East Frankford seeks more
volunteers for curfew center

By Diane Villano-Prokop
Times Staff Writer

East Frankford Civic Association president Peggy Hoch urged members at its May 3 meeting to volunteer for the 15th Police District’s new curfew center.
The center, located at Frankford Group Ministry, 4620 Griscom St. and one of six so far in the city, is part of Mayor John Street’s anti-crime initiative, Operation Safer Streets. It is staffed by city and private social-service workers, along with neighborhood volunteers. A police officer is also present.
The center currently operates from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, and from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Volunteers are crucial to its operation, especially as the center expects to be open every night come summer.
"The curfew center desperately needs volunteers. There are different shifts you can work. You don’t have to work the whole [night]," Hoch said.
The center serves all of the 15th district’s 8.5 square miles. Instead of officers picking up curfew violators and taking them home, police transport them to FGM.
"Kids may come from all over the city but are picked up within the fifteenth district. We only get the ones that are out past curfew, not handcuffed or anything. The main reason for the curfew center is that we don’t want any more dead children on the street," Hoch said.
The neighborhood leader talked about her experience volunteering at the center and the reaction of children that are brought to the facility.
"They’re kind of in a state of shock and we go over and talk to them and they calm down," she said.
Children are interviewed by staff members when they arrive.
"It’s the prevention side of DHS (Department of Human Services). Parents are also interviewed. If there are problems they can guide them to help," said Hoch, who also praised district police.
"We’ve got to give our guys a real big hand. All the crime stats are down," she said.
To volunteer or for more information, call 215-744-2990, Ext. 211. ••
Reporter Diane Villano-Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dvillano@phillynews.com