The gift-giving season is now upon us. When making your holiday-shopping lists, make sure to check out several local donation drives for locals in need.
Geno’s Steaks Food Drive
6-10 p.m. Nov. 25
Geno’s Steaks, 1219 S. Ninth St.
The popular cheesesteak shop is collecting food donations that will be sent to The Attic Youth Center.
Cradles to Crayons Friendsgiving
7 p.m. Nov. 30
William Way LGBT Community Center,
1315 Spruce St.
Free
William Way is hosting a holiday mixer with coffee and hot chocolate. Beer and wine will be available with proceeds going to the center. Attendees are asked to bring a donation for the nonprofit Cradles to Crayons, which aids children from low-income households. Requested items include new and gently used children’s winter clothing, coats, hats and gloves. People can also bring new toys for children aged 4-12. To RSVP, visit http://ow.ly/UQxfx.
Valley Youth House Gift Drive
Gifts can be donated during normal business hours through Dec. 4 at 1500 Sansom St. or the Lehigh Valley office, 829 West Linden St., Allentown.
Valley Youth House matches donors with one or more young person, so they can provide a gift directly from that person’s wish list. Amazon wish lists are available at http://ow.ly/UQuMm. Valley Youth House also hosts a holiday party for the youth it serves and is taking donations of food or drink. For more information, visit www.valleyyouthhouse.org/events/holiday-gift-drive.
Jingle Bell BINGO
6-9:30 p.m. Dec. 9
New Hope Eagle Volunteer Fire Company, 46 N. Sugan Road,
New Hope
$20, benefiting Fighting AIDS Continuously Together
Attendees receive a traditional holiday dinner, entertainment and BINGO games. Guests are invited to wear ugly Christmas sweaters. There will be a prize for the “most hideous” sweater. For more information, visit www.factbuckscounty.org.
Toy drive benefiting children with incarcerated parents
Eastern State Penitentiary and Philadelphia FIGHT’s Institute for Community Justice will collect toys from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 1-14 at the penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.
Visitors will receive one free admission pass to the historic prison when they pay for one admission and donate an unwrapped toy or children’s book in its original package. Supporters can also leave toys at the prison without taking the tour. According to organizers, one in 28 children in the country has a parent in jail.
The Attic Youth Center’s Winter Clothing Drive
Items will be accepted through Dec. 21 at the center, 255 S. 16th St.
The Attic is collecting new hats, scarves and gloves for LGBT young adults who participate in the center’s programming. Adult sizes are requested for people aged 14-23. For more information, contact Alyssa Mutryn at [email protected].
Y-HEP Winter Clothing Drive
Youth Health Empowerment Project, part of Philadelphia FIGHT, is accepting items through the end of December at the Y-HEP office, 1417 Locust St.
Y-HEP requests new or gently used long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, pants, boots and thermal underwear for infants through 5-year-olds and also for people aged 13-24. For more information, visit www.y-hep.org.
$1.99 Any Garment Cleaners Coat Drive
The New Jersey-based garment cleaners is holding its annual coat drive for local children and adults. The company will clean all donations and distribute them to local charities. Gently used coats can be dropped off at any of its three locations: 1444 Route 70 in Cherry Hill, Whitehorse Pike at Whitehorse Road in Somerdale or 1204 Route 130 North in Cinnaminson. For more information, visit www.wemeananygarment.com.