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A dentist’s office lobby is an unlikely place to find donations for the homeless. Odder yet, it is the last spot to house giant boxes filled with candy. But since October 2006, The Dental HealthCare Group, 413 Bainbridge St., has been collecting from the community and spreading the bounty around town — and the world: The candies were sent to soldiers overseas this Halloween, while shoeboxes of toiletries are going to Fairmount-based Project H.O.M.E. this Christmas for giving out at city shelters. For Dr. Jeffrey Rosenberg and his staff, it’s all about giving back.
"We’re fortunate that we’ve been in business for 25 years. Surviving in this economy is very important, but we have to go beyond that. People are making sacrifices and one of the things we realize is that we’re fortunate enough to have people coming to us year after year," Rosenberg said.
In these hard times, the face of charitable giving is changing with the unlikeliest of entities — offices, mom-and-pop businesses and even individuals — rising to the occasion. No longer are nonprofits with household names the sole providers. In fact, while contributions to major nonprofits are down, according to news reports, local off-the-beaten-path places are doing well, those involved in the efforts said.
"It’s been amazing how many people want to give. It’s heartwarming, it truly is," Office Manager Theresa Cifaldi said of the Queen Village-based dental group’s holiday drive.
This year instead of spending money on cards for customers, Rosenberg decided he would give to the needy, furthering a tradition he started two years ago when he donated all profits from October teeth-whitening procedures to breast cancer research.
"Really, the card is nice, but if we can go beyond that, that’s nice," the dentist said.
It’s not just patients who are opening their hearts and wallets since charity drive fliers are posted at playgrounds, on telephone poles and at local businesses like Famous Fourth Street Deli. Targeting schools so children can get involved in donating is a way of introducing youths to philanthropy, Cifaldi said.
"Our goal is to have kids help do this thing because we want the kids to learn how good comes to those who give. Especially right now with things in our economy, everybody is hurting," the office manager said.
Donations for Project H.O.M.E. are being accepted at the office through today and will be delivered to the organization this weekend.
Another local organization is also getting in on the giving.
For a third year, Filitalia International at 1834 Passyunk Ave. is collecting toys, money and coats for the needy in the community. Donations may be dropped off at Filitalia founder Dr. Pasquale Nestico’s cardiology office at 1809 Oregon Ave. from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through tomorrow. Saturday, recipients will come to Filitalia from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to collect their goods, the organization’s Humanitarian Chairwoman Maria Di Donato said. Di Donato and her committee of three young couples have been coordinating the drive by calling area churches — St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Annunciation BVM and St. Gabriel’s — for referrals of those in need. Last year, 35 families received $100 ShopRite gift cards and 56 kids in those families got toys. This year, Filitalia expects to help 40 families.
"I would like to do 100 [families]. There’s a need in the community for 100. There’s a need in the community for 200," Di Donato said.
So far, people have been donating toys in droves while money and coats have been harder to come by, something Di Donato thinks is a sign of the hard economic times.
One story last year tugged at Di Donato’s heartstrings when a church recommended a single father of three. The man had no car — not even a token for public transportation to get to the Filitalia office — so staffers volunteered to deliver his donation of toys and a ShopRite gift card. When they got to his dwelling, they found the family eating dinner on the kitchen floor — no table or chairs. Another recipient last year was a woman with cancer who had spent all of her money on treatments and medication and had nothing left to give her children during Christmas.
"It breaks your heart, it breaks your heart," Di Donato said of the stories she’s heard.
For many, taking charity is not easy.
"It’s hard for people to walk in and accept these things. Pride is pride. You can see it on the faces of the people who do this, but they have kids and they have to make a Christmas for their kids," Di Donato said.
Eat, drink and be merry is a credo of the holidays and happy hour is generally a time for all three regardless of the season, but tomorrow from 5 to 8 p.m. at Fiso Lounge, 1437 South St., patrons will be reminded giving is better than getting as the establishment hosts a coat drive for the homeless. Community organizer Fareeda Mabry from 12th and Bainbridge streets spearheaded the event she hopes will generate 300 adult-size coats. An employee of the City Managing Director’s Office, Mabry sees the homeless every day in the subway station under City Hall and in Love Park. The garments collected will be personally distributed by her to these individuals, as well as some going to Project H.O.M.E. and the halfway house at 12th and Bainbridge.
"I actually spoke with someone who had to get his feet removed because of frostbite. The stories I hear and the people I see — it’s a shame," Mabry said. "The economy is worsening for all, especially for those who live on the streets. We are all feeling the pangs of our national economic troubles. It is the duty of the people to help those who have not and live without. No matter how bad you are doing, someone somewhere is doing a lot worse."
Contact Staff Writer Lorraine Gennaro at lgennaro@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
