2021 Holiday Food and Toy Program
Welcome to our annual Holiday Program. This year, our goal is to provide holiday food boxes for families and toys for up to 250 children; aged 16 and under.
For Our Families:
Deadline to Register is November 19, 2021
This year, we are serving families and children who live in the 19464 zip code area. We are asking anyone interested in receiving a holiday food box or toys to please sign up online below. Also, instead of offering in-person toy selection and shopping at our Outreach Center, we will be pre-packaging the toy bags based on your toy selection on the registration form. After you register, we will contact you to schedule a date and time to pick up your food and/or toys at the Outreach Center located at 57 N. Franklin Street in Pottstown.
If you have questions, please contact Anissa at ajones@pottstowncluster.org or call 610-970-5995 to receive more information.
For Our Donors:
Are you interested in donating toys and/or food items to support our 2021 Holiday Food and Toy program?
To donate food items, please review our needed food item list and contact Anissa at ajones@pottstowncluster.org or call 610-970-5995 to sign up as a food donor.
Holiday Food Items:
green beans (400)
sweet potatoes (200)
mashed potatoes (200)
corn (200)
gravy (400)
cranberry sauce (400)
macaroni and cheese (200)
stuffing (200)
To donate age appropriate toys for children 16 and younger or gift cards for our older children, please contact Anissa at ajones@pottstowncluster.org or call 610-970-5995 to sign up as a toy donor.
All food and toys donations will need to be delivered to the Pottstown Cluster Outreach Center the week of December 17.
Join us online for a virtual celebration on Thursday, October 7 from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Event Link:
pottstowncluster.org/virtualevent2021
Due to the pandemic, the Pottstown Cluster has made the decision to move our biggest annual fundraising event online. Everyone is invited to tune into this free annual event, which will include a opportunities to financially support our mission of providing food security and housing stability in our community as well as a behind the scenes look at the impact your support is having on our work and in the lives of those we serve.
A great way to help us spread the word about our work is to consider hosting a watch party!
What is a Watch Party?
A watch party is a small gathering of people either at your home or via Zoom. Prior to the 7 p.m. start time of our virtual event, we invite you to gather with friends, family or colleagues to watch the event together! You can either setup your TV to stream the virtual event or you can connect your laptop to your TV.
Why Host a Watch Party?
A watch party is a great opportunity to share your passion for the Pottstown Cluster! As a group, you can make a positive difference in the lives of your neighbors in need.
Don’t forget about the “PARTY” part of a WATCH PARTY!
Here’s your chance to have some fun and get creative! You can select a theme, offer fun appetizers, and even play games!
DONATE
Your valuable support makes a difference in contributing to the general operating expenses of the Pottstown Cluster. Your donation will help assure the fundraising success of this annual event that supports our services throughout the year, and will be especially important with the absence of ticket sales.
Our staff, board, volunteers, and community are getting ready to come together on Wednesday, July 14 for an outdoor Red, White, and Blue Anniversary Ice Cream Social! All are welcome to join us to celebrate ten years at our Outreach Center with a treat on Wednesday, July 14 from 2 PM to 5 PM.
The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities participates in the Community Connection Project (CCP) as a Community Service Partner to Pottstown Hospital – Tower Health. The CCP is an Accountable Health Communities Model funded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. The project works to screen Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries’ and connect individuals to local resources, such as the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities for any food related needs.
This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $4.5M with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
On Friday, February 26, 2021, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities celebrated Victoria Bumstead’s retirement from the Pottstown Cluster. Vicki has been a Pottstown Cluster employee since October 2010. She served initially as the Clothes Closet and Volunteer Coordinator and eventually took over the role of Outreach Center Director, managing the Food Services Programs. Under her leadership, the food service programs have grown and the Pottstown Cluster’s presence as a collaborative food provider in the region has been increasingly known. During her tenure, the Pottstown Cluster became the first ReDistribution Organization in Montgomery County; she converted the pantry’s database to SmartChoice, resulting in establishing an online inventory system for food services and an online ordering system for client food access; and has developed a food delivery system, offering better service to those requiring food assistance. Her commitment to the Pottstown Cluster and the food system in the region has been tremendous and will be greatly missed. All of us at the Pottstown Cluster are excited for her retirement and the next chapter of her story.
Hello friends,
Greetings to you and best wishes for this new year. We hope you have recouped from the holidays and are ready to roll up your sleeves and join us in our work throughout the year ahead. We are excited to announce that this new year has already brought about some exciting changes, changes we hope will encourage you to renew your commitment to our mission and local families and neighbors in need of food security, housing stability, and supportive services and education.
In this issue of Cluster Chronicles you will read about upcoming events such as our inaugural non-event, “All You Need is LOVE” on Thursday, February 6, 2020, our second annual Women Helping Women “Wine” Not event, and the George Bell Plaque hanging ceremony and reception to honor the tremendous work of our board presidents; meet our newest Board of Directors members — Ann Maletsky-Morton, Jill Dennin, and Rev. Joshua M. Caler — who have already started getting to work to help support our organization; learn how we are planning to have focused discussions around topics that relate to our programs and community throughout the year as well as the successes of our educational programs’ graduates. I also encourage you to check out “Around PCRC” and “Events, Happenings, and Opportunities”, paying special attention to other exciting upcoming opportunities including information about our monthly donation drive challenge, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help.
I am also happy to report that we have occupancy of the 1st and 2nd floors of our 61 N. Franklin Education and Administration building. We will be providing more information about a grand opening celebration when we are moved into the full building. Stay tuned!
Please remember, your support is a reflection of your deep commitment to our mission and local families and neighbors in need of food security, housing stability, and supportive services and education. I hope you will find ways to continue to be engaged with our work and be excited to hear about the difference your support is making for those we serve. Please keep our work in your prayers and share your interest in our organization with a friend. Together, we are helping to nourish lives and strengthen families in this community, and for that I am truly grateful.
Thank you as always, for your faithful commitment to the work we do.
Sincerely,
Barbara Wilhelmy, LCSW
Executive Director
bwilhelmy@pottstowncluster.org