Category: Community Services

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Historical Society of Frankford to Host Community Arts Project

Historical Society of Frankford Hosts the Tacony Lab Community Arts Center
Northeast 250 Threads of History arts event

The Historical Society of Frankford (HSF) is pleased to host Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Tacony
LAB Community Art Center Northeast 250: Threads of History community arts project on Tuesday,
March 31 at 6:00 PM at the Society’s library/museum at 1507 Orthodox St, Philadelphia.

This project, part of the City’s US Semiquincentennial celebrations, will shine spotlights at several
venues on the history of Northeast Philadelphia and the many small organizations that keep that
history alive. Using the US flag as the organizing principle and creative inspiration, hands-on
artmaking activities at each event will engage communities with the idea of individual expression in
flags. Participants will have an opportunity to create an artwork to keep.

The Frankford event will also feature an exhibit of artifacts and documents from the HSF collection
related to Betsy Ross, the woman often portrayed as the creator of the flag, and her relatives in
Northeast Philly who preserved and promoted her life story, as well as a short presentation.

This event is free and open to the public. Off street parking will be available across Orthodox Street
at the Frankford Friends School. Light refreshments will be available.

About the Historical Society of Frankford: Founded in 1905, the Historical Society of Frankford preserves and interprets the history of
Northeast Philadelphia through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs.

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MLK Day 2026 Free Market

The Historical Society of Frankford encourages support of our neighbors and partners Unique Dreams (https://www.uniquedreamsinc.com/), the 15th Police District, and It Takes One Village to Feed a Child (https://www.feed1child.org/) at their MLK Day 2026 Free Market, which will provide free food, clothing, and household goods at Unique Dreams headquarters at the historic Garsed Center, 4704 Leiper Street, January 19, 2026, 1-3 p.m. The 15th Police District is also collecting toiletries to be distributed at the event. Please drop off toiletries at the 15th Police District, 2831 Levick Street, prior to January 19.

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Summer of Wonder at the Frankford Library

Hello Frankford Community Member,

The Free Library has kicked off its Summer of Wonder Program, and the recently opened Frankford branch will also be participating.

Throughout the summer, children can keep track of their reading, activities, and library programs with the take-home Summer of Wonder Activity Map, available online in 13 languages. We’ve also included fun activity prompts, a draw-your-own comic panel, an anagram puzzle, and — most excitingly — a fold-out map of Philadelphia, where kids can plot their Summer of Wonder progress with our specially designed Philly Stickers.  Check in with your librarian to learn how you can earn prizes along the way, including books, lanyards, rubber ducks, museum passes, and more!

For more information, please see the links below.

Summer of Wonder 2025!

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/5487

Activity Tracker

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/assets/pdf/programs/summerreading/kid/SOW25-activity-tracker-English.pdf

Online summary of events and programs (for Children & Adults)

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/summerreading/#section-participate

Regards,

Gaspar Santos (Hel/Him/His)
Community Initiative Specialist
Community Engagement & Volunteer Services

267-334-5646  |  freelibrary.org
Rodin Place, Suit 201, 2000 Hamilton street, 19130

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Frankford Transportation Center Transit-Oriented Development

From the Frankford Community Development Corporation:

The Frankford Transportation Center Transit-Oriented Development at Frankford and Pratt is on schedule to begin demolition and construction later this year! You can look forward to 132 affordable apartments, ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units; a new supermarket; and a 40,000 sq. ft. City health center.

On June 5, 2025, Philadelphia City Council voted to approve funding of the health center project up to $21 million! We want to thank our councilperson, Quetcy Lozada, for her unwavering support of this project and sponsorship of the bill.

Stay tuned for more updates!

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Come As You Are, Community, to the Church That is Named for You!

There are a lot of organizations that do good and we have written about many. I’m going to focus on this particular Church located in Frankford at the foot of Oxford Avenue under the shadow of the El train.

Pastor Elaine Rivera often contacts us with information about events, gatherings and offerings that the Church is doing for the community. There are many people in need in Frankford and they count on many of the life-giving Churches and community groups just to survive. Each service group tries to meet the needs of the people as best as they can.

What I have noticed over the years is that Pastor Elaine and her volunteers do what they do in a quiet, humble fashion. They go about the business of serving God’s people, as much as they are able counting, on other good people to help them with their needs. We know and believe that the Lord will provide but sometimes it takes more faith than we might have at the moment. But I don’t think Pastor Elaine’s faith falters – her life experiences have prepared her well for her ministry to society’s forgotten people.

Elaine Rivera grew up in Philadelphia but her call to ministry would not come until later in life. After she graduated from college, she served her country as a member of the United States Air Force for 8 years. Following an honorable discharge, she chose to study Law Enforcement and her career took her to New Mexico for 5 years. Feeling a call to further service for the Lord, Elaine became a licensed and ordained Minister of the Gospel in March 2011 at True Life Bible Church in Sicklerville, NJ. Serving in various servant leader roles, Elaine became an Assistant Pastor. Launching Crossroads Empowerment Ministry in Blackwood, NJ, Elaine would become a Senior Pastor. Pastor Elaine now serves as the Founder and Senior Pastor of Come As You Are Community Church. Her congregation are those marginalized by society – the homeless, the drug addicted, those who are challenged either socially or economically. Pastor Elaine is praying for guidance regarding the establishment of traditional housing for the homeless.

Come As You Are Community Church can be found on Facebook here – https://www.facebook.com/CAYAFCC/ and the Internet right here – cayachurch.org.

The Frankford Gazette recently posted that the Church needs volunteers. Please consider getting involved and helping them. Also, plans for Christmas Eve follows. Please help Pastor Elaine continue the work that she and the Church does so well.

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