Cluster Chronicles September Newsletter

POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

SEPTEMBER 2026

W W W. P O T T S T O W N C L U S T E R . O R G

SEPTEMBER 2026

INSIDE

IMPACT PAGE: A Message From Cluster Page 3 October Fundraiser Save the Date 2026 FULL HEARTS, FULL PLATES “FILLING PLATES. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. BUILDING COMMUNITY.” Page 4 Pottstown Cluster 4th Annual Backpack Giveaway Page 5 Growing Together: Community Garden Page 6

Spreading News in the Community Page 7

Become a Hunger Hero: Help Keep Our Shelves Stocked Page 8 Emergency at the Cluster Page 9 Join the Mission Page 10

POTTSTOWNCLUSTER.ORG

POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

IMPACT PAGE: A MESSAGE FROM THE CLUSTER

Every bag of groceries we provide represents more than food. It represents a neighbor who knows they are not alone.

At the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, we believe that access to nutritious food is about more than filling a plate—it’s about creating stability, restoring dignity, and giving families the opportunity to move forward.

Because of the generosity of our donors, volunteers, community partners, and supporters, we continue to provide essential resources to individuals and families throughout our community.

Together, we are making sure that no neighbor has to face a difficult season alone.

❤️ BY THE NUMBERS 2,300 households We Serve

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

2026 Annual Event: FULL HEARTS, FULL PLATES “FILLING PLATES. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. BUILDING COMMUNITY.”

JOIN US for our Annual Fall Event on Thursday, October 15th 2026!

Don’t miss your chance to party with a purpose while supporting local families in need.

Join the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities for an unforgettable evening at Brookside Country Club on October 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Enjoy an evening filled with delicious food, drinks, music, community, and plenty of fun—all while helping make a meaningful difference in our community.

Your support helps the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities continue its mission of providing essential services, including food security and stable housing, while helping strengthen the well-being and stability of individuals and families throughout our local community.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Come enjoy a night of great food, good company, and a meaningful cause.

See you at “Full Hearts, Full Plates”!

Tickets Available Soonhttps://www.pottstowncluster.org/events/

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Pottstown Cluster 4th Annual Backpack Giveaway A Backpack Full of Supplies, A Future Full of Possibilities! .

On Augiust 17th, Pottstown Cluster held the 4th Annual Backpack Giveaway for the community. There were fun bubbles and a snowcone machine for the children to enjoy after picking out their school supplies.

Our Backpack Giveaway was a success! We were proud to support local children and families by providing free backpacks, school supplies, and books to help students start the school year feeling prepared and confident.

It was wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of children as they picked out their backpacks and supplies. Events like this remind us of the power of community and the importance of coming together to support our young people.

A special thank you to our volunteers, donors, partners, and everyone who helped make this event possible.

Your generosity and support helped us make a meaningful difference in the lives of local families.

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Growing Together: Community Garden Our new Garden is thriving! Beautiful, healthy, and nourishing things are growing at The Pottstown Cluster.

Our garden by Trellis for Tomorrow is thriving this summer, and we couldn’t be more grateful! 🌱☀️ A heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who have shared their time, energy, and green thumbs to help our garden grow. From planting and watering to weeding and picking the amazing produce, every helping hand has made a difference.

Thanks to your dedication, our garden is bursting with life, color, and fresh produce. More than just a place to grow plants, our garden continues to grow community, connection, and joy.

Beyond providing food, the garden serves as an educational resource for the community. Clients and volunteers will have opportunities to get involved, learn gardening skills, and enjoy the many benefits of working outdoors and connecting with nature.

To help care for the garden throughout the summer, we have partnered with Pottstown High School students through a skills-training program. Additionally, the Pottstown Cluster has partnered with Pottsgrove High School students to assist with garden maintenance while earning volunteer hours required for graduation.

Interested in helping the garden grow? Please contact us at volunteer@pottstowncluster.org

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

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Growing in the Community: Together, We make a difference

A huge thank you to our community and Pottstown Grocery Outlet for their generous donations. Through the Annual Independence from Hunger Campaign, they raised 6,000 dollars to give to Pottstown Cluster. Your support means a great deal to us and helps make our work possible. Because of compassionate supporters like you, we are able to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. We are truly grateful for your generosity and for your belief in our mission. Pottstown knows how to show up!

Thank you for helping us create a positive impact.

We were so excited to be part of National Night Out in our community!

It was a wonderful evening filled with neighbors, families, laughter, and meaningful connections. We’re grateful for the opportunity to come together with community members and local organizations to celebrate the people who make our community so special. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, said hello, and helped make the evening such a success. We’re proud to be part of a community that continues to come together, support one another, and grow stronger together!

Donate here: https://www.pottstowncluster.org/donate/

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Emergency at the Cluster: Share Food Program Stepped In

When an electrical fire temporarily closed Pottstown Cluster on September 2nd, Share Food Program responded immediately with emergency food boxes so that we could continue our scheduled food distribution and ensure our neighbors in Pottstown had access to the food they needed. ,

George Matysik, Executive Director of Share Food Program, and Carla Clanagan, Director of Strategic Initiatives, also joined our staff onsite to provide hands-on support. We are grateful for this partnership and for the quick, compassionate response that allowed us to continue serving our community during an unexpected disruption.”

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Become a Hunger Hero: Help Keep Our Shelves Stocked

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Did you know we serve over 450 families every month?

Food insecurity is more than an empty plate. It’s the difference between uncertainty and stability, stress and security, simply surviving and thriving. Right here in our Pottstown community, you have the power to change that by becoming a Hunger Hero today!

Help keep our shelves stocked. Check out our most-needed items and make an immediate impact for local Pottstown area families.

Food Donation DropOff Location: 57 N. Franklin Street, Pottstown Hours: Monday– Thursday 9 AM–3 PM

Learn more or donate goods: pottstowncluster.org/donategoods Prefer to give financially? Donate online here: pottstowncluster.org/donate

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Join the Mission You can help ensure no one in our community faces hunger alone.

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

• Donate food: pottstowncluster.org/donategoods • Volunteer: pottstowncluster.org/volunteer • B ecome a Business Partner for Community Impact here: p ottstowncluster.org/businessgiving

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

@Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities @pcrcoutreac h @ClusterOutre ach

Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities 57 North Franklin Street Pottstown PA 19464 610.970.5995 www.pottstowncluster.org