Wooden Shoe Books — 50 Years of Collective Solidarity — 704 South St. Commemorative display celebrating the radical bookstore's 50th anniversary, listed through November 15. Check hours and event details here.
Monday, November 16
Broad Street Love meal service — 315 S. Broad St. Food and clothing distribution on weekdays. Confirm shift times here: Volunteer information.
Tuesday, November 17
Sharing Excess — Food rescue, produce packing and pop-up distributions happen almost every day. Shifts vary by date and location. Volunteer information and signup can be found here.
Wednesday, November 18
The Everywhere Project — LOVE Park, 15th Street and JFK Boulevard. (SEPTA: 15th Street/City Hall stations). 6:45 p.m. setup for LOVE Park outreach to hand out food, clothing, harm reduction supplies and more. Register before attending.
The People’s Kitchen: 1149 S. 9th St. Volunteer for shifts in the kitchen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Help prepare free meals or fill the community fridge on 9th street. Confirm shift times and availability before attending.
Thursday, November 19
Prevention Point Philadelphia Community Night — 2913–15 Kensington Ave. 4:30–7 p.m. Monthly community event offering food, music, clothing and hygiene supplies when available, along with health services and overdose-response training. Event information and volunteer signup can be found at the links.
Books Through Bars — 4722 Baltimore Ave. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Read letters from incarcerated people, select books and prepare packages for mailing. Orientation is required. Find out more here: Volunteer information.
Harm reduction kit making night with The Everywhere Project — 6 p.m. Check registration and location details before attending.
Friday, November 20
Free food picnic with Punks with Lunch and The Platia — Mifflin Square Park. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Deliver or hand out food and harm-reduction supplies, make bagel sandwiches and coffee, and learn about kit-making. Message me to RSVP.
Saturday, November 21
Schuylkill Center Restoration Workday — 8480 Hagy's Mill Road. 10 a.m.–noon. Help improve forest health through restoration work. The volunteer events page has more information.
Sunday, November 22
Homies Helping Homies distro — 2300 Wharton St. 10 a.m. Food and essential-goods distribution at Wharton Square Park. Confirm on Instagram.
Punks with Lunch food and harm reduction — Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Reach out to confirm attendance on Instagram.
Monday, November 23
Broad Street Love meal service — 315 S. Broad St. Food and clothing distribution on weekdays. Confirm shift times here: Volunteer information.
Books Through Bars — 4722 Baltimore Ave. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Read letters from incarcerated people, select books and prepare packages for mailing. Orientation is required. Find out more here: Volunteer information.
Wednesday, November 25
The Everywhere Project — LOVE Park, 15th Street and JFK Boulevard. (SEPTA: 15th Street/City Hall stations). 6:45 p.m. setup for LOVE Park outreach to hand out food, clothing, harm reduction supplies and more. Register before attending.
Punks with Lunch — Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. (SEPTA: Snyder Station). 1:30–3:30 p.m. Hand out food and harm reduction supplies. Find out more here.
Thursday, November 26
Thanksgiving Day — Check with mutual-aid organizations directly for holiday food distributions and volunteer shifts.
More to come.
Friday, November 27
Free food picnic with Punks with Lunch and The Platia — Mifflin Square Park. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Deliver or hand out food and harm-reduction supplies, make bagel sandwiches and coffee, and learn about kit-making. Message me to RSVP.
Saturday, November 28
The Wooden Shoe Books — Prisoner letter-writing collective — 704 South St. 2 p.m. Write letters of encouragement to incarcerated people; materials are provided. Contact the store to confirm the November session and find updates here.
Sunday, November 29
South Philadelphia Community Fridge — Multiple South Philadelphia locations, including 1149 S. 9th St., 1840 Ellsworth St. and 3220 Tasker St. Volunteers can clean and organize fridges, restock food, transport donations and help with community events. Volunteer times are flexible; check current needs and locations before visiting. Volunteer information can be found here.
Monday, November 30
PAWS — Grays Ferry Clinic — 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Ongoing volunteer opportunities include cat and dog care and cleaning. The organization reports needing volunteers seven days a week. Apply before attending. Volunteer information can be found here.
