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.

PCRC PANTRY PARTICULARS

DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

PANTRY HOURS: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm; Call 610.970.5995 for special circumstances

PCRC Volunteer Voices

A WORD from the PCRC DELEGATE ASSEMBLY

Please Join Us!

Our 2020 Delegate Meetings will include focused discussions around topics that relate to our programs and to our broader community as well. We hope you can join us in February to discuss: 2020 Census and How it Effects All of Us

Introducing PCRC’s Newest Board of Directors Members

Introducing PCRC’s Newest Board of Directors Members

PCRC welcomed newest Board of Directors members — Ann Maletsky-Morton, Jill Dennin, and Rev. Joshua Caler   — in the new year. They are immediately getting to work to help support our organization. We are grateful they have decided to serve us with their time and collective talent and experience, and passion for our mission. We welcome:

Jill Dennin

Jill Dennin has most recently worked as a substitute teacher and she also has served on the Boyertown Area School District School Board for the past six years. She has lived in Gilbertsville for the past 25 years, where she has been involved and volunteered for many community organizations.

Jill has worked in federal/state relations and as a fundraiser for the Leukemia Society. She strongly feels that the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities provides an important and vital service to our community and she plans to use her experience with development, fundraising, and networking to support the organization’s development and fundraising goals. The PCRC Development Committee also welcomed her as a new member in January. 

Ann Maletsky-Morton

Ann Maletsky-Morton has worked in progressively responsible financial positions over the past 15 years. Her areas of expertise are; Budgeting/ Forecasting, Ad-hoc Analysis, Financial Statements, Innovation Management, Six Sigma practices, and preparation of monthly reporting packages for report to Senior Leadership. 

She has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Penn State University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Innovation Management from Drexel University.

Ann  joined the PCRC board to help make an impact in the Pottstown community. She strongly believes in the organization’s mission and vision and feels the work PCRC does in the Greater Pottstown ares is desperately needed.

Everything you need to know happening at PCRC!

• • • “All You Need is LOVE” Non-Event on February 6
    • George Bell Presidents Plaque Ceremony and Reception on February 13
    • February Delegate Meeting on February 24: The 2020 Census and How It Effects Us All 
    • “Wine” Not Women Helping Women Fundraiser on May 7

The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities community came together on Thursday, September 26th at The SunnyBrook Ballroom for the eighth year in a row — this year to “Celebrate Service with Heart” — for fellowship and fundraising, and to recognize its Caring Community Awardees. We are grateful to our 2019 major event sponsors: Scott and Susan Bentley Fund and Mr. and Mrs. Karl Glocker; along with all our other sponsors shown below.

Event guests enjoyed a social hour during which two students — Isabella Feldman and Matthew McCray, both from The Hill School, superbly performed songs from The Greatest Showman and Dreamgirls the Musical respectively; buffet dinner; awards; raffle items including a “Mystery Basket” auction; raising funds for our critical Wish List items; inspirational stories; and a video premiere. PA State Representative Joe Ciresi served as the evening’s emcee who opened the program with an energetic and inspiring rendition of the song “Heart” from the movie Damn Yankees, with Dr. Myra Forrest as his accompanist. The invocation was offered by PCRC’s Head Chaplain, Pastor Rick Knarr.

Special guests included Pottstown Mayor, Stephanie A. Henrick, who addressed the guests, and PA State Representative Tim Hennessey. The event theme, “Celebrate Service with Heart,” was a call to action that brought together stakeholders from the Greater Pottstown area and will directly impact 450 local families per month in need of Food Security, Housing Stability, and Supportive Services and Education.

The 2019 Caring Community Awards presented honored four individuals who have made significant contributions towards improving Food Security, Housing Stability, and Supportive Services and Education within and beyond the Greater Pottstown area. The 2019 Cluster Community Awards were presented to Valerie Arkoosh, MD, MPH, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and Ken Lawrence, Jr., Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. 

(Acceptance speeches can be heard here).

Additionally, the Helping Hands with Heart Awards were presented to Barbara Cooper, PCRC Community Meals volunteer and Dr. Myra Forrest, volunteer and supporter: past PCRC Board Member; Community Meals; past fall fundraising event Chair and member. The awards were presented by PCRC Executive Director Barbara Wilhelmy and PCRC Board President Mary Ann Glocker.

Check out the You Gotta Have Heart slideshow below and order your print of individual shots taken in front of our event banner for $10. A great holiday gift idea! Purchase high-resolution images of the event here.

Meet PCRC!

Greetings friends,

As we enter the most colorful time of the year, there is a chill in the air, and with that here at the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities (PCRC) comes a renewed commitment to caring for those we serve. Colder nights and less abundant fresh foods means we all are tasked with making sure our neighbors have a warm place in which to shelter and enough food to sustain through the long winter months.

In this issue of Cluster Chronicles you will read about our recent successful event, “You Gotta Have Heart”; upcoming events such as the Pottstown CROP Hunger Walk and The Amazing Raise, and how you can be part of the fun to help our PCRC neighbors; learn how we are reaching out to seniors in the community to better serve their needs with an online food-ordering option (part of our SmartChoice program); our educational programs’ graduates; learn of the progress of our new Pilot Programs, our four new collaborators, enhancement of partnerships — specifically our Community Volunteer Leadership Program (CVLP) with Leadership Tri-County and funded by The HealthSpark Foundation with new possibilities for those we serve; as well as other exciting upcoming events and opportunities including information about our annual Holiday Program (toy and food box distribution), and how you can help!

I’m also excited to report PCRC is very close to occupancy in our newest space, “61”, working on final ADA projects. Stay tuned!

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.

Sincerely,

Barbara Wilhelmy, LCSW
Executive Director