Program
Community Schools @Franklin S. Edmonds School
A Community School partnership between the City, the School District and neighbors, Franklin S. Edmonds School welcomes volunteers through the City's volunteer portal.
- Clearances needed
- Background check
Saved in this browser only.
What they do
Volunteers help with the school's programs for students and families, such as weekly grocery handouts for families and help at special events. The school also runs family forums, adult education classes, parent cafes, and after school and summer programs for young people.
Who it is for
- Who can join
- Open to anyone
- Who is there
- Kids
When and where
We do not know the schedule yet. Ask the group.
School
- Address
- 8025 Thouron Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19150
- Part of the city
- Upper North
Your first visit
Feeling unsure the first time is normal. Most groups are glad when someone new walks in.
First step: Sign up through the city's volunteer portal, or ask the school's community school coordinator, Oanye Sims (oanye.sims@phila.gov, (215) 400-3370), about open shifts..
You need to sign up first.
What to expect
Before any shift, volunteers sign the district's code of conduct, get a district volunteer certificate, and complete clearance checks: the state child abuse history check, the state criminal background check, a city release waiver, and either an FBI waiver or fingerprinting. Open roles have included weekly help with grocery handouts for families and occasional help at special events.
Tips for your first visit
- Start the clearance paperwork early, because it has to be finished before your first shift.
- Ask the coordinator which day and time the grocery handouts run.
- Ask the coordinator where to check in on your first day.
Newcomer welcome
Takes some effort for newcomers (2 out of 5). Why we say this: Volunteers must clear background and child abuse checks before they work at the school, and the city page does not say what a first shift looks like..
Cost and commitment
- Cost
- Cost not known yet
Access and languages
- Wheelchair access
- We do not know yet. Ask the group before you go.
- Languages spoken
- We do not know yet which languages are spoken.
Requirements
Pennsylvania child clearances
This group works with children. Pennsylvania law says adults who volunteer with children need clearances. The usual ones are a child abuse history check and a State Police criminal record check. Some people also need an FBI fingerprint check. Ask the group which ones you need and how to get them. For unpaid volunteers, the clearances last five years.
- This group asks for a background check.
How to reach them
We copy contact details as the group or a public source published them. Each one shows where it came from.
- Website: communityschools.galaxydigital.com Source: City of Philadelphia Volunteer Portal (Galaxy Digital, Community Schools program), seen October 8, 2026
- Email: Madeline.Cerulli@phila.gov Source: City of Philadelphia Volunteer Portal (Galaxy Digital, Community Schools program), seen October 8, 2026 ; Source: phila.gov, seen October 8, 2026
- Phone: (215) 834-6277 Source: City of Philadelphia Volunteer Portal (Galaxy Digital, Community Schools program), seen October 8, 2026 ; Source: phila.gov, seen October 8, 2026
Sources and last check
Checked by our research team on October 8, 2026. This was a closer look, including what a first visit is like.
- Last seen active
- October 2026 (See the evidence)
- Last checked by our team
- October 8, 2026
- Status
- Active
- Our confidence in this listing
- Medium
- City of Philadelphia Volunteer Portal (Galaxy Digital, Community Schools program), seen October 8, 2026. Supports: Name, Location, Email, Phone, Website, Requirements, What to expect, Status, Last sign of life
- phila.gov, seen October 8, 2026. Supports: What they do, First step, Email, Phone, Location
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