The Temple Law community once again came together to make the holidays a little brighter for needy families in Northeast Philadelphia with the second annual Temple Law toy drive benefiting CORA Services.
The 2013 drive, dubbed “Moment of Thanks,” brought students, faculty, staff, and alumni together to donate 617 toys to at risk children whose families receive assistance through CORA. “It’s good to take a moment to remember what’s important,” Dean JoAnne Epps offered in explanation of the theme, adding “it’s also good to come together as a community and make an unequivocal statement that we know there is need, and we care.” The toy drive was preceded at Thanksgiving by a similarly themed food drive benefiting Philabundance, which was also a resounding success.
The toys will be distributed to needy children by CORA Services, a non-profit organization that provides education, counseling, therapy, and guidance to more than 16,000 children and families experiencing emotional, academic, and social challenges. All toys will go to benefit needy families in the lower Northeast section of the city (Frankford/Juniata/Bridesburg/Northwood).
The toys were picked up on December 16th and will be distributed by a team of community leaders from the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods served by CORA.
The following people are shown left to right above: front row, Charlene Lewis, Coordinator, Northeast EPIC, CORA Services and Dean JoAnne Epps; second row, Yves Marie Sesir, Northeast EPIC, Parent Elite; Nafisah Lewis, Northeast EPIC, Community Leader; Jason Dawkins, City Council, Office of Maria D. Quinones Sanchez; Kimberly Washington ’09, formerly of CORA; Ken Spivak, Partner at Spivak and Spivak LLP and President of the TLAA; and Sandy Hill
’14, student co-chair. Not pictured is student co-chair Hilary Hannan ’14. Photo credit Ryan Brandenburg, Temple University Creative Services.