Philly AIDS Thrift hosted its 13th anniversary block party outside the store on 5th Street near Bainbridge on Saturday. For 13 years, the nonprofit has raised money for local organizations that provide services to people
Philly AIDS Thrift hosted its 13th anniversary block party outside the store on 5th Street near Bainbridge on Saturday.
For 13 years, the nonprofit has raised money for local organizations that provide services to people with HIV and AIDS.
“It’s just a beautiful collection of people that shop, donate and volunteer here and we just love them very much,” said Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou, the store’s manager and co-founder. “This is just our way of giving back to the community.”
Philly AIDS Thrift hosted a pie eating contest with MANNA, a nonprofit that gives food to people with life-threatening illnesses, as a part of MANNA’s annual Thanksgiving fundraiser, Pie In The Sky. The proceeds will provide Thanksgiving dinners to those with illnesses like HIV/AIDS, chronic kidney disease and cancer.
The event also had performances by the Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow, carnival games, a dunk tank, food and live music.
“We’re big supporters of Philly AIDS Thrift and their mission,” said Melanie Harris, a Queen Village resident who attended the event with her children. “It really does take a village, and people in the community have to show that they care and come out.”
Matterz Squidling, a founding member of the Squidling Brother Sideshow Act, sticks a mousetrap on his tongue at the Philly AIDS Thrift 13th Anniversary Block Party, which took place on South 5th Street, between Bainbridge and Monroe streets, on Saturday. | HANNAH BURNS/ THE TEMPLE NEWS
A volunteer for Philly AIDS Thrift works the dunk tank at the Philly AIDS Thrift 13th Anniversary Block Party, which took place on South 5th Street, between Bainbridge and Monroe streets, on Saturday. | HANNAH BURNS/ THE TEMPLE NEWS
A volunteer for Philly AIDS Thrift eats pie during a pie eating contest at the Philly AIDS Thrift 13th Anniversary Block Party, which took place on South 5th Street, between Bainbridge and Monroe streets, on Saturday. The pie eating contest was a part of MANNA’s Pie in the Sky fundraiser. | HANNAH BURNS/ THE TEMPLE NEWS
An attendee of the Philly AIDS Thrift 13th Anniversary Block Party, participates in a test your strength game, one of the many carnival-style games at the event. The event took place on South 5th Street, between Bainbridge and Monroe streets, on Saturday. | HANNAH BURNS/ THE TEMPLE NEWS
Helios, a member of the Squidling Brother Sideshow Act, tosses around a bar lit on fire from both ends at the Philly AIDS Thrift 13th Anniversary Block Party, which took place on South 5th Street, between Bainbridge and Monroe streets, on Saturday. | HANNAH BURNS/ THE TEMPLE NEWS
Johanna Fisher, 5, gets her face painted as a bunny at the Philly AIDS Thrift 13th Anniversary Block Party, which took place on South 5th Street, between Bainbridge and Monroe streets, on Saturday. | HANNAH BURNS/ THE TEMPLE NEWS
Yuleanya Wright, 4, jumps in the air at the Philly AIDS Thrift 13th Anniversary Block Party, which took place on South 5th Street, between Bainbridge and Monroe streets, on Saturday. | HANNAH BURNS/ THE TEMPLE NEWS
Carson John, a volunteer for Philly AIDS Thrift, wears a shark costume at the Philly AIDS Thrift 13th Anniversary Block Party, which took place on South 5th Street, between Bainbridge and Monroe streets, on Saturday. | HANNAH BURNS/ THE TEMPLE NEWS
Philly AIDS Thrift’s staff, volunteers and customers contribute to the growth of the community. “If we knew, we’d tell you,” reads a strip of paper taped to a shelf inside Philly AIDS Thrift Store at
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