2024 Holiday Food Program
Information for our Families and Donors

We aim to offer hope and stability to individuals and families facing food insecurity, especially during the stressful holiday season.  This season, we are distributing 400 food boxes to those in need, thanks to our supporters. The program is available exclusively for current clients and active food pantry friends, while supplies last. Visit us during the week of December 16 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., and Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

CHRISTMAS:

• About our Christmas/Holiday food service:
  • We will be providing 400 families holiday food boxes.
  • Limited to current clients/active food pantry recipients and while supplies last
  • Boxes will be available during the week of December 16 during open pantry hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
  • Families in need of toys can visit the Salvation Army’s website for their toy program at https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/eastern-pennsylvania/pottstown-pa/brighten-the-holidays/
  • The last day for pantry access before Christmas is Tuesday, 12/24, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM. Regular pantry hours will resume on Friday, 1/3/25

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Patricia at 610-970-5995 ext. 114 or pshepherd@pottstowncluster.org.

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Pottstown Cluster’s BIGGEST event of the year will be held on Thursday, September 26^th. Join us for our Fall Happy Hour fundraiser! Attendees can have fun while giving back and making a difference in the local community. All are welcome to join staff, board members, supporters, and friends at the Rivet Canteen and Assembly on the 26^th starting at 5:30 PM.

Here’s what to expect:

• Enjoy an all-you-can-eat fall food buffet
• Sample local seasonal beers and wines
• Experience an open bar stocked with beer, wine, a fall signature drink, and creative coffee concoctions
• Groove to music
• Bid on great auction items. Here’s a sampling of prizes – Eagles Executive Box Tickets with food and drinks, a Hot Air Balloon Adventure that includes champagne and dinner, a Private Winery Tour and Tasting for a group, a Personalized Group/Family Photography Session at Valley Forge Park, a deluxe Car Wash Membership, Tickets to Steel River Playhouse, Reading Phillies Tickets, and a variety of fun themed local and lifestyle baskets!

Space is limited and filling up fast! Get a $55 ticket while supplies last! Visit https://www.pottstowncluster.org/2024annualevent/ to save your space.

The event supports the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities in our mission to provide essential services like food security, stable housing, and support programs to boost the community’s well-being and enhance socio-economic stability in the local area.

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Residing just outside the front entrance to Pottstown Cluster’s Outreach Center are two Little Free Libraries – one for children and one for adults. Stop by anytime to see what’s available for your reading pleasure. Book donations are also accepted to build the collection and to keep the inventory fresh. We are happy to provide a home to lots of good books! PCRC’s Little Free Libraries can be found at 57 N. Franklin Street. Come discover a relevant book to read that is not limited by time, space, or privilege. The hope is that this “little” program will help build community, inspire readers, and expand book access.

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information about their mission and to see maps of other locations, please visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/.

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On September 4^th, the Pottstown Cluster Outreach Center was the location for the monthly Community Leaders Breakfast. PCRC’s staff was happy to co-host the event with members of the Hobart’s Run organization. There were about 25 representatives from area nonprofits and businesses in attendance. In addition to breakfast, the gathering included networking and the sharing of information and ideas about efforts for positive change in the Pottstown area. To learn more about these upbeat monthly Community Leaders Breakfasts, email contact@hobartsrunpottstown.org or visit the Hobart’s Run website at https://hobartsrunpottstown.org/programs/community-leaders-breakfast/.

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The Pottstown Cluster is accepting applications now for home heating oil assistance. If you or someone you know is in need of fuel oil please visit: https://www.pottstowncluster.org/oilassistance/. The service area is determined by zip code. Requirements include a valid photo ID, the most recent 30 days proof of income for all adult household members, a completed application, permission for the release of information, and a current photo of the fuel oil gauge. Delivery of 150 gallons of oil will be on a first come first serve basis for those who meet all the eligibility requirements. An adult must be home when a delivery is made. Applicants will be able to recertify for additional assistance, but there are no guarantees that grant money will be available. It is anticipated that the program will expire in the Spring of 2025. Any questions about the program can be directed to Kelli DeSieno at 610-970-5995 or kdesieno@pottstowncluster.org.

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Greetings Friends,

Summer is officially here and I hope you are doing well, staying safe, and in good spirits.

While the past few months have been challenging to navigate, I am proud to report that despite a decline in volunteers and on-site staff due to limiting the number of people in the Pottstown Cluster Outreach Center and following health and social distance guidelines, we have been able to keep our public community food pantry open and operating as safely as possible to meet growing demand. We have also been working to support and protect our most vulnerable by delivering food to older adults and high-risk individuals so they can remain safe in their homes as well as provide easy access Community Meals at several locations for anyone in need of a meal. Additionally, we have housed and maintained housing for the families we work with through our Pottstown Housing Resource Center (HRC).

While all of this has been going on, we have been blessed to have strong support from our community in many ways. We have had many, many offers of support, volunteers wanting to help, monetary donations, storage space – both dry and refrigerator, and transportation assistance to move food. All this speaks to how a community can come together in a difficult situation and do the best for everyone in need.

As you read this issue of Cluster Chronicles, 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. In this issue you will read about the 2020 Signature Page Showcase of Support. I encourage you to join us in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Signature Page. While the page is always a demonstration of your commitment to ending hunger in our community, this year’s page will offer an opportunity to thank our volunteers, employees, and local heroes who have been supporting the Pottstown Cluster’s response to COVID-19 and committed to providing food security and housing stability to those in need.

In this issue, you can also watch the Pottstown Cluster in the 2020 Toyota Hunger Relief On Demand X1 three-part video series that was created to raise awareness about food insecurity throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. I also hope you enjoy reading more about the many acts of kindness we have been receiving over the past few months from our #COVIDCaringPottstownCommunity.

Check out “Take Action”, paying special attention to opportunities including ways you can help neighbors in our community. From volunteering to donations, all help is greatly appreciated.

And 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. 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 for your faithful commitment to the work we do.

Sincerely,

Barbara Wilhelmy, LCSW
Executive Director
bwilhelmy@pottstowncluster.org

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MontCo Anti-Hunger Network is conducting large scale, weekly food distributions (between June 4, 2020 and July 2, 2020) in collaboration with the county’s Department of Public Safety and RSVP. At each event they are hoping to connect 1,500 households to USDA Farm to Families food boxes containing produce and mixed dairy products. Distributions will alternate between Willow Grove Park Mall and the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks for the next five Thursdays. Visit MontCoAntiHunger.org for more information.

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