Supporting Our Community: Pottstown Churches Unite to Enhance Food Pantry Services

POTTSTOWN — Food insecurity is a growing concern, especially in underserved areas. To address this, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities is working with local partners to set up more satellite pantries. This initiative aims to provide better access to nutritious food for those in need.

For years, the Pottstown Cluster has supported local food pantries. Recently, they expanded their efforts to meet the rising need in the community. “Transportation can make it hard for families to access healthy food. By partnering with various organizations, we can help more people get the food they need to thrive,” said Patricia Shepherd, the food services director at the Pottstown Cluster.

This initiative focuses on convenience. With new pantry locations, people can find food closer to their homes, making it easier for them to access what they need. This way, no one in the community is left without proper nutrition.

In this partnership, the Pottstown Cluster supplies the food and offers guidance. Meanwhile, the hosting pantries manage scheduling and volunteers. Each location can choose its own distribution days and hours, allowing the program to adapt to different community needs.

Importantly, the program is designed to be completely anonymous. No ID or registration is required, which helps remove barriers for those hesitant to seek assistance.

Here are some of the new satellite pantry locations:

• Coventryville United Methodist Church: Distribution on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m.
• Bright Hope Community, Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church: Distribution on the second and third Tuesday of the month from 3 to 5 p.m.
• Montgomery County Community College, Pottstown campus: Distribution at the Stock Up for Success food pantry located on the first floor of North Hall.

Additionally, the Pottstown Cluster continues to support established pantries such as Bethel Community Church, Daily Bread, and Salvation Army.

This initiative is a step toward combating food insecurity, which affects approximately 10% of American households, according to recent USDA reports. These statistics highlight the importance of community support in addressing such a vital issue.

For over 50 years, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities has worked to improve social stability by providing essential services. Their mission is to ensure no one in Greater Pottstown goes hungry. You can learn more about their work at pottstowncluster.org.

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