Newsletter | September 2025
Operation Warm Coat Drive
As the weather turns colder, the gift of a warm coat makes all the difference. Thanks to our friends at Operation Warm, Small Things received two pallets of brand-new coats for children.
On Saturday, September 20, our Small Things Market in Fairhill hosted the first distribution. Kids’ faces lit up as they picked out their favorite colors, and parents left with peace of mind knowing their little ones will stay warm this winter. Big thanks to the boys from William Penn Charter School who showed up to help out with Saturday’s distribution!
And we’re not done yet! Our next coat distribution will be held at Fairhill on Saturday, September 27. Volunteers are needed from 1–4 p.m.—if you’d like to help families find the perfect coat, we’d love to have you join us.
Distinguished Latino Leaders and Community Advocates in the City of Philadelphia
This month, our very own Nilda Pimentel-Perez was honored as a distinguished latina leader as her “leadership in affordable housing, food security, and neighborhood advocacy has strengthened Philadelphia’s civic fabric. Her decades-long career in public service, strategic communications, and grassroots organizing continue to amplify the voices of underserved communities across the city” (source). We are so proud of her and thankful for the work she does at Small Things!
Partner Appreciation Party
On Friday, September 19, we gathered with more than 100 pantry volunteers for our annual Partner Appreciation Party. It was a beautiful reminder that Small Things can’t do this work alone—our 50 pantry partners are at the very heart of everything we do.
Each week, these partners pick up food from our warehouse and bring it into their communities, feeding thousands of Philadelphia families. The party was our way of saying “thank you.” Guests enjoyed delicious food, fun activities, and special gifts. No one went home hungry or empty-handed thanks to our generous sponsors: Aetna, Thrivent, Oak Street Health, and the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia.
We are deeply grateful for the commitment of our partners and can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in the year ahead.
Employee Shoutout – John Casey
At Small Things, we know that our work is only as strong as the people behind it—and this month we want to shine a spotlight on our incredible warehouse manager, John Casey.
The end of summer brought a storm of challenges: staff on vacation and honeymoon, trailers breaking down, even a truck in the shop. Through it all, John’s steady leadership and positive attitude kept everything running. He drove the van, picked up groceries, covered shifts, and handled unexpected setbacks with grace and determination.
It’s thanks to people like John that our warehouse stays strong and families across Philadelphia continue to receive the food they need. Join us in saying thank you to John for embodying what it means to turn small things into big impact!
Cutloose Cares – Glizzyfest
Jordan and Emily Dean - Founders of Cutloose Cares
Partnerships come in all shapes and sizes, and we’re thrilled to introduce one of our newest: Cutloose Cares, founded by Jordan and Emily Deane.
In August, they hosted Glizzyfest, a Phillies-themed tailgate at FDR Park that quickly became the event of the summer. Instead of tickets, guests brought donations—and together they collected more than 400 pounds of dry food for Small Things to distribute across Philadelphia.
It’s inspiring to see new partners step up with creativity and generosity. Thank you, Jordan, Emily, and everyone at Cutloose Cares, for reminding us that small things really do add up.
