All posts by: Amanda Hoffman

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.

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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.

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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. 
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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

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UP3 logo

On December 11, 2019, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities (PCRC) celebrated eight empowered UP3 (Understanding Poverty to Plan and Persevere) graduates during a ceremony and celebration at The Hill School Center for the Arts. It was great celebrating and hearing directly from our graduates and we couldn’t be more proud of them! The UP3 graduates successfully completed a 16-week UP3 program dedicated to getting out of poverty, building social connections, and goal planning. We are proud to announce that our graduates are now on a path to creating a brighter financial future for themselves.

Understanding Poverty to Plan and Persevere (UP3) is a mentored 16-week program which builds on the framework of Bridges Out of Poverty, and helps individuals build their resources and social capital. The program has made a positive difference in the lives of so many people over the years.

For more information click HERE or contact Ryli Meyer at 610.970.5995 or RMeyer@pottstowncluster.org.

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