Dear Penn Community,

We have begun our planning for the holiday season. We trust that you are all well, and that you will once again be able to join us in this undertaking during the upcoming holiday season. The Penn community continues to have a major impact during the holidays in spite of the challenging times.  We look forward to working with you again this year as we strive to make a difference in the lives of our deserving neighbors while we work to minimize the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges.

Below is a list of current opportunities. Your contributions allow us to respond to various requests from local agencies and families for donations during the holiday season. 

Holiday Food Drive, November 8-18: Let’s take a bite out of hunger! In the season of thanks and giving, please contribute to the annual Food Drive coordinated by Penn VIPS. We are collecting non-perishable foods (cans and boxed foods) as well as turkeys. Donations will help re-stock the pantry at the Salvation Army, Southwest Family Services, the People’s Emergency Center, and local schools, as well as help many deserving families in the area.

Holiday Giving Gift/Toy Drive, December 1-16: Please join us in the Annual Penn Volunteers In Public Service Holiday Drive. As you buy toys and presents for the holiday season, please consider spreading some cheer to deserving members of our community. All toys and gifts donated will support the efforts of the People’s Emergency Center, local schools, Potter’s House Mission, Southwest Family Services, and more. All items for the holiday drive must be new, not used, and should be unwrapped. We are also undertaking a new sneaker drive to benefit the homeless.

Please contact one of the Dropsite Committee members listed below for more information about the Holiday Food Drive and Gift/Toy Drive: 

Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays Program: Several departments have adopted a deserving family for the holidays and will provide the family with toys, food, and gifts so that they can have a joyous holiday. The adoption is usually done in lieu of departmental gift exchanges. The assigned family is treated to presents and sometimes a holiday dinner. Families participate in the program on a one-time basis. Families are assigned to departments based on request. Departments choose the size of the family they would like to adopt. Departments can also request the ages of the children they are interested in adopting.

Departments may request a “wish list” from the family or they may choose their own gifts for the family members. Departments choose the number and types of gifts they will provide. Departments are provided with size of the family, names, ages and sizes of each family member, and a wish list if requested. Departments are encouraged to deliver gifts to the families, but they may also request to have gifts delivered. Also, if departments would like to use services like Amazon, gifts can be shipped directly to the family. Families are selected from the Baring House Family Service Agency, local agencies and shelters. A small number of referrals are also accepted. Selection of families begins in November and assignments are made by mid-December.

Career buddies needed: Volunteer to provide support to graduates of the University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) Night Professional Development Program. Local members of the community will undertake classes in resume writing, interviewing techniques, time management, customer service, and more in preparation for job hunting. Career coach buddies will be assigned a participant and will work virtually with them over a three month period by being encouraging, suggesting resources, doing follow-up, and being a friend. Buddies make one weekly contact with their assigned participant.

Become a dropsite volunteer: Participate in five annual drives held by Penn Volunteers In Public Service (Penn VIPS) to benefit members of the surrounding community. We are in need of locations around the University that can serve as a drop-off point during our school, toy, gift drives as well as others. Your role would be to help advertise the event and to collect and deliver the donated items to our central location. We look forward to having you join us.

Create your own volunteer activity for your department: Would you and your colleagues or friends like to participate in a volunteer activity? Penn VIPS is happy to connect you to an activity or help you develop one of your own. Penn VIPS also maintains an extensive list of local agencies and nonprofits in desperate need of your no-longer-needed items. We connect no-longer-needed items with members of the community who are happy to put donated items to good use. We can easily make arrangements for pickup. 

Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu for additional information about the opportunities above and/or to make a donation.

—Isabel Sampson-Mapp, Associate Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships