Philly AIDS Thrift will host a gay pride drive-in movie night at the Navy Yard to raise funding for a major building expansion at its facility on 5th Street.
The nonprofit thrift store is partnering with Philadelphia Film Society to present a showing of the 1974 cult classic movie Female Trouble on June 2. The drive-in movie will take place at the Navy Yard on Admiral Peary Way and League Island Boulevard at 9 p.m. The lot opens at 8.
Tickets are $35 per vehicle and can be purchased at www.phillyaidsthrift.com. In the fall, Philly AIDS Thrift held a similar event by showing the Tim Burton classic Beetlejuice.
“We are excited to celebrate June as Philly Gay Pride Month with another great drive-in movie with Philadelphia Film Society,” said Philly AIDS Thrift co-founder Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou. “While we were bummed in the fall to have to miss our annual fundraising block party, the drive-in with Beetlejuice was a great pivot. It was so much fun that our supporters have been asking for a return visit to the Navy Yard. We hope to sell out and use the money to pay for our expansion that is underway for a mid- to late-summer opening. Stay tuned for more details, big things are happening at Philly AIDS Thrift.”
Philly Aids Thrift, located at 710 S. 5th St. in the South Street Headhouse District, is expanding its facility for the first time in more than 10 years. It will add nearly 4,000 square feet to its existing 19,000-square-foot facility and will allow for an entirely new donation center that is expected to help bring in more donations to the store. Fundraising for the expansion will continue through June and renovations are expected to wrap up this summer.
“Philly AIDS Thrift is expanding at our main location,” said Philly AIDS Thrift board president Michael Byrne. “We are so excited about the new opportunities that the additional space will offer us in terms of increasing the processing of donations as well as additional sales space. This will allow us to better fulfill our mission of funding life-altering services for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS across the Delaware Valley.”
According to the City of Philadelphia AIDS Activities Coordinating Office, Philadelphia has more than 30,000 Philadelphia residents living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Many people do not know their status and have never been tested.
Philly AIDS Thrift receives publicly donated clothes and objects that are resold and turned into donations. The nonprofit then distributes those funds to over 20 different HIV/AIDS service organizations through their annual grant-giving program. Last year, it awarded 24 organizations more than $200,000. In addition to cash contributions, Philly AIDS Thrift provides free store vouchers to Philly-area HIV/AIDS service providers for distribution to clients in need of clothing assistance and household necessities.
The drive-in movie is expected to provide a major chunk of the fundraising effort. The drive-in event will feature Divine-esque drag queens greeting and thanking all the movie-goers. Tickets include access to the movie, food trucks and a chance to win fun door prizes. The movie is rated NC-17 and is not intended for minors. Attendees can bring their own dinner or enjoy food from a selection of local food trucks on site. A food trucks list will be released prior to the event.
“Raising money for the new space and expansion, while watching a camp cult classic, is right up our alley and the perfect way to celebrate Philly Gay Pride Month with our community,” Byrne said. “We hope to see you at the Navy Yard on June 2. Get your tickets before they sell out.”
All tickets for this event must be purchased in advance through the Philadelphia Film Society. No box office sales will be conducted on the site at the event. All local and state guidelines will be followed. More information and guidelines can be found at www.phillyaidsthrift or follow PhillyAIDSThrift on Instagram. For more about Philadelphia Film Society, visit www.filmadelphia.org.
