Phillies Brighten the Season for West Philadelphia Homeless Families
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Phillies today delivered some holiday cheer and gifts to a West Philadelphia nonprofit organization that provides support services for homeless women and children.
The visit to the People's Emergency Center was scheduled. But the gifts, including lots of toys for the kids, were a surprise.
So was the appearance of the big guy in green.
The Phillie Phanatic, who goes by the name "Phanta Claus" this time of year, passed out hats and Phanatic dolls.
Farah Jimenez, president and CEO of the People's Emergency Center, says there is nothing better than bringing joy during the holiday season.
"A lot of our families are coming here because they're in crisis and they don't have someplace else to turn," she says. "So to create an environment that feels like home and special is hard to do, but the Phillies coming here and bringing the Phanatic and bringing some gifts really reminds people of what this season is all about."
The Phillies had one other surprise: donations to the center in the form of personal checks from individual members of the team's front office.
