Updated 2/19/20

WePAC first offered its services in West Philadelphia during the 2003-04 school year, when it placed six volunteers in one elementary school. It began as an outgrowth of an urban ministry project between Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and many civic groups, and today is a wholly-independent and non-sectarian 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

WePAC programs focus on children in grades K-4, during the early and critical years of their educational careers. WePAC volunteers encourage curiosity and foster a lifelong love of reading. Our overarching goal is to bring books, reading, and libraries to low-income schoolchildren who have lost their library or who never had one.

To improve students’ access to libraries and literacy activities, we:

• • Run 17 libraries in West and Southwest Philadelphia

    Since 2009, WePAC is running 17 libraries in West and Southwest Philadelphia, providing library services in schools with more than 8,000 students.WePAC is the only nonprofit in Philadelphia systematically working to open closed school libraries. WePAC is currently on track to open 20 libraries by the end of the 20/21 school year. While each of Pennsylvania’s state prisons is required by law to have a librarian with a Master’s degree and a large book collection, no such requirements exist for our schools. Year after year, surveys show that for many students, the school library is the only library they visit, and principals report that many kids do not have anyone reading to them at home.

• Read stories with children and help them select and check out library books

  WePAC’s dedicated volunteers read stories with children and help them select and check out books.

• Donate thousands of books to schools

  Donating thousands of books to schools and circulating more than 45,151 books per month, WePAC brings school libraries to life!

Library Team Members serve in our school libraries by supporting the organization’s mission of fostering a love of reading and interest in books for our children. The Library Team Member is a vital role at WePAC and works in teams of 2-5 members to facilitate library programs at WePAC schools. Team members lead a number of activities related to library programs, including but not limited to: read alouds, activities, checking books in/out of the library and cataloging. Anyone who loves books and children is well-suited for this position.

To find out more visit their volunteer page: https://wepac.org/get-involved/

Website: https://wepac.org/

Location: Most of WePac’s schools are in West Philadelphia, multiple locations

Phone: 215-452-0333

Email: volunteer@wepac.org

Updated 2/19/20

Philly Reading Coaches (PRC) is a program that combines early reading support, access to books, and community volunteers to boost reading skills for our city’s children.

The program works by pairing trained volunteers with young students – kindergarten through 3rd grade, and by providing fun and child-guided reading experiences that help build reading skills and motivation. Each child in the program also receives 25 free books to take home.

By becoming a Reading Coach, you’ll help ensure our city’s kids can read at grade level when they enter fourth grade.

Committed volunteers, who can be as young as 14 years old, will spend a minimum of one hour, once a week reading one-on-one with a youngster, helping them to gain confidence in their reading abilities and discover the love of reading.

Reading sessions take place after school between the hours of 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Website: http://ost.phila.gov/philly-reading-coaches/ 

Location: Multiple locations, check website for a map

Phone: 215-686-0317

Email: PRC@phila.gov

Updated 10/25/2019

12 Plus works operates on the basis that access to post-secondary education for youth from under-served urban environments is increasingly relevant for future job security. 12 Plus works to inspire students to achieve beyond high school and empower them with the means to succeed in their goals. A college education offers students the opportunity to break the cycles of poverty… 12 Plus partners with schools in cities to provide academic help as well as post-secondary counseling and resources to help students pursue higher education.

learn more about volunteering here: http://www.12plus.org/volunteer/

info@12plus.org12 Plus is located at 1349 W Cheltenham Ave, Suite 202, Elkins Parks PA, 19027

Updated 10/16/2019

Norris Square Neighborhood Project promotes positive change through youth education, community leadership, green spaces, the arts and the celebration of Latino culture. NSNP envisions a community where youth and adults can positively engage one another, promote cultural awareness and preservation, and advocate for a healthier future for their neighborhoods. NSNP aspires to connect generations and use their space to enable youth and community members to be the change-makers in their lives and the lives of their families.

Volunteers provide critical support for our youth and garden programming. They are able to help us provide services in our community in a variety of areas including: carpentry, technology support, skilled garden volunteers, event support, carpentry and garden infrastructure.

To become a volunteer, please email or call Amanda Cameron, NSNP’s current volunteer point-person. A resume and letter of interest is appreciated but not required, so that we know what you are looking for! Send it to: volunteer@myneighborhoodproject.org or call (215) 634-2227.

Website: http://www.myneighborhoodproject.org

Location: 2141 Howard St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Contact: 215-634-2227

Updated 10/16/2019

Established in 1902, Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) is a non-profit, community-based organization committed to serving vulnerable children, adults, and families living in Philadelphia. Over the past century, the programs and services offered by LSH have changed in response to the evolving needs of the community. However, the core mission of Lutheran Settlement House — “to empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through an integrated program of social, educational, and advocacy services” — has remained constant.

Current programs offered are:

• Bilingual Domestic Violence Program (BDVP)
• Community Education and Employment Program
• Homeless Services (Jane Addams Place)
• Senior Services (Senior Center)

The Community Education and Employment Department offers a variety of services, including:

One-on-One Tutoring

Learners are paired with tutors for individual based learning. Pairs use personal learning plans geared towards the learner’s particular needs–whether that be a specific subject for the GED exam, basic reading skills, ESL help, computer instruction, or any other area the learner and LSH have together identified.

Beginning Literacy Classes

These classes support and offer instruction to adult learners who need to focus on developing basic reading and writing skills, with an emphasis on reading comprehension, grammar, language development, and writing. Overall, the aim of the classes is to provide students with a solid foundation that will allow them to strengthen their literacy skills.

GED Preparation Classes

These classes are designed to assist adult learners who are preparing to take the GED exam. Students receive instruction that helps them to develop the skills needed to successfully pass each of the GED subject areas. Official GED practice tests are also given to help determine the learner’s readiness for the actual GED test. Students who attend our GED class leave with the skills needed to pass the GED and succeed in post-secondary education and the workforce.

Job Readiness

LSH offers support for job readiness and workplace development through one-on-one counseling sessions for job searches, resume-writing, job application help, mock interviews, and etiquette instruction.

For more information on volunteer opportunities, see http://www.lutheransettlement.org/volunteer/

Website: http://www.lutheransettlement.org/

Volunteer Opportunities:

Email: kramchandani@lutheransettlement.org

Phone: (215) 426.8610 ext. 1242

Location: 1340 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia , PA 19125

Updated 10/16/2019

The Elmwood Park Zoo’s mission is to foster an appreciation of wildlife and their habitat that will inspire active participation in conservation. As one of only 225 zoos in North America to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Elmwood Park Zoo strives to be a leader in conservation efforts.

The Volunteer Program is a very important part of the zoo’s continued success. Each year, dedicated volunteers donate thousands of hours to help the Elmwood Park Zoo be the best it can be. They support EPZ’s mission of conservation and education throughout the zoo and in a variety of ways. Depending on their interests and background, individuals can apply for Education, Marketing, and Maintenance volunteer positions, just to name a few. For more information, as well as a link to our online application, please visit http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/volunteer.php.

The Elmwood Park Zoo is located at 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, Pennsylvania 19401. Please contact Laura MacBride, Volunteer Coordinator at (610) 277-3825 x231 or lmacbride@elmwoodparkzoo.org