Homeless Toddler Inspires Fundraising Campaign

Photo courtesy @BillFish215 on Twitter

Good morning, Philadelphia. Here’s what you need to know today.

A toddler was found wandering LOVE Park early Saturday morning. Now a ministry is raising money to provide housing to his family for a year.

Turns out the boy hadn’t wandered off too far: His homeless family had been spending the night in the park; he walked away after they fell asleep. “The 2-year-old boy as well as his 4-year-old sister were both placed in DHS custody,” NBC10 reports. “No charges have been filed but the investigation is ongoing.”

In the meantime, the interdenominational ministry CHOSEN 300 has launched a campaign to raise $12,000 in 12 days to provide housing to the family for a year. “We know this family as they have come to our mission often to receive meals,” the organization said in a press release. “We have witnessed their love and care for their two children, but have fallen on hard times.”

The city’s Police Advisory Commission has been a largely toothless oversight board. Now PAC is getting some power.

“Under the Police Department’s new rules on shootings by officers, the PAC’s director will have equal standing with four deputy commissioners in deciding whether or not police (shootings) are justified,” the Inquirer reports. PAC Director Kelvyn Anderson will participate in his first use-of-force review meeting next month — assuming the Fraternal Order of Police doesn’t win its state labor board challenge to the new arrangement.

Temple football is 6-0 — and ranked in the polls for the first time since 1979.

“Temple, off to the best start in the history of the program, finds itself 22nd in the AP rankings and 24th in the Coaches Poll,” the university reports in a press release. “This is the first time that Temple is ranked since the end of the 1979 season. After posting a 10-2 record and a victory in the Garden State Bowl over California, the Owls placed 17th in the AP Poll.” Best news for this year? It’s only halfway through the season, and the Owls are already bowl-eligible.

PIFA 2016 is going to be a huge arts-loving party that dazzles the senses.

“An interactive fire and sand performance, a circus made of yarn, and a traveling symphony played in water fountains are just some of the strangely wondrous acts that have been revealed as part of the Kimmel Center’s PIFA 2016 cycle, returning to the city this April,” Philly Mag’s Bryan Buttler reports.

Highlights “include the American premiere of Knitting Peace by Cirkus Cirkör, which features a set made of 75% yarn, Concerto in Sea Major, an roving orchestra that plays in public fountains, and new works by Philadanco and Curtis Institute,” Buttler says. A list of currently announced performances are listed here, and more will be announced throughout the next several months.

A boa constrictor got loose on a SEPTA bus on Sunday. Cue the Samuel L. Jackson jokes.

“SEPTA officials said Koron Riley was somehow able to get his 4-foot-long boa constrictor aboard a Route 52 bus,” 6ABC reports. “Red, hidden in a jacket around his neck, got loose somehow and forced an evacuation of the bus, an official said.”

“She had slithered out of my pocket on the way back and she got stuck in between the chairs,” said Riley. “Some people started to freak out because it was a snake on the bus, and they started talking about snakes on the plane.” The snake was recovered and returned to Riley, who may face charges in the case.

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