Philadelphia FIGHT Teams With Eastern State Penitentiary for Holiday Toy Drive


Philadelphia FIGHT‘s Institute for Community Justice — which works “to reduce not only the number of people in prison living with HIV, but also the lasting effects of mass imprisonment on communities most affected” —  is teaming with Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) for its annual toy drive benefitting children of incarcerated or recently released parents. Now through Dec. 15, any visitor to ESP who donates a new toy or children’s book that’s still in its original package will receive a second admission free of charge. Don’t feel like a stroll through the prison? Folks can make donations during regular business hours even if they don’t plan on taking the tour.

Philly FIGHT estimates that 30,000 Philadelphia children will be without a parent this Christmas because of incarceration. The toys donated in the Holiday Toy Drive will be distributed to a fraction of those kids at Philly FIGHT‘s annual holiday party for ICJ participants. To learn more about the drive and that program, go here. The two-for-one offer lasts until Dec. 15, but ESP will accept donations through Jan. 1.

Eastern State is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.