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Pottstown Backpack Week

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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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Donate to Dignity: Support our Senior Housing Pilot

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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A Day of Advocacy: Affordable Housing and Accessible Healthcare Policies

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!

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Double Your Donation and Make Twice the Impact

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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Zoom Book Group: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

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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National Women’s History Month: Wonder Women of Food Security and Housing Stability

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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National Poverty Awareness Month: January 2024

January is Poverty Awareness Month, a month-long initiative to raise awareness and call attention to the growth of poverty in America. The United States is considered the richest country in the world, yet 37.9 million of its residents live in poverty. Over 12.5 million of these people are children.  Poverty is a complex societal issue, but access to food and shelter should not be.

Learn more about our food security pantry services here: FOOD SECURITY/Pantry, our community meals here: FOOD SECURITY/Community Meals, and our housing stability services here: HOUSING STABILITY.

To give visit: pottstowncluster.org/donate

 

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The Pottstown Cluster Receives Grant to Enhance Services Locally

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  PDF. Press Release HERE
Dec. 15, 2023

 

The Pottstown Cluster Receives Grant to Enhance Services Locally

Pottstown, PA – The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, which offers basic need and self-sufficiency programs centered around food security, housing stability, and supportive services to improve people’s stability in the greater Pottstown area was recently awarded a significant grant by Norfolk Southern Corporation.

“We are thrilled to accept this grant from Norfolk Southern and grateful for the generous support because of our work with the unhoused and those at risk of being homeless,” said Jacqui Good, Executive Director of the Pottstown Cluster.

The grant is part of Norfolk Southern’s commitment to playing an active role in helping the communities it serves thrive. In November, the railroad recently awarded nearly $600,000 to a host of organizations across its 22-state network, that provide support and services to individuals dealing with homelessness.

“We believe in the power of community and understand the profound impact homelessness has on individuals and families,” said Kristin Wong, Director Corporate Giving at Norfolk Southern. “Norfolk Southern is focused on addressing this issue by supporting organizations across our 22-state network that provide shelter and critical services to the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

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 nonprofit. Today, the Pottstown Cluster provides food security, housing stability, and supportive services to address basic needs as well as improve overall stability of persons within and beyond the greater Pottstown area. In 2022, the Cluster served 4,452 households from their food pantry and reviewed 2,979 requests for help to prevent eviction. The housing team works 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.

About Norfolk Southern

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting NorfolkSouthern.com.

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Event Recap: 2023 Annual Event Happy Hour

2023 Fall Happy Hour FUNraiser 


*Images courtesy of Victoria Heffline-Ritter (follow or contact on Instagram @urbanity_chic)

On October 5, 2023, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities and Pottstown area community gathered at the Rivet Canteen and Assembly  for food, friends, and fun. Guests enjoyed a “taste of our town” during an evening of food from a variety of our favorite local restaurants under one roof along with local seasonal beer and wine tastings, DJ entertainment, gift baskets, and prizes. 

Food and Drinks from:  

  • Corropolese | Italian Bakery & Deli
  • Valentino’s
  • Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches
  • Railroad Street Bar and Grill
  • El Limon Taqueria
  • Giovanni’s 724
  • Better on the Bone
  • JJ Ratigan Brewing
  • Stony Run Winery: Awarded Best Wine in the State —Philadelphia Sommelier Challenge 2021
  • Charlotte Street Coffee
  • And more! 

The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities works to transform lives by offering basic need and self-sufficiency programs centered around food security, housing stability, and supportive services to improve people’s socio-economic stability in the greater Pottstown area. Proceeds from the event supported the mission of the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities and their work with local individuals and families in need of food security, housing stability, and supportive services. Services help neighbors in need transition beyond crisis and towards stability and self-sufficiency. 

Annual Event Video 

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OUTREACH CENTER CLOSES FOR EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE

PDF. Version Here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 23, 2023  

 

POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OUTREACH CENTER CLOSES FOR EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE
Intentional vandalism causes a disruption in food services.

Pottstown, PA– Intentional vandalism of the Pottstown Cluster Outreach Center resulted in an infestation on Tuesday morning, August 15. The Pottstown Cluster immediately closed the Outreach Center for emergency facility maintenance, suspended food services, contacted the police, and consulted with several remediation providers.

The Pottstown Cluster food service programs are committed to safe and quality food procurement, storage, and distribution. The most effective and environmentally conscientious organization has been selected to provide emergency remediation services. Fumigation will take place on Thursday and Friday August 24 and 25.

“Safety is our top priority. The scheduled remediation presents no risk to our neighbors or the environment, though as a precaution, no one will be allowed on the property while these experts do their important work. Please know, we have notified the Health Department, the Borough, our neighbors, and our community partners,” said Jacqui Good, PCRC Executive Director.

In spite of these challenges, the Pottstown Cluster remains committed to food security and the community. Through their Supportive Services Center at Wainman House, they have been offering pantry patrons one-time special assistance through their Emergency Special Assistance Program and disbursing school backpacks.

Updates and reopening information will be available at pottstowncluster.org. Service recipients with questions can contact a temporary emergency number between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.: 267-649-2010.  Questions about this temporary disruption of operations, can be directed to Jacqui Good, Executive Director at 484-925-1660.

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 nonprofit. Today, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities provides Food Security, Housing Stability, and Supportive Services and Education to address basic needs as well as improve overall stability of persons within and beyond the greater Pottstown area. In 2022, the Cluster served 4,452 households from their food pantry and reviewed 2,979 requests for help to prevent eviction. The housing team works 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.

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