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Fall Happy Hour Sep 26 2024

Pottstown Cluster’s BIGGEST event of the year will be held on Thursday, September 26th. 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 26th 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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PCRC's Little Free LibrariesResiding 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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Community Leaders Breakfast Sep 4 2024

On September 4th, 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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PCRC Oil Assistance Program

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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Download the full release here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities launches Pottstown Backpack Week, providing free backpacks and school supplies to students in preparation for the 2024 school year

POTTSTOWN, PA, July 31, 2024 – The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities has initiated Pottstown Backpack Week, providing 500 free backpacks and school supplies to students in preparation for the upcoming academic year. The event is set to start the week of August 5, 2024, with 500 backpacks filled with school supply essentials to be distributed to students at five different community locations around Pottstown.

“Families accessing our food and housing services, whether that be through our community food pantry, Community Meal program, or housing support services, come from a variety of crises. For almost everyone, purchasing school supplies every year is very challenging. The purpose of Pottstown Backpack Week is to unite the community to alleviate financial burdens for under-resourced families and collectively empower Pottstown area students to achieve academic success,” said Jacqui Good, Pottstown Cluster’s Executive Director. “We are thrilled to be able to collaborate with other nonprofits to serve more people in Pottstown and make these resources more accessible to our neighbors.”

Pottstown Backpack Week is being brought to the Pottstown community by the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities through a partnership with Cradles to Crayons. The distribution dates and locations are Monday, 8/5 at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown; Tuesday, 8/6 at The Ricketts Center; Wednesday, 8/7 at the Pottstown Cluster; Thursday, 8/8 at the YMCA/724 N. Adams; and Friday, 8/9 at Community Health and Dental/Coventry Mall. The current schedule can be found at Pottstowncluster.org/Pottstownbackpackweek and facebook.com/pcrcoutreach.

About the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities: The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities was founded in 1967 by a coalition of churches wanting to address hunger and now operates as an independent secular nonprofit. Today, the Pottstown Cluster provides food security, housing stability, and supportive services to address basic needs and improve the overall stability of persons within and beyond the greater Pottstown area. In 2023, the Pottstown Cluster served 7,045 households from their food pantry, provided food to Community Meal locations which served 12,258 individuals, and reviewed 4,010 requests for help to prevent eviction. The housing team has worked with over 400 landlords to establish stable tenants, making the Pottstown Cluster an important link in the long-term success of affordable housing property owners. The Pottstown Cluster is the only food redistribution organization (RDO) in Montgomery County, distributing more than 570,000 pounds of food to more than 2,800 households annually. For more information, visit pottstowncluster.org. For more information or to give now, call 610.970.5995, or visit pottstowncluster.org.

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The Flyer (download here)

Pottstown Backpack Week Schedule:

Bookbags are available while supplies last. 

Monday, 8/5 at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown –  12:30 p.m. until supplies last.

Tuesday, 8/6 at The Ricketts Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, 8/7 at the Pottstown Cluster’s Outreach Center at 57 N. Franklin Street from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday, 8/8 at the YMCA/724 N. Adams Street location from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday, 8/9 at Community Health and Dental Office at the Coventry Mall at 351 W. Schuylkill Rd., Pottstown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (During the CHDC Community Health Fair)

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With Your Help, We Can!

We are immensely grateful to share that we have reached nearly half our $100,000 fundraising goal, thanks to the support from the generous and committed people who have joined us in our mission with a gift to improve the lives of unhoused and vulnerable seniors in our community. Each donor, past and future, is a housing hero whose support is crucial for the success of our efforts and work.

Join us in making a significant impact in the lives of homeless and vulnerable seniors, ensuring they are housed so they can age securely and respectfully.

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On May 7, 2024, we took part in a Day of Advocacy at the state Capitol, organized by the Collaborative Advocacy Network (CAN), a key part of the Bucks-Mont Collaborative  Our aim was to shed light on two significant community concerns: affordable housing and behavioral health access policies. Together, we advocated for affordable housing and accessible behavioral healthcare policies. Check out the video by Family Promise Montco PA to see more!

Your Text

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Spring 2024 Match Giving Challenge

Please make twice the impact while helping us provide a hand-up. 

We have a matching gift opportunity of up to $12,000, and we are still working towards reaching our matching challenge goal. You can help us achieve 100% by April 30 by making a donation, which will be matched.

Thank you to our 2024 spring match giving challenge sponsors who generously agreed to match all gifts, up to $12.000.

  • One of our long-time donors, who have been giving since 2009, wants to increase their impact by matching your gift. This local couple will match $9,000 of giving.
  • A local church will match all gifts up to $3,000.

The food pantry is serving almost twice as many individuals, and the number of unhoused individuals in Montgomery County is on the rise. Thanks to our donors, we’ve maintained our services despite increasing costs of food, rent, and living expenses. Your increased support will ensure we can continue to provide our services without any service reductions.

 

 

 

 

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JOIN US!

Please join the Pottstown Cluster for a Zoom book group to discuss The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store set in the community we call home, Pottstown PA.

This novel is based in Pottstown with a close look at the life of immigrants and minorities. While there are leads, James McBride brings a whole cast of interesting characters to life and manages to paint a picture of their life in their own voice. It takes the reader from the thirties to the seventies, but is primarily a snapshot of events, life, and death in the thirties. The key neighborhood is Chicken Hill which was home to African Americans and Jewish immigrants.

PNG_Book Group Flyer_5

We are hosting two Zoom discussions from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29 and June 5, all are welcome at one or both – all is free!

Register on Zoom here.

Zoom link is in cooperation with the BucksMont Collaborative.

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This Women’s History Month we are working to support and uplift women in need in our community. To learn more and support visit: pottstowncluster.org/2024women.

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Each week, we are celebrating and honoring some of the MANY female visionaries and wonder women in food security and housing stability that we have the honor of working with and for.

We are thankful for the amazing women we interact with every day – from our board members, employees, volunteers, supporters to the women we serve. We are also blessed with so many inspirational females at the Pottstown Cluster who inspire everyone in different ways. Join us in celebrating some of them during Women’s History Month!

Community Meals

This week’s Wonder Women of Food Security are our dedicated staff, board members, and volunteers who give their time to prepare and serve community meals in Pottstown. In addition to meal preparation, cooking, and serving, our dedicated volunteers also promote a welcoming environment for our guests.

Thank you to our recent volunteers Roberta Body, former Board President; Jill Dennin, Board President; Judy Watts, Board Member; Debra Brauner, Board Member; Barbara Gross, Board Member; Shelly Stockmal, Board Member; Isabelle Garreaud, Volunteer; Eva Catalano, Volunteer. Also, thank you to the many more who have helped out to make Community Meals possible.

In need of a meal? Learn more about community meals here: pottstowncluster.org/communitymeals/

Meet Jessica

Meet Jessica Devine, Development Associate and Diversity Advocate at the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities. Jessica constantly challenges us to be our best at inclusion and ensures our board and staff reflect the community we serve. You can meet Jessica in our video that premiered at our annual event in October. pottstowncluster.org/2023annualevent.

The National Women’s History Month’s theme for 2024 celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.

The Pottstown Cluster embraces everyone and excludes no one in our common quest for freedom and opportunity. We are committed to inclusion an equity within our organization, community, and in our approaches to ending food insecurity and housing instability.

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