Planning the 10-year reunion might be at the top of the list for most high school crews, but the "Philly Blockstars" think bigger—and, dare we say, better?
A few years ago, this tight-knit group of high school buddies started giving back to their Philadelphia community with "The Block Gives Back." The organization started by cleaning up neighborhood playgrounds and providing care packages to those in need and now runs events like the annual "Block to School" event that provides backpacks and school supplies to kids in need.
The good feels don't stop there. The Block Gives Back initiative, which runs with donations of resources and time, also provides a music studio for kids to create, a shop class, internship workshops to get people ready to enter the workforce, and so much more.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the Blockstars changed the monthly "Feed the Block" event to a weekly basis, and in 2020, fed over 5,600 people. The philosophy is "no questions asked," and anybody who needs a filling meal is able to feed themselves and their families at no cost to them.
To help this amazing organization continue to feed and foster its community, our friends at Philly Pretzel Factory are donating $10,000, which has both Rach and Philly Blockstar Hakeem Ruiz almost jumping for joy.
As Hakeem says about the power to do good and create positive momentum within a community, "It's within all of us and we can make it happen."
