Cluster Chronicles: Winter 2021

Winter 2021

POTTSTOWNCLUSTER.ORG

POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

INSIDE

9102

A Message from the Executive Director page 1

The 2020 You Gotta Have Heart Event Video page 2 COVID-19 CRISIS: Updates page 3 COVID-19 Emergency Rent and Utility Coalition page 4 2021 Heating Oil Assistance Program page 4 Holiday Food and Toy Program Recap page 5 Around PCRC page 6

@Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities @pcrcoutreach @ClusterOutreach

@PottstownCluster

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

POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Greetings to you and best wishes for this New Year. The past year has been both challenging and inspiring for all of us at the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities. After much reflection, we believe we have many reasons to be proud of our work, community, and accomplishments. We are looking forward with enthusiasm as we work together to carry out our mission during the year ahead.

MESSAGE

Hello Friends,

Barbara Wilhelmy, LCSW Executive Director

In this issue of Cluster Chronicles, you will read about and watch the program from our 9th annual “You Gotta Have Heart” fundraiser. You will also read our COVID19 updates relating to food security and housing stability in our community and how we have been working to assist household negatively impacted by COVID-19. You will also read about the positive impact our 2020 Holiday Food and Toy program made on hundreds of children and families in need.

I encourage you to check out “Around PCRC”, paying special attention to exciting opportunities including information about our greatest needs and how you can help.

I hope you are ready to roll up your sleeves and join us in our mission throughout the year. Please share your interest in our organization with a friend. Together, we are providing food security and housing stability in our community, and for that I am truly grateful.

Thank you as always, for your faithful commitment to the work we do.

Sincerely,

Executive Director Barbara Wilhelmy, LCSW

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Watch the "You Gotta Have Heart" Event Video " The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities held the 9th annual “You Gotta Have Heart” fundraiser on October 15, 2020. We hope you enjoy watching the event program and learning more about how the Pottstown Cluster is meeting individuals’ basic needs and transforming lives in the greater Pottstown community and beyond.

All proceeds supported the Pottstown Cluster’s mission to provide tangible services, support, and spiritual guidance to address the basic needs of persons within and beyond the greater Pottstown area, coordinating programs and referrals to help clients improve their overall stability.

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

COVID-19 CRISIS: Updates Regarding Food Security and Housing Stability for Our Community

The help and support from our dedicated employees, volunteers, board, donors, delegates, and community have allowed us to: Continue to keep our public community food pantry open and operating as safely as possible during this challenging time.

Offer two safe ways to receive food through our food pantry: remote online ordering and prepacked food box pickup.

Support and protect our most vulnerable by delivering food to older adults and high-risk individuals so they can remain safe in their homes.

Respond to increased community need by working with partners to coordinate food security efforts throughout the Pottstown area and provide families with additional food resources.

Stabilize vulnerable families and prevent homelessness by offering, emergency rent and utility assistance, eviction prevention and social service supports through our Pottstown Housing Resource Center (HRC).

Renovating and making building modifications to ensure our buildings are safe and we are reducing the risk for exposure to COVID-19.

How Safe is The Pantry?

We are keeping our physical environment safe by monitoring facility access and limiting the number of people in our Outreach Center. We are abiding by social distancing practices laid out by the CDC. In accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Order (4/15/20), we are requiring all those who enter the Outreach Center to wear a mask. Staff and volunteers are required to wear an N95 mask when in contact with the general public.

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

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Emergency Rent and Utility Coalition (ERUC)

Montgomery County officials announced on September 4, 2020, the Your Way Home Emergency Rent & Utility Coalition to offer comprehensive alternative mechanisms of relief for Montgomery County households affected by COVID-19 in the form of rental and utility assistance.

The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, as a part of the coalition, was contracted to work with 150 households during the September 1 – December 30, 2020, contract period. As of December 30, 2020, we received 498 applications and provided rent and utility assistance to 304 households who have experienced a COVID-19 hardship.

2021 Heating Oil Assistance Program Are you or someone you know in the "heat or eat" bind this winter? If you live in Pottstown with a 19464 zip code and need help keeping your home heated this winter, please visit: pottstowncluster.org/2021oilassistance to learn more about and apply for our 2021 heating oil assistance program.

Please contact Kelli DeSieno at kdesieno@pottstowncluster.org or call 610-970-5995 x#121 if you have any questions regarding this program.

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

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Holiday Food and Toy Program Recap

Over 200 underserved children in the greater Pottstown area were able to unwrap presents this holiday season and over 300 families had a holiday meal thanks to our 2020 Holiday Food and Toy Program and all that made this program possible during a very different and challenging time.

With the help of generous community donors, businesses, and volunteers, the Pottstown Cluster was able to secure and distribute gifts and holiday food boxes to children and families in need in December. Gift items included a variety of ageappropriate options, including books, interactive games, puzzles, building sets, electronic games, crayons and coloring books, sports equipment, arts and crafts kits, journal sets, play food and kitchen sets, doll house toys, science kits, train sets, bath products, action figures, toy trucks and cars, stuffed animals, and more! Holiday food boxes included a turkey and all of the trimmings needed for a complete holiday family meal.

“We want to thank all of the donors and volunteers who helped make the program possible this year. It is because of the support we received that we were able to distribute more holiday food and toys this year in comparison to years past. This has been a challenging year, particularly for families in need, so making holidays special, memorable, and a little more stress-free for our children and families was very important to all of us at the Pottstown Cluster,” said Anissa Jones, Food Services Administrator at the Pottstown Cluster.

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Around PCRC Events, Happenings, and Opportunities We are hiring!

Food Pantry/Dry Goods Department needs

When You Work With Us You Are:

Our current needs are items for Move-in Kits: Disinfectant wipes Dish soap Toilet bowl cleaner Toilet brush Bleach surface cleaner Lysol spray Sponges Cleaning cloths Paper towels Toilet plunger Dust pan and brush Rubber cleaner gloves Mop Broom Laundry Detergent

To schedule a donation delivery date and time, please call 610-970- 5994

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Helping to meet individuals’ basic needs and transforming lives in the greater Pottstown Community and beyond Making a positive change in the lives of others and helping them achieve selfsufficiency.

Generating enthusiasm and hope for staff, volunteers, and clients.

A part of an established network of worship centers and other community organizations committed to our work.

We are currently hiring for: Caseworker – temporary (present – 12/31/21) full-time

Housing Stability Coach Position temporary (present – 12/31/21), part-time

Receptionist/Administrative Assistant part-time, 20 hours per week

Learn more here

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POTTSTOWN CLUSTER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

WWW.POTTSTOWNCLUSTER.ORG