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Spooky Finds: Halloween Shopping at the JLP Thrift Shop

By Corienne Myslinski

For those that participate, Halloween is just around the corner!

It reminds me that I need to decorate, carve a pumpkin, and think about what my costume will be this year. Naturally, this brings me to The Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc. Thrift Shop to see what’s available. Shopping for Halloween items at the Shop is a great way to support the JLP and reuse decorations and costumes. Plus, when I no longer need these items, I can donate them back to keep the cycle going.

I stopped by the Shop on September 29 and some items that struck my eye were:

These adorable invitations! I am not having a party this year but if I do next year, I have made a mental note to look first at the Shop.

Remind me next time I am here I need to donate some kitchen items so I can buy other kitchen items, like these super cute cookie cutters:

Or look at this unique pitcher and leaf dish:

These photos do not begin to cover all the Halloween items available. The Halloween section is located toward the back of the Shop, near the Lancaster Avenue entrance. While these specific items might not be there when you visit, the Shop always has unique and affordable treasures. As for me, I picked up this felt mask to use while handing out candy this year:

You never know what you are going to find at the JLP Thrift Shop!

Save the Date for Fall Fete, hosted by the JLP Fundraising Committee

When: Friday, October 18, 2024, from 7 to 10 p.m. 

Tickets can be purchased on the membership portal here for $120, which includes two adult beverage tickets and light hors d’oeuvres. This early bird pricing has been extended until Friday, October 11th! 

A ticket purchase does qualify for 2 Ways and Means credits. Angel Fund support is also available should you need a free or discounted ticket to attend, and can be requested on the member portal under Resources < Forms.

What is Fall Fete? Fall Fete is one of Junior League of Philadelphia’s largest annual fundraisers. Proceeds support JLP’s mission and benefit our community partners. The bulk of the funds raised come from the silent auction. The Fundraising Committee’s goal is to raise $8,000 from Fall Fete this year. 

What is the dress code? Cocktail attire. Embrace the nautical theme if you’re willing and able! 

What types of items will be featured at the silent auction? Many silent auction items will be a foodie’s delight! Gift certificates to fantastic restaurants in and around the city will be up for grabs, along with a Nothing Bundt Cakes basket that includes free bundlets for a year and a lifetime coupon! Fitness-related items such as a climbing certificate to REACH climbing or Club Pilates-Rittenhouse will also be featured. Want to get the kiddos out of the house? Bid on a one-year family membership to The Elmwood Park Zoo. 

What is Fundraising Co-Chair Ashley White most looking forward to at this year’s Fall Fete? The location and the views! 

JLP Hosts Events to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of its Thrift Shop in Ardmore

The Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc. is delighted to celebrate a milestone that truly marks a part of our legacy – 20 years of the JLP thrift shop operating in Ardmore, PA. Over the past two decades, the shop has established itself as a shopping destination, and according to the thrift shop’s website, has won awards and recognition from organizations such as The Philadelphia Inquirer, Main Line Life, and Main Line Today.

Potentially a reason why the shop wins local awards is because of the amazing items that are donated, making every day an opportunity to find something interesting. Suzanne Farley, the Manager of the thrift shop shared that once someone donated a Picasso Print that was authenticated and sold through Freeman’s Auction House.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary, Junior League members were invited to a luncheon hosted by the Thrift Shop Committee. There was food, fun, and guest speakers who discussed topics like closets, clothing, and undergarments. Shannan Allen, known as The Closet Consultant, helps women create a style that demonstrates their unique gift to the world and their brand. Karima Renee, known as The Philly Bra Lady, is a lingerie educator helping women navigate the vast landscape of bras and finding the perfect fit.

Cheers for 20 years in Ardmore and beyond!

JLP Members Represent at National Junior League Development Conference

During the weekend of August 16, JLP members Joan Allmaras, Victoria Denaro, and Sarah Hoang attended the Junior League’s Organizational Development Training conference in Norfolk, Virginia. “It was an incredible opportunity to discover how the Junior League empowers women and strengthens communities,” Victoria said.

Organizational Development Training (ODT), previously known as the Organizational Development Institute, is a specialized conference focused on organizational growth and personal development. Participants choose a specific track and receive the in-depth training needed to excel in their roles.

They spent the weekend connecting with other Leagues and gathering fresh ideas to enhance our own. Victoria said, “We’re excited to share these insights and implement the best ones for our League.”

All JLP Members Invited to the 2024 Annual Meeting

Each year, we hold our Annual Meeting to conduct the most important business of our organization. The Board of Directors, based on recommendations from the Project Advisory Committee, proposes the community work in which we will engage and the fundraisers we will conduct to support our mission. If needed, the Board proposes the adoption of, or amendment to, significant programs and/or policies. After Annual Meeting, members vote electronically on the motions presented.
This year’s Annual Meeting will take place on April 15 at the Warwick Hotel in Center City. The Placement Fair and Cocktail Hour begins at 6 p.m. with the Annual Meeting following at 7 p.m. All New Members, Actives, Transfers, and Sustainers are welcome. This event counts as an Annual Meeting credit to those in attendance.

Members are required to review the Voting Packet prior to the event. Please see you email for more details.

Additionally, we will also be collecting food items at Annual Meeting to support the Garden of Health Food Drive. See the JLP calendar for more information on the specific items needed.  

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at Annual Meeting!

Announcing the 2024-2025 JLP Board

The Nominating Committee is excited to announce the Junior League of Philadelphia Board for the 2024-2025 League year:

  • President, Kate Hall
  • President-Elect, Pam Phojanakong
  • Secretary, Adrienne Taylor
  • Director of Development, Victoria Lynch Mullane
  • Parliamentarian, Jenn Adams
  • Nominating Chair, Natalie Caldwell
  • Treasurer, Rose Cuozzo
  • Chief Operating Officer, Erin Nanovic
  • DEIB Chair, Jennifer May
  • Assistant to the President, Jacqui Rothera
Introducing The JLP Works Blog

“What is our purpose?” At our first Hotline Co-Chairs meeting, we knew we had a strong heritage to uphold with this publication. So, we kept coming back to this core purpose, looking to ground ourselves in our forthcoming roles.

The Hotline, our print newspaper, has a longstanding significance for the Junior League of Philadelphia (JLP). The pre-social medium, it kept the pulse of all our goings-on, from weddings and births and all our League activities. And it was, and continues to be, an important way to bridge the Sustaining Members and Active Members.

We realize if the Hotline serves as such a major channel of communication for the JLP, perhaps there is some opportunity to expand on our workas incoming Hotline Chairs: How can we capture all of our League’s hard work in photos? How can we celebrate events and happenings in a timelier manner? How can we highlight our efforts for potential members and the community? And what about showcasing our non-profit partners?

With this in mind, we decided it was time to expand on the enduring work of the Hotline. Don’t worry, we are still committed to publishing our multi-issue print piece. But, in addition, we also rolled out this coordinating blog on our JLP website to house all our photos and timely updates. We also coined a new name for these two sister publications, The JLP Works, paying homage to both our collective work as an organization and our heritage aiding the renovation of Philadelphia’s historic Fairmont Waterworks building in the 1970s.

To submit photos and content to either the blog or biannual print publication, please contact us at hotline@jlphiladelphia.org or reach out to your committee’s Hotline liaison. Our goal this year is to ensure all our committees and their works are celebrated in print.

More to come,

Victoria Denaro & Serena Zelezny

P.S. Many thanks to Jamila Robinson, last year’s Hotline Chair, for laying the foundation for us. We also offer a nod of gratitude to our Council Chair, Veronica Gillenwater, the Management Council, and the Sustainer Leadership Council for their support as we expand the impact of this publication, to our 2023-2024 Committee for its willingness to forge this path with us, and to the Website and Brand & Marketing Committees for partnering with us to bolster our League communication – we’re looking forward to it!

Kids in the Kitchen Committee Cooks Up an Educational Storm

JLP Kids in the Kitchen program

Our Foods to Families: Kids in the Kitchen Committee has been busy over the past few months. They’ve been planning six-week long curriculum plans over the summer to be used for Methodist Services Kids in the Kitchen program. “We really hit the ground running with our first meeting in August. We do a lot of the leg work earlier and try to reach out to those in the committee often with updates,” said Committee Co-Chair Laura Riechl.

Compared to last year, the committee has focused on preparing as much as possible in advance to ensure an impact-filled Junior League year. “We try to get things planned ahead of time, so we have something to work with, because once they start the program with the kids, there isn’t a lot of time to reorient,” said Co-Chair Monica DiRenzo.

The program educates Philadelphia-area children on the delightful and creative aspects of making healthy food enjoyable. In addition to providing curriculum, every week the committee also supplies cutlery and food to go along with the lesson. Carole Boughter, the executive director of Methodist Services, emphasized the impact the JLP has made on their organization: “The Junior League of Philadelphia has been instrumental in helping Methodist Services shape effective learning mechanisms for students and instructors.”

In September, the committee held a special event at Methodist Services, providing a behind-the-scenes perspective of how Methodist Services programs, such as Kids in the Kitchen, aid in the battle against food insecurity. DiRenzo thought it was a valuable opportunity for members of the League to see the inner workings of Methodist Services.

Over the years the Kids in the Kitchen Committee has modified and evolved their program based on the needs of Methodist Services and has grown to become an integral part of their organization. “It’s really amazing to see what our partners do and the good things they have to say about the Junior League,” Laura Riechl said. She noted Methodist Services recently built a community garden with funds supplied by a grant from the JLP.

Methodist Services and the Kids in the Kitchen alike are excited to what is ahead of them in the new year.

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