Hands Of Woodstock
Fathers of the Community
HOW's Footprint to Date
An overview of the majority of events and projects we've put together or had the pleasure of being a part of.
2025 December
Project HOWliday Toy Drive
Project HOWliday is back.
If you are familiar with it, you know we usually get our network to identify families in need, we bridge a connection, get their wishlists and fulfill them. We're excited to share that we're enhancing our mission to support families in need.
Since 2019, we’ve successfully fulfilled the wishlists of 8 families, we believe we can do even more. This year, we're reaching out to our networks and community for donations, whether it's toys, games, electronics, or monetary contributions.
As always, our giveaways will be conducted discreet, respecting the privacy of families, unless they choose to share their stories.
No donation is too little. Together, we can make a greater impact!
2025 November
Gather & Give Initiative
Giving away turkeys and produce for a full Thanksgiving feast.
Click 'HERE' to see photos.
2025 November
Tyrese Maxey Turkey Giveaway
Back for the 2nd year in a row assisting the Tyrese Maxey and his Foundation with their annual Turkey Drive. This year it took place at The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center. We served another 3,000 Turkeys along with complimentary produce bags for each turkey given away.
Click 'HERE' to see photos.
2025 August
8th Annual Bookbag Drive
Our 8th bookbag drive. Another year of standing behind the community. This one will be the biggest event we've had to date.
Click 'HERE' to see photos.
2024 November
Tyrese Maxey Turkey Giveaway
Lending our efforts to assist the Tyrese Maxey Foundation with their annual Turkey Drive. It took place in one of our Founder's High School Alma Mater, George Washington Carver HS for Engineering and Science. We served 3,000 Turkeys along with complimentary produce bags for each turkey given away.
Click 'HERE' to see photos.
2024 August
7th Annual Bookbag Drive
Our 7th bookbag drive. Another year in the books of providing the kids in the community with bookbags and supplies to start the school year off right. This time partnering with the OG's who paved the way for us to be who we are.
Click 'HERE' to see photos.
2024 July
Bookbag Drive
Fish Fry Fundraiser
Hosting a Fund raiser Fish Fry to aid the efforts of our Annual Back to School Drive
2023 September
6th Annual Bookbag Drive
Our 6th bookbag drive. Another year in the books of providing the kids in the community with bookbags and supplies to start the school year off right.
Click 'here' to see Photos
2022 November
Clothing Drive:
Donation Day
The 2nd segment of our Clothing Drive which is Donation day.
2022 October
1st Halloween Event
Nightmare on Woodstock
In efforts to match or top our previous drive. We followed suit with the same basics. Partnering with the Fire department, the horse stables, the full F&H offering of concessions, partnering with the clothing brand "The Cloned" to produce our HOW organization shirts for the event, full cookout mode, games and prizes.
2022 October
Clothing Drive:
Collection Day
Kick off to our Clothing drive whch will be executed in 3 segments: Collection day, Donation day, and Providing day.
2022 August
5th Annual Bookbag Drive
In efforts to match or top our previous drive. We followed suit with the same basics. Partnering with the Fire department, the horse stables, the full F&H offering of concessions, partnering with the clothing brand "The Cloned" to produce our HOW organization shirts for the event, full cookout mode, games and prizes. We were also awarded a citation and the key to North Philadelphia by City Council.
2021 October
2nd Fish Fry Fundraiser
We held our 2nd Fish-Fry to help fundraise for the 4th annual book bag drive. This event was successful. Not so much in terms of a financial standpoint but in terms of impact and what it did for our neighborhood. People came together, ate, enjoyed good music and a peaceful atmosphere without the smallest notion of violence in sight.
2021 September
4th Annual Bookbag Drive
Missing a year of the book bag drive in 2020 due to the Coronavirus. We felt we had to come back stronger and better than our previous years, but it was extremely hard trying to figure out the groove again in this new climate of virtual learning. On top of that, a lot of the businesses we previously worked with, were no longer in business due to the impact of Covid-19. So we pivoted to supply school equipment and PPE for the kids and parents.
2020 November
Gather & Give
Thanksgiving of 2020 a few of our members made 400 lunch bags, went to Center City and gave them out to the homeless.
2020 June
Partnership With Snipes USA
In the wake of the George Floyd riot's and looting. As we made efforts to rebuild our community. We partnered with Snipes to provide families and shelters with brand new clothes.
2020 May
Partnership with
Shepard's Heartbeat
The start of an ongoing relationship, shipping slightly used unwanted clothing, apparel and toiletries to Africa, on a monthly basis.
2020-2021
Pandemic work
During the pandemic HOW has been a crucial part of stabilizing the community. With the help and backing from the Nicetown CDC, Lenfest Center, and a few other major organizations, we were able to accomplish major things. We've had 45+ weeks of successful food donation drives to aid in pandemic relief for families around Northern Philadelphia, serving 170+ families a week. This consisted of food distribution pick up on Monday and Tuesday to be separated and set up for in person pick up Thursday and Friday, with Thursday deliveries also. There was also Thursday pick ups from Temple University to be distributed Mondays and Tuesdays.
2019 December
Project HOWliday kick-off
2019 was the start of our own take on the Secret Santa wave called Project HOWliday, since then year after year, we've adopted 8 Families/Households to fulfill their full Christmas wish lists. The first year was in partnership with Jones Tabernacle AME Church and we provided a fully cooked feast for the first families we sponsored.
2019 November
Thanksgiving:
Turkey Giveaway
The Kick-off to our Gather & Give Initiative, in Partnership with the Nicetown CDC, we provided 20 families around North Philadelphia, with Turkeys and side dish ingredients to cook a full Thanksgiving meal.
2019 August
3rd Annual Bookbag Drive
Third annual drive we presented our first official HOW logo bags. This year was a first for many things that would become the standard for us. Partnering with the Fire department, partnering with the horse stables, the full F&H offering of concessions, full cookout mode, games and prizes. With a videographer to capture the moment.
2019 June
Fish Fry Fundraiser
Fish fry Fundraiser to help fund the next drive. The support was unimaginable and the turnout was amazing.
2018 August
2nd Annual Book Bag Drive
The 2nd annual drive was a rain-out but we still showed up to play ball and prevailed. Families still came out despite the weather. We gave away 150 branded drawstring bags, 300 story books and provided food, a few games, and water activities while we were able to.
2017 August
Kick off to the annual book bag drive
After having annual memorial cookouts for our friends and family who passed away. We eventually came to the conclusion that we have to stop excluding the kids and give them the same energy that we were giving our loved ones who passed because they are very much alive and still here and have a whole life to experience and navigate. We decided to give them their own play day to make up for it. Then we thought to take it a step further and also provide something that will last for just more than a "Day." The play day then turned into an annual bookbag drive. This was the birth of everything HOW.