(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Philly AIDS Thrift brings back their beloved block party and fall festival with a full day of no-charge, family and fido friendly fun! Philly AIDS Thrift 19th Anniversary Block Party will take place at the 700 blocks of S. 5th Street and E. Passyunk Avenue (between Bainbridge St. and Monroe St.) on Saturday, September 28, 2024, with the streets opening at 12:00pm and closing at 6:00pm. Enjoy music, circus performers, food and drinks, a celebrity dunk tank, games, a caricature artist, a dog-kissing booth, stilt walkers, craft/vintage vendors, a pie-eating contest, double dutch, and dancing in the street.
Look for Peabody Award-winning radio host and producer at WXPN, DJ Robert Drake – who will be emcee and spinning tunes all day for everyone dancing in the streets. Other entertainment includes live performances and fun include Reverend MacKenzie Moltov, the sword-swallowing clownbabe, Reese “Stoop Kid” Crawleywith fire and flow arts, and Double Dutch Meetup. In addition to commemorating 19 successful years, the block party kicks off the Halloween season, which is the busiest time for the non-profit organization that has become known as one of the largest retail stores and destinations for costumes, accessories, and decorations during the spooky season each and every year.
"We are so excited for our annual outdoor block party for 2024,” said Philly AIDS Thrift’s Co-Founder/Executive Director Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou. “Whether it’s to Smooch-A-Pooch, watch people shove pie into their faces as fast as humanly possible, dare to Double Dutch, or simply dance in the middle of the street, everyone who stops by helps us raise even more money for local HIV/AIDS service organizations, including the William Way LGBT Community Center, Bebashi - Transition to Hope, and many more!
She added, " I am so proud of the relationships that we have built with our amazing shoppers, the wonderful donors, our irreplaceable volunteers, and the crucial service-providing organizations. I am simply filled with gratitude. We look forward to the years to come supporting local HIV/AIDS organizations and serving the community by selling interesting and affordable items through our fabulous thrift stores!”
Philly AIDS Thrift Board President Michael Byrne exclaimed, "We all have days we look forward to every year, and our Block Party is one of mine! Embracing all that makes us great, staff, volunteers, donors, but mostly community. Community supporting community while having a really great time! Thanks for supporting us for 19 years!”
Philly AIDS Thrift's 19th Anniversary Block Party will take place right outside of Philly AIDS Thrift at the 700 block of S. 5th Street (between Bainbridge St. and Monroe St.) on Saturday, September 28th, 2024, with streets open at Noon and closing at 6:00pm. The celebration will include music, circus performers, food and drinks, a celebrity dunk tank, games, a caricature artist, a dog-kissing booth, stilt walkers, craft/vintage vendors, a pie-eating contest, double dutch, and dancing in the street!
Look for Peabody Award-winning radio host and producer at WXPN, DJ Robert Drake – who will be emceeing and spinning tunes all day for everyone dancing in the streets.
Philly AIDS Thrift will also be hosting its 4th Annual Pie Eating Contest, emceed by CBS 3’s news anchor, Jim Donovan. The contest is open to everyone to sign up on the day of. However, spots are limited. In partnership with MANNA, the wonderful organization will graciously provide the blueberry pies, which are GF this year, in correlation to their annual fundraiser, Pie In The Sky, which begins in October.
Double Dutch Meetup is an inclusive, safe space that aims to empower community building and promote fitness. Show off your skills, learn some new ones, and get to know your community when the Double Dutch Meetup shows up! All are welcome to join, and ropes are provided!
Joining them in their Celebrity Dunk Tank include Stefanie Jolles from Philly’s Premier Punk Rock N Roll Shop, Crash Bang Boom. You will also have the chance to dunk the fabulous staff and volunteers of Philly AIDS Thrift.
For the first time this year, look for a dog-kissing booth, Smooch-A-Pooch, with Street Tails Animal Rescue. Street Tails Animal Rescue (STAR) is a non-profit organization based in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned and unwanted dogs. Their mission is to provide each dog with the care and love they need to find a forever home, promoting a community of compassion and responsible pet ownership.
Entertainers: Reverend MacKenzie Moltov, the sword-swallowing clownbabe, is sure to amaze with a thrilling performance. She is also the Founding Member of The Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow Act, Reese “Stoop Kid” Crawley is a fire and flow arts performer and founder of Stoop Kid Studios. He has been a part of the flow arts community since 2014. From volunteering with SpinCo to performing with the Philadelphia Conclave at Burning Man’s Conclave and many other places in between, Reese looks forward to bringing that same energy to you.
Vendors: There will also be over 30 craft and vintage vendors, some including:
South Street Art Mart: artist-run retail shop home to the works of over 180 Philly-area artists and makers.
Crash Bang Boom: Philadelphia’s premier “Punk Rock N Roll” shop featuring apparel for punks, goths, metalheads, and rockers.
Imogen X Liu-Johnston: Artist and Engineer creating dark, surrealist, fine art pieces with sustainability and resourcefulness using thrifted, lost, and discarded materials
Love City Brewing: Delicious local craft beers!
Founded in 2005, Philadelphia AIDS Thrift is incorporated in Pennsylvania as a non-profit business and is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. Philly AIDS Thrift’s mission is to support local communities affected by HIV/AIDS through the operation of its fabulous retail thrift stores. So far, they have donated over $4.6 million dollars to funding programs focused on HIV prevention, care, and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
In the fall of 2014, Philly AIDS Thrift, a local non-profit thrift store, stepped in to keep Giovanni’s Room open after 41 years of serving the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia. The new venture was renamed Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room in honor of its 50-year legacy and history as the longest-running LBGTQ+ and feminist bookstore in the country. It continues to sell new and used LGBTQ+ books, as well as clothing, bric-a-brac, housewares, collectibles, and art.
In 2015, Philly AIDS Thrift launched an HIV testing center inside their retail store. Testing is done clinically and professionally with various HIV/AIDS non-profit organizations to provide no-charge, drop-in, rapid testing, and related counseling services. The testing room helps to normalize HIV testing and remove stigma by providing an alternative for those who may find a clinical setting frightening.
In addition to monetary contributions, Philly AIDS Thrift provides store vouchers to Philly area HIV/AIDS service providers for clients in need of clothing and household necessities.
Proceeds from all of Philly AIDS Thrift operations are still growing. Both stores run with support from amazing volunteers and donations from the public. All funding and services are made possible through our generous donors.
The organization also has a donation center to the left of the main entrance. Donation days are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12:00pm to 7:00pm.
The store's shopping hours are Monday through Saturday from 11:00am to 8:00pm, and Sunday from 11:00am to 7:00pm
HELPING HIV/AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS: Philly AIDS Thrift’s Grant Program began in 2014 to serve the community. The program has awarded over 200 grants to more than 50 different organizations and continues to grow. The next application cycle for grant proposals begins near the end of 2024.
During its most recent grant cycle, Philly AIDS Thrift was able to award $320,000 to 30 local organizations in 2024, including: Action Wellness, African Family Health Organization, AIDS Delaware, AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, Angels In Motion, Ark of Safety, The Attic Youth Center, Bebashi – Transition to Hope, Black and Latinx Community Control, Camp Dreamcatcher, El Comité de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas - CATA, The Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice – Drexel University, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children – Drexel University, Family Service of Chester County, Family Services of Montgomery County, Mazzoni Center, MANNA – Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance, Morris Home, Neighborhood United Against Drugs, One Day At A Time, Planned Parenthood Keystone, Prevention Meets Fashion, Prevention Point Philadelphia, Project SAFE, Siloam Wellness, SOL Collective / La Luna Foundation, Student Harm Reduction Coalition – University of Pennsylvania, The COLOURS Organization, The Everywhere Project, and William Way LGBT Community Center.
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