# North Central: Community Group Hosts First Annual School Supply Drive

https://vimeo.com/17932640 [![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/26022923/fa1013fishtownBSmen-154x275.jpg)](https://philadelphianeighborhoods.com/2010/09/15/north-central-community-group-hosts-first-annual-school-supply-drive/fa1013fishtownbsmen/)John Baxley and Michael Hargrove man the table. Summer vacation felt alive and well last Saturday afternoon on the 1600 block of Susquehanna Avenue. School may have started a week ago for most of the children in the neighborhood, but the smell of hot dogs on the grill and the sound of people congregating in the closed-off street said otherwise. Members of the year-old community group Brothers and Sisters United were thankful for the sunny, clear sky and a successful turnout for their first big event—a school supply and clothing drive. Brothers and Sisters United is made up of men and women who have lived on or around Susquehanna Avenue and have seen the drastic changes it has encountered. Through referral services, rental assistance programs, safe-sex education and activities for children they hope to change the current state, and eventually the future, of the neighborhood. At 9 a.m. the seven members of Brothers and Sisters United were joined by block captain Nellie Green and other men and women in the neighborhood to block off and clean the street, set up tables and chairs and blow up a swimming pool for the kids. “Everyone here is an organizer, that’s what I say we’re all called,” said Cassandra Marshall as she unpacked pencil cases and packs of paper onto a table. Salaam D. Wakefield added that each of these organizers and community members knows each other and recognizes the importance of supporting the children. [![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/26022922/fa1013fishtownblockpartygirl-300x251.jpg)](https://philadelphianeighborhoods.com/2010/09/15/north-central-community-group-hosts-first-annual-school-supply-drive/fa1013fishtownblockpartygirl/)A young girl waits to enter a bouncy ride. “We were reminiscing about seeing the children walk up and down the street doing some dumb, petty stuff and we decided that sometimes they need a big brother or a big sister who understands,” he said. “We want to sit them down and explain things in a way they’ll understand because they’re all ours, they’re our responsibility.” John Baxley and Michael Hargrove are also members of Brothers and Sisters United. Baxley’s daughter and Hargrove’s son received paper, pencils, notebooks, backpacks and folders at the school supply drive earlier that day. As fathers in the community, they know they’re responsibility in Brothers and Sisters United is even more pressing. [![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/26022921/fa1013fishtownemptytable1-154x275.jpg)](https://philadelphianeighborhoods.com/2010/09/15/north-central-community-group-hosts-first-annual-school-supply-drive/fa1013fishtownemptytable-2/)This empty table was once filled with school supplies. “Even though I have a child out there myself it’s even better giving to the other kids,” added Baxley. “There are things my daughter has that they might not have. We brought all this stuff here today so they know someone out there cares about them.” The residents of this small block in North Central Philadelphia were appreciative of the group for their continued efforts. The $800 that Brothers and Sisters United raised at a Cabaret Night they hosted last month all went to the block party and school supply drive. “The stuff we give is out of our pocket,” said Baxley. “Anything we raise goes right back into the neighborhood.” The hope for each event and the word-of-mouth publicity Brothers and Sisters plans to receive is that other neighborhoods in the area will catch on to what they are doing, see what changes actually can be made with group effort and overall just try to do better for their children's futures. With new backpacks on their shoulders and pencils in their hands these kids will be ready for whatever the school year throws their way.